From Southern Roots to Soaring Heights

Born in Duluth, Georgia, and raised in the South as one of seven children, Cristine Kirk learned early on the value of hard work, resilience, and leadership. While aviation wasn’t always part of her plan, fate had other ideas.

After graduating from the University of North Florida with a degree in Accounting, Cristine was searching for a position with a local company when the UNF Career Center introduced her to Malone AirCharter. In 2010, she joined the team as a staff accountant, working from a humble corner office overseeing the finances for both the flight school and charter operations. What began as a job quickly became a passion, and aviation soon became a permanent part of her life.

Cristine played a key role in the sale of Sterling Flight Training in 2018, and just a few years later, in April 2021, she purchased Malone AirCharter with the help of investors. Today, as President and CEO, she leads one of Northeast Florida’s premier private aviation companies, overseeing aircraft management, charter operations, maintenance, and strategic growth. Despite the company’s success, she remains committed to preserving the family-oriented culture that has defined Malone AirCharter for more than two decades, working alongside her sister, Jamie, her significant other, James Terrell, and a dedicated team that feels like family.

Under Cristine’s leadership, Malone AirCharter has continued to grow while maintaining an unwavering commitment to safety, professionalism, and exceptional customer service. She is passionate about developing future leaders and creating opportunities for employees to grow both personally and professionally.

Beyond her role at Malone AirCharter, Cristine is actively shaping the future of business aviation as Chair of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) Board of Directors. In this role, she works alongside industry leaders, regulators, and policymakers to advocate for aviation businesses across the country and help guide the strategic direction of one of the industry’s most influential organizations.

Cristine is also a strong advocate for women in aviation and entrepreneurship, demonstrating through her own journey that leadership opportunities often come from unexpected places and are earned through perseverance, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace new challenges.

When she’s not leading her company or serving the aviation industry, Cristine enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. Whether guiding a growing business, mentoring future aviation professionals, or exploring a new destination, she approaches every opportunity with the same belief that has guided her career: success comes from investing in people, embracing challenges, and never being afraid to chart a new course.

From a staff accountant’s desk to the boardroom of a national trade association, Cristine’s story is a reminder that remarkable journeys rarely follow a straight path. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you never saw coming.