Stronger Jobs, Stronger Communities — How One Californian is Soaring After Layoffs
Pubished: July 11, 2025
Getting laid off from a job is frustrating and scary for individuals who need to think about a new career. In Spring 2024, Northrop Grumman laid off 965 workers, including Pete Freeland, a 59-year-old with more than 40 years of experience working in advanced aerospace engineering and space systems. While Pete’s job took a nosedive in 2024, he is now soaring toward a new dream.
After the lay-off was announced, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (SBWIB) launched a series of onsite orientations at Northrop Grumman to assist workers and quickly get them back into the workforce utilizing grant funds awarded by the Employment Development Department (EDD).
These “Rapid Response” services for business are carried out by state and local workforce partners to provide workers with career counseling and job search assistance, information on unemployment benefits, and information about education and training opportunities.
While attending informative orientations hosted by the SBWIB in partnership with 20 regional aerospace employers, Freeland decided to pursue his dream of flying at airshows.
A former U.S. Air Force officer and crew member on B-52 bombers during Operation Desert Storm, and later a civilian pilot, Freeland had the experience and credentials to continue flying but lacked an instrument rating and commercial license to satisfy Federal Aviation requirements that would permit him to fly.
The SBWIB enrolled him in the Sling Pilot Academy at Torrance Airport so he could get the training he needed.
“We’ve been working with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board for years, helping people like Pete enter new careers in aviation. It’s fantastic to see programs that open these pathways,” said Matt Liknaitzky, Co-CEO Sling Pilot Academy.”
The Sling Pilot Academy is the fastest growing flight school in the United States. They teach people how to fly and provide them with a career in aviation, typically as airline pilots. The academy started in 2011 and currently operates approximately 68 airplanes with 90 flight instructors and hundreds of students on a pathway to become professional pilots.
Freeland praised both SBWIB and Sling Pilot Academy for making the process easy and smooth, calling it a “life-changing event.”
"This program through the SBWIB was an incredible opportunity to improve my skills for both current and future employment, and I found the entire process incredibly easy and fast,” Freeland said. “The Rapid Response team and support staff are true rockstars!"
“We are proud to support dedicated workers like Pete Freeland through this grant from the State of California. After being laid off from Northrop Grumman, Pete saw an opportunity to advance his skills and pursue his dream of becoming a commercial pilot,” said Jan Vogel, Executive Director, South Bay Workforce Investment Board. “Our partnership with Sling Pilot Academy made this possible, providing him with the high-quality training he needed to launch a new career. It’s success stories like Pete’s that show how workforce development programs can truly change lives and strengthen our economy.”
Once he completes training in August, Pete will be authorized to perform at airshows. In addition, Pete plans to offer flight training for commercial astronauts. He’s currently in talks with organizations like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, SpaceX, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences.
“My advice to others facing layoffs: communicate your goals, reach out for help, and explore training programs. If I can do it, anyone can. The sky’s the limit.”
Thanks to the support from EDD, the SBWIB, and the Sling Pilot Academy, Pete’s story shows how career changes can launch new beginnings — proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
Related Articles
