Our Staff
Office Staff
After over 20 years in the commercial insurance industry, Denise joined WINGS Flight School on a short term, temporary basis to help with the office and get all of the paperwork caught up. That was in April of 2010. Needless to say… not so temporary! While she has not YET earned her pilots’ license, she is a supporter of the general aviation community and loves helping people meet their goals and dreams.
After 18 years as a veterinary assistant, Desirae decided a change of scenery was necessary, and what better place than along side her mother, Denise. Not having an aviation background made things a slow start, but after a while Desirae knew she made the right choice and stuck with the family business. She doesn’t fly… but she isn’t saying she won’t!
Instructors
I grew up on or near an Air Force Base as my father was a Flight Engineer on the B-29, B-50, B-36 then the KC-97. I knew a lot about these planes from reading everything I could find. I think I surprised him a couple of times telling him things about the B-50 that were supposed to be secret. I read all about it in the Saturday Evening Post.
When I started working delivering newspapers I bought every plastic model available. When we moved to McGill A.F. Base I got into U-controls Radio controlled airplanes. I soloed my first airplane on my 17th birthday at Dow A.F. Base, Bangor, ME. In 1962 I was in Texas and watched a flight of OH-23 Army helicopters fly over our house. The next day I was in Ft. Worth talking to the Army recruiter. He told me I’d be a helicopter pilot in no time. He lied!
[Read More...]Instead, they made me a helicopter mechanic and sent me to Korea. I spent one year there and kept trying to get into the Warrant Officer program with no luck. Then to Ft Eustis, VA for CH-47 Chinook helicopter school then to Ft. Benning, GA until 1965. Within six weeks I was back in Korea as a civilian working on Army helicopters. I spent time all over Asia, then in 1967 I came back to the U.S. and went to flight school at Ardmore, OK. I picked up my Commercial SEL, Instrument and CFI. I then headed towards Ft. Worth and picked up my Helicopter Certificate and Airframe & Power plant rating. It was back overseas to Korea again. I taught at the Seoul Flying Club on weekends.
A year later, I was back in the U.S. and started flying at Flight Safety, Hayward, CA as a Flight Instructor in their 141 program. Two years later I started my own maintenance business, then Oakland Police Department offered me a job as a pilot, but I had to become a Police Officer. I was teaching part-time out of the Hayward airport for Fremont Flyers almost every day. In 1982, I took a job with East Bay Regional Parks and started flying their Hughes 500. In 1986 I left and went to Las Vegas and started flying a Piper PA-31 from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon so I could build my multi-engine time. In September of that year I headed to Yellow Stone to fight fires in a Sikorsky S-64 helicopter (twin engine). After the fire season I started flying a Piper PA-31 carrying cargo for DHL while working as a mechanic between the morning and evening flights. In 1988 I went to work for Eastern Airlines as a Co-pilot on the Boeing 727 until the airline closed.
Back in the Bay Area, I worked five part-time jobs, flying an airplane, a helicopter, teaching at a local college, doing annual inspections and acting as Chief Pilot for a helicopter company. I also worked with Professional Instrument Course. I’d go to a person’s home and give them ten days of instruction to get their instrument certificate. 1993 found me in Pago Pago flying a helicopter off the deck of Tuna Boat. I then went to Alaska and flew for the summer then back to Pago Pago. I was told by a couple of friends that the FAA would be hiring so I stayed on shore in the fall of 1995 and joined the FAA in May as a Federal Safety Inspector. After retirement, I joined WINGS Flight School as Assistance Chief and ultimately Chief instructor a couple of years ago.
Carlos Morales
Rating: 141 Chief Instructor, CFI, CFII
Carlos’ love for aviation began when he and his family took their first airline flight to Florida for vacation when he was a toddler. He knew he gained a spark for flying when all he looked forward to during the entire vacation was the flight back home, just to get back on the airplane. His passion only grew bigger for aviation as he grew up. Carlos did all of his training here at Wings Flight School, so to say he flies at home is an understatement.
[Read More...]Carlos is always excited and honored to pass on his knowledge and experience to people ready to take on the skies, and continues to set goals to never stop learning.
