While Rain Wrenn’s days are busy supporting senior Nevada County executives as an administrative assistant, she is also pursuing a passion for aviation and helping others do the same.

A licensed pilot, Wrenn spearheaded a partnership between the County and Nevada Joint Union High School to offer a new career technical education (CTE) pathway for aviation. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, Nevada Union High School students will be able to take aviation classes with options to ultimately focus on either pilot or drone operator pathways.

This is the first time the high school has ever offered such a program. Wrenn said it can lead to lucrative careers for the students that are full of purpose.

 “Aviation is an industry that can create an incredible life full of adventure and learning, I wish someone had told me when I was young, now I want to do everything I can to share this incredible opportunity with young people,” she said.

Moreover, the training to become a pilot takes less time and is less expensive than careers that make comparable salaries such as doctors and lawyers, said Wrenn, adding that commercial pilots for United with 10 years’ experience can make upwards of $350,000 a year.

She is grateful for the support of Luke Browning, director of CTE and state and federal programs for the school district, Omar Andrade, a CTE counselor, Juan Browne, a leader in the local flying community, and retired Nevada County Airport Manager Kevin Edwards, in getting the high school aviation program going and spreading the word to students.  Those who are interested in enrolling in the aviation CTE pathway should check with school counselors at Nevada Union High School.

Wrenn, who has worked for Nevada County for two years, became interested in pursuing aviation as a career after chatting with a flight attendant one day during a flight. Not long afterward, she booked a “discovery flight” with a flight school in Auburn that allowed her to sit in the cockpit and try out the controls. She was hooked. She is currently working to get certifications that would allow her to fly internationally for a major commercial airline like United or Delta.

Now, she is a board member of the Golden Empire Flying Association, where she helps make flight training scholarships available for young people, and she hosts the Wednesday night Guerrilla Ground School for aviation enthusiasts at the County Airport in Grass Valley. The free school is open to the public and features talks on a variety of aviation topics.

Through it all, Nevada County leadership has encouraged her aviation goals.  Chief Fiscal Officer Erin Mettler, Wrenn's supervisor, said: “Supporting her passion allows an enriched experience for her and with her County background, she is an ambassador for us with CTE and the airport.”

Wrenn said she has also appreciated the support of County Executive Officer Alison Lehman and other County leaders as she works to expand aviation opportunities for local students and awareness of the County's Airport. 

“It has been amazing working for the County,” she said.