First Generation Pilots
Our Story
First Generation Pilots (FGP) is an organization of pilots who have little to no aviation background in their family, aiming to pursue aviation careers. Founded in 2025 by a group of college students at the University of North Dakota, FGP aims to build a community where access to advice, networks, and trusted guidance is within reach.
Our mission is to inspire and assist first-generation pilots in achieving their aviation goals by providing education, mentorship, scholarship, and professional development opportunities. By building an inclusive and supportive community, we help aspiring pilots build the knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to move forward in their careers.
Board of Directors
Lucas de Jager
Chair
Currently serving as Chair, Lucas founded the student organization First Generation Pilots (FGP) in 2024 at the University of North Dakota. Lucas then founded the FGP non-profit organization in late 2025. Lucas served as President of the UND’s FGP Chapter from its inception until 2025, in addition to serving as the President of UND’s Aviation Safety Association. Lucas has also held the roles of Director of Industry Relations and Secretary in UND’s Student Aerospace Advisory Council. At UND, Lucas was recognized as a Lillian Elsinga Outstanding Student Leader and is a Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation Scholar. Currently employed as a Flight Instructor and Flight Data Monitoring Analyst at UND, Lucas is nearing graduation of two B.S.A’s in Commercial Aviation and Aviation Safety & Operations.
Augustas Senuta
Vice-Chair
Augustas “Gus” Senuta has served as the Vice Chair since FGP’s founding and is a Co-Founder and former Vice President of the University of North Dakota Chapter. Gus is originally from Duxbury, Massachusetts, where he earned his Private Pilot certificate and founded his high school’s aviation club. At UND, he also founded the Flying Musicians Association Chapter. He has also completed two internships, one with the Experimental Aircraft Association and another with Delta Air Lines. In 2025, Gus graduated with a B.S.A. in Commercial Aviation and a B.B.A. in Aviation Management, and currently works as a Certified Flight Instructor at UND. He is looking to make the next step in his career. He is inspired by the future of FGP and is excited to help other first-generation pilots succeed in their aviation journeys.
Logan Laier
Secretary
Logan Laier has served on the Board of Directors since the founding of First Generation Pilots and is a Co-Founder and the current President of the University of North Dakota chapter. Originally from Stillwater, Minnesota, Logan began his aviation journey at the University of North Dakota, where he is pursuing a B.S.A. in Commercial Aviation with a specialization in Business Aviation. As a first-generation pilot, Logan has leveraged his experiences at UND and through FGP to build meaningful connections across multiple areas of the aviation industry. He is passionate about expanding opportunity, mentorship, and community for aspiring pilots without traditional industry ties. Logan is committed to supporting the continued growth of FGP by helping expand its reach to campuses nationwide, having witnessed firsthand the impact a strong peer-led aviation community can have.
Tyler Svrusis
Treasurer
Tyler Svrusis is a Co-Founder and Board member of FGP, having previously served as the Treasurer for the University of North Dakota Chapter. Raised near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, his lifelong passion for aviation eventually led him to UND, where he balanced rigorous flight training with his passion for one of the nation’s premier college hockey programs.
Now a UND graduate with a B.S.A. in Commercial Aviation and a minor in Entrepreneurship, Tyler is eager to leverage his education and a decade of customer experience in a business aviation flying role. He is dedicated to the FGP network, aiming to broaden awareness of business aviation opportunities and mentor fellow first-generation pilots. Throughout his career, he has been guided by the saying: “It’s not what you know, it’s who.”