Jack Becker
Assistant Chief Flight Instructor
Rating: 141 CFI, CFII, MEI
Jack's aviation journey began in 2021 when he got his paragliding pilot license in Santa Barbara, CA. He has a Bachelor's degree in Commercial Real Estate from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. In his past life, Jack was a Commercial Real Estate lender and Debt & Equity Portfolio Manager. He started flight training at KFCM in March 2023 and earned his certificates in January 2024. Jack's hobbies include backpacking and hiking with his fiancé, snowboarding and paragliding. He's passionate about teaching and dedicated to helping his students safely achieve their aviation goals.
Mat Soto
Rating: 141 CFI
Welcome to WINGS Flight School! My name is Mathew and I’m a Certified Flight Instructor offering private and commercial pilot training. I take pride in delivering a learning experience that’s both effective and enjoyable, shaped by the kind of instructor I always wished I had when I was learning to fly.
My teaching style is patient and hands-off—I believe students learn best when they’re given the chance to make mistakes and understand them. That’s when real growth happens, and it gives me the opportunity to diagnose issues and guide you through them in a supportive way.
[Read More...]I teach from Saturday through Wednesday and tailor my lessons to fit each student’s pace and style. I’m 32 years old, recently became a proud father, and I aspire to become an airline pilot. Outside of flying, I love to travel, watch sports, and spend time with my family.
Being able to fly and teach for a living is something I’m incredibly grateful for. At WINGS, I’m not just helping students earn certificates—I’m helping them chase their dreams in the sky.
Thomaz Alves
Rating: 141 CFI, AGI, CFII
With a background in the pharmaceutical industry and a lifelong passion for aviation, I’m proud to be a Flight Instructor and a member of the WINGS team, since March 2026. Flying has been a childhood dream of mine, and I feel incredibly fortunate to turn that passion into a career helping others achieve their aviation goals. I provide instruction for Private, Instrument, and Commercial students, as well as Biennial Flight Reviews (BFRs) and Instrument Proficiency Checks (IPCs). I take pride in being safety-focused, detail-oriented, and committed to providing a positive, professional learning environment. Above all, I genuinely love what I do and strive to share that enthusiasm for aviation with every student I fly with.
Paul Frekot
Rating: 141 CFI, CFII, MEI
Paul’s love for aviation began with paragliding and flying through the skies underneath a canopy. That passion eventually led him to pursue his pilot training in St. Petersburg, Florida, and later to instruct at a flight school in Utah. As a Gold Seal Flight Instructor, he loves sharing that same excitement for flying with his students and helping them turn their own aviation dreams into reality.
When he’s not in the cockpit, you can usually find him golfing, hiking, traveling, or looking for the next adventure. I love exploring new places, experiencing the outdoors, and finding new ways to enjoy the world from a different perspective - sometimes at 10,000 feet!
Fahim Razay
Rating: 141 CFI, CFII
My aviation journey began in London, UK, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in aviation management. My trajectory shifted completely during an exchange program in Northern Michigan. Taking to the skies over the Great Lakes, I fell completely in love with flying and knew that the flight deck was where my career belonged. Having completed my CFI training here at Wings Flight School, I thoroughly enjoyed the training and family like-support the school provided.
[Read More...]As a first-generation pilot, I understand firsthand the challenges of navigating the aviation world, and I hope to use my experience and knowledge to help the next generation of pilots achieve their goals.
When I am not flying, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, exploring the outdoors, and hanging out with friends and family.
Lukas Jochem
Rating: 141 CFI
I am a Certified Flight Instructor with a strong background in aviation and over 12 years of service in the United States Air Force. My experience in high-performance aircraft maintenance and operations has instilled in me a deep commitment to safety, precision, and professionalism. I am passionate about developing confident, skilled pilots and take pride in providing structured, student-focused instruction. Whether you are pursuing your private pilot certificate or advancing toward a commercial career, I strive to make every lesson efficient, engaging, and safety-driven. When I’m not flying you can find me spending quality time with my wife and German shepherd Duke or better yet on the pickleball court!