When Family and Public Service Meet
FAA Aviation Safety Inspector Benny Kim finds strength and inspiration in his children.
For FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) Benny Kim, based in Riverside, California, the satisfaction he feels for current work in pursuit of safer skies is amplified by his excitement about his children’s futures. His son, Toby, is currently studying electrical engineering at the United States Naval Academy. He’s in his second year, and when he graduates, he wants to apply to the naval aviation program so he can become a fighter pilot. Mackenzie, his daughter, will also attend the USNA next year on an athletic appointment.
Kim sees his children as both an inspiration and a reflection of his love for his country. “I came here when I was 16,” said Kim, who moved to the U.S. from South Korea.
“My children were born and raised here, and our family loves this country. That’s why they wanted to serve. And I think they are proud of me because I’m also serving the country.”
Originally, Toby wanted to be a doctor, but he became more interested in electrical engineering and aviation, following in his father’s footsteps. “He has always been interested in aviation,” said Kim. “When he was younger, I took him to air shows and gave him airplane rides, teaching him how to fly. And before he joined the Academy, he flew his solo. He will apply to the Navy’s aviation program once he graduates, and he hopes to fly F-35s.”
Kim’s daughter is a world-class athlete. “She has been a gymnast since she was six years old, and she was pretty good,” her father noted. “She won the state championship in California four times, won the Western Regional once, and was ranked number four in the United States in her age group. She had an injury and couldn’t do gymnastics anymore, so she took up diving.” And her diving career is just getting started. “She received calls from several Ivy League schools for their diving teams. She ended up committing to the Naval Academy,” he added.
When asked why she ultimately landed at the Naval Academy, Mackenzie shared, “I was inspired by my brother after he told me all about the Academy. The diving program is a competitive and strong program, and my conversation with the coach propelled me into applying for the USNA. But I ultimately applied to the Academy because I would like to do something bigger than myself and serve the country.”
“I would definitely like to serve as a Navy surgeon,” Mackenzie continued. “It’d be incredible if I could get my specialty in trauma.” As for her plans for diving, Mackenzie is aiming just as high. “My coach and I believe I can reach the international level, and I would like to represent my country and the Navy in the Olympics. I am spending around 20 to 25 hours a week training.”
Kim’s children want to continue his legacy of excellence, something that Kim now applies to his crucial duties as an ASI. “Over my piloting career prior to the FAA, I flew for airlines and private jets, and I learned what it is like to operate in the [national airspace]. So in my current job as an ASI, I draw from those experiences to spot the root causes of potential issues and fixing them before they become bigger problems.”
Kim recognizes one person in particular who helped him achieve success in his career: His wife. “As a pilot, I was away all the time, and I missed a lot of family stuff, like taking them to practice or helping with their homework,” he observed. “Really, it was my wife who did all the hard work, and I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Though his son is far away in Annapolis, and his daughter will be soon, too, Kim makes time to talk with both of them regularly. “With technology, it’s easy to talk to Toby,” he said. “When I was a pilot, I was away a lot, but now I can see my kids any time I need to. And because I am home all the time now, I have time to do things I couldn’t before, like spending time with my family.”
Do you have a passion for aviation and want to help keep our airspace safe? Learn how to apply to be an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector at faa.gov/jobs.
