Ashley Bassett
Dispatcher at Southwest Airlines
August, 2021
How did the Dispatch Profession find you?
"What’s funny is, it literally found me. I had no idea this profession existed. I learned about aircraft dispatchers, two years after graduating college, while working for a manager whose wife was a dispatcher. Via casual conversation, he shared with me what his wife does for a living and my interest was instantly piqued. He put me in contact with her and she suggested I visit their Operations Center. From there, I began my research. I had no idea such a fulfilling career was ahead of me."
What advice would you give to future Dispatchers?
"Study hard, take pride in your work, and have a hunger to learn as much as you can. We play a vital role in ensuring that each flight operates both safely and legally. There will be days that are harder than others, but every day that you assist crews in getting to their destinations safely will be extremely rewarding and worth the stress endured."
