Dr. Lance Aja, MS, EdD

(he/they)

Consultant Manager

Dr. Lance Aja is an autistic, cisgender man with over 25 years of experience in aerospace, supporting the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the United States Navy (USN). After serving 13 years in the Marines, Lance completed a BS in Electronic Systems Technologies from Southern Illinois University, an MS in Organizational Leadership, and an MA in Human Behavior from National University. Lance graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2024 with an EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership. 

In the aerospace industry, Lance has held numerous roles within aviation maintenance departments including maintenance control, quality assurance, structures mechanic, electrician, expeditor, collateral duty inspector, shift supervisor, and program/project manager. Lance has been able to experience and understand the viewpoint of multiple organizational stakeholders through his own experience in these various roles. He is known for clear direct, open, and honest communication. Throughout his years in advancing leadership positions, Lance has been sought out to take on tasks with high visibility and trusted to manage organizational obstacles.

Since beginning his doctoral journey, Lance has been reinvigorated by his desire to make our world more equitable, with a direct focus on historically and continuously marginalized communities. Through his education and training in organizational change and leadership, Lance is dedicated to lifting up individuals, groups, and organizations to fulfill their goals and potential. Lance’s doctoral dissertation focused on the experiences of autistic individuals as they traverse the employment progress utilizing autism employment programs. Lance is focused on improving the recruitment, hiring, and retention practices to better attract, retain, and develop talent among all communities and people.