Mobile native will lead aviation education center supporting region’s growing aerospace sector

MOBILE, Ala., Dec. 3, 2025 — Flight Works Alabama has named Mary Frances Clarke as its new managing director. Clarke will lead the nonprofit aviation education center, created as a partnership between the State of Alabama and Airbus to inspire future aviation professionals and address regional workforce needs.

Flight Works Alabama operates a 15,000-square-foot interactive facility with more than 40 hands-on exhibits and serves as the gateway for public tours of the Airbus A320 and A220 Final Assembly Lines. Since opening in 2020, the center has welcomed nearly 30,000 visitors, including nearly 6,000 students through field trips and tours, many from Mobile and Baldwin County schools.

As managing director, Clarke will oversee operations, educational programming and partnerships while advancing the center’s core objectives. Her early priorities include deepening relationships with local educators, expanding access for students across the region and supporting the continued growth in workforce programs that prepare young people for high-demand careers in aerospace and related technical fields.

“I’m honored to step into this role and join the team at Flight Works Alabama,” Clarke said. “This organization opens doors for students and families across our region and shows them what’s possible in aviation. A single visit or early exposure to the center can spark curiosity that leads to an Airbus tour, a FlightPath9 application and, for many, the beginning of a career. I look forward to expanding the experiences we provide and helping more students see a place for themselves in the industry.”

The partnership reflects Airbus’s sustained investment in Mobile’s aerospace sector. The company’s U.S. Manufacturing Facility now operates three final assembly lines and employs more than 2,000 people, making Mobile one of five locations globally where Airbus assembles commercial aircraft. Flight Works Alabama provides a critical talent pipeline for preparing the skilled workforce needed to support continued growth.

Central to the center’s mission is FlightPath9, a pre-employment training program that equips high school seniors and early career adults with advanced manufacturing skills and certifications. Since its launch, more than 300 graduates have transitioned into full-time apprenticeships at Airbus in Mobile. The center’s educational programs have also reached tens of thousands of individuals across Alabama and beyond.

“Mary Frances understands how to connect students, schools and industry in ways that create real opportunity,” said Daryl Taylor, Airbus SVP of U.S. Commercial Aircraft Operations and president of Flight Works Alabama. “Her proven leadership, combined with her commitment to Mobile, position her perfectly to lead Flight Works Alabama as we continue expanding opportunities for young people to discover careers in aviation.”

Clarke Joins Flight Works Alabama from Fuse Project, where she served as director of development. She managed daily operations, budgets and vendor relationships while directing programming across three partner schools. She led major fundraising efforts, including the Lip Sync Battle event, which raised more than $100,000, and launched the BOO! Project campaign. She also oversaw community programs including the Order of Fuse and the Fuse Factory co-working space. Before joining Fuse Project, Clarke served as controller for DocRx, where she managed financial operations.

A Mobile native, Clarke is actively involved in the region’s civic and nonprofit community. She serves on the board of Mobile Ballet and is a member of Mobile United’s Leadership Mobile Class of 2024. She was named one of Mobile Bay Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2025 and contributes through committee roles with the South Alabama Coalition of Nonprofits and the Mobile Chamber’s Young Professionals network.

About Flight Works Alabama

Flight Works Alabama is a nonprofit aviation experience center and workforce education hub created through a partnership between the State of Alabama and Airbus. The organization is designed to inspire, equip and educate the next generation of aviation professionals through hands-on learning, workforce development programming and community engagement. The center is also home to FlightPath9, a pre-apprenticeship program that prepares individuals for full-time roles at Airbus in Mobile. The center also hosts public tours of the Airbus A320 and A220 Final Assembly Lines. More information is available at flightworksalabama.org.