Ellen Brinks is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Aviation Flight Science and Aviation Science and Administration. After flight instructing for many years, she was hired at a regional airline where she served as the Pilot Assistance Vice Chair advocating for their pilot’s health and well-being. She was hired at a major commercial air carrier in 2015 and is flying the A-330 out of New York City. She currently resides in Houston, Texas with her family. 

Prior to serving as the National Aeromedical Group Chair for the past four years, she served as the National Aeromedical Vice Chair. She aids pilots in the return-to-work process when they have lost their medical status. In 2017, she helped develop the Pilot Peer Support (PPS) program that has become the training standard for ALPA, International. Since program development, she has been a primary instructor and the administrator of the program and helped develop a recurrent program for pilot volunteers to attend. She has worked in numerous capacities supporting Aeromedical, Cabin Air Quality, Pilot Assistance and Pilot Peer Support. She also facilitates the ALPA International Health and Environment Working Group and serves on the IFALPA HUPER (Human Performance) and Female Pilot Work Group.