Denise Wilson
Aviator | Entrepreneur | Founder & President of The Jet Agent
Denise Wilson is an aviator, entrepreneur, and the founder & president of The Jet Agent. Wilson has over 25 years of experience in all facets of the aviation industry, from flying jets to founding several aviation companies. She recently founded Scottsdale-based The Jet Agent, a jet aircraft acquisition consultancy providing concierge-level acquisition representation and aircraft sales.
In 2007, Wilson founded and served as President and CEO of Desert Jet, an aircraft acquisitions, sales, management and charter company. In 2013, she founded Desert Jet Maintenance, a Part 145 repair station, and in 2015 she founded Desert Jet Center, an FBO based in the greater Palm Springs area. She earned FAA Part 135 and 145 certifications in record time. She turned down an invitation to appear on Shark Tank and instead grew revenues to $20 million annually with no debt or investors by bootstrapping her company. Additionally, her company was included on Inc. 500’s list of the nation’s fastest-growing, privately owned companies for five years straight, the Women President’s Organization’s list of the 50 Fastest Growing Women Owned/Led Companies Worldwide and was named one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in the US by Entrepreneur Magazine. She was named to the EY Winning Women program, the Young Presidents Organization, and won several awards from organizations such as Enterprising Women, the National Association Women Business Owners and Women in Aviation, International.
Wilson began her professional piloting career over 20 years ago, flying jets in both business aviation and commercial operations, and has served as an airline captain, instructor, Chief Pilot, and Check Airman, piloting numerous varieties of jets over a span of 9000+ hours and eight type ratings.
Wilson has been a NBAA Certified Aviation Manager for 15 years and previously was a director on the Certified Aviation Manager Governing Board. She was a member of the Angel Flight West board of directors for six years and recently founded the nonprofit Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra where she is the Board Chair and performs as Principal Oboist.