Date of Award

January 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Aviation

First Advisor

James Cooley

Abstract

United States Coast Guard (USCG) aviation is facing increasing challenges in pilot retention. A survey was designed to explore job satisfaction constructs and pilots’ intention to separate from the USCG to determine how gender, airframe, and retirement plan influence retention. The survey was distributed to Active Duty USCG pilots with 183 valid responses. Statistical analysis for job satisfaction found that female pilots are less satisfied with work-life balance. Differences between gender were not significant for the other job satisfaction constructs or intention to separate from the USCG. The analysis found that fixed wing pilots have a higher intention to separate than rotary wing pilots, and pilots with the Blended Retirement System (BRS) have a higher intention to separate than pilots with legacy retirement. Differences between airframe and retirement groups were not significant for job satisfaction constructs. Open-ended responses revealed that pilots were dissatisfied with inflexible career paths, poor work-life balance, and lack of geographic stability.

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