#MyAAPIStory: Ravi Chaudhary

In the spirit of Immigrant Heritage Month, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) celebrates the diverse dimensions of our nation’s communities and the strength we draw from our varied immigrant identities.  From cultural traditions to philosophies, many of us are shaped by our own or our family’s immigrant experiences coming to this country and transitioning into the “American life.”

In this blog series, we will explore the immigration stories of different AAPI federal leaders and how these experiences have shaped their commitment to public service.

We invite you join the conversation by sharing these stories with your communities and on social media and also sharing your own stories and thoughts by using #MyAAPIStory.

Part 3: Ravi Chaudhary, Member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

(Left) Captain Ravi Chaudhary, 2001; (Right) C-17 Globemaster landing in Afghanistan, 2002

I chose to become a pilot in the United States Air Force for one main reason – I am the son of immigrants.  Growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, people regularly commented on how courageous it was to pursue a career considered so “non-traditional” in the Asian American community. Yet, in many ways my choice pales in comparison to the courage of my parents who emigrated to the U.S. from India.  They chose to give up everything they knew, loved and was familiar to them, in order to pursue the American dream. Of course, they raised children with the same natural instinct to take the road less traveled. As immigrants, my parents appreciated new ways of thinking, and encouraged us to step outside the box and pursue the unknown.

(Left) Grandfather, Major (retired) Pratap Singh, (1910-2008); (Center) Ravi and his family, 1992; (Right) grandfather, Inspector Pheroo Singh (1902-1972)

Public service, including military service, has played a formative role in my family, both in India and as a newly arrived immigrant family in America. My late grandfathers, Major Pratap Singh and Deputy Inspector Pheroo Singh fought in World War II for the Indian Army and served in the Indian Police Force, respectively. Additionally, my father served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 35 years, and my brother State Senator Satveer Chaudhary served as the first Asian American legislator in Minnesota history. My mother is Chief Operating Officer of an organization that advocates for underrepresented AAPI communities in Minnesota, and my sister is a distinguished professor of biology at Loyola University. Following their example, I had always dreamed of serving as a pilot and aerospace engineer and my parents were very supportive when I told them I wanted to pursue an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.

Ravi flying test missions over the Atlantic Ocean, 1999

As a pilot, the very act of flight is non-traditional and the ultimate expression of human freedom. Flying conveys an intrinsic desire to liberate oneself from the forces of gravity, and the orthodoxies we sometimes get complacent with in our daily lives. Flying serves as a constant reminder that the forces of orthodoxy are always acting upon us and it is our sense of freedom that encourages us to push back in pursuit of new horizons. This was the gift given to me by my parents when they chose to immigrate to America, and further cultivated by the Air Force. We must always remember that this inherent thirst to reach beyond the sky is made possible in part by the courageous attributes of the waves of immigrants that came before us. This fact, as Vice President Biden often remarks, is how America is constantly able to re-invent itself, and remain on the leading edge of innovation.

It is also a bit of a metaphor for the challenges young AAPIs face while growing up. Thriving in two worlds, you’re never Asian enough, and never American enough! With thousands of AAPIs now answering the call to serve our nation, I see the term “non-traditional” becoming less and less useful to our next greatest generation. Yet the act of pursuing what we consider “non-traditional” is essential to our growth as an immigrant community. I believe we’ve now shattered the term “non-traditional,” and more. 

(Left) Ravi’s daughter Nina trying on his helmet at age 3; (Right) Ravi passing his flight jacket to his daughter Nina, age 10, 2014

Our next generation of youth “dream in extreme” every day, and have a vision for careers and opportunities that I cannot even imagine.  We must empower them to chart their own path with courage, as our parents did for us. That is the legacy of our vibrant immigrant community that we leave behind, and the reason I fell in love with America. And as we pass on our wings to our children, I am filled with great hope and optimism for the future of our nation, a nation built upon generations of immigrants.

Ravi Chaudhary was appointed to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by President Obama in 2014. He is also currently the Executive Director for Regions and Center Operations with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Prior to joining the FAA, Ravi was an Air Force officer, serving as an Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. He has logged over 3,000 flight hours as a pilot and flight test engineer, including over 760 combat hours. Ravi’s awards include the NASA Stellar Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals.  Ravi received a B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy, an M.S. from Saint Mary’s University, and an M.A. in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Force’s Air University.