This Mother’s Day, we recognize a woman whose influence reaches beyond her family, one who has helped shape an industry, build a lasting legacy, and lead with both strength and heart. For more than five decades, Jacky Clyman, Executive Vice President of Cockpit USA, has been a steady, guiding force behind the brand’s story.

With a perspective rooted in both business acumen and a strong maternal instinct, Jacky approaches leadership the same way she approaches life: with care, conviction, and an unwavering belief that every individual matters. In an industry often driven by speed and scale, she remains committed to something far more lasting - authenticity, connection, and legacy.

In this special Off Duty Story, Jacky reflects on the journey of building Cockpit USA, the lessons learned from family and motherhood, and what it means to lead with purpose over the course of 50 years.

Cockpit USA: As EVP overseeing wholesale, collaborations, and customer experience, how do you ensure a consistent brand identity across every channel?

Jacky Clyman: Nothing I do happens on its own, it takes the entire team to maintain a unified vision. That consistency comes from a shared belief in what we’ve been building for over 50 years.  If the team didn’t believe in what we are and have been offering for over 50 years, first under Avirex and now under Cockpit USA, it wouldn’t work. Our growth isn’t driven by a rigid strategy, but by an organic evolution.

 

When my husband Jeff founded the company, he had to learn everything from scratch, there were no preconceived notions of how to design, produce, or sell leather jackets. What began with small advertisements in aviation newspapers eventually led to trade shows, where international buyers discovered us during a time when American style was highly sought after. It was the late 1970s, designers were introducing the distressed denim movement, and naturally, the leather bomber jacket became its perfect counterpart. 

Cockpit USA: Mother’s Day is about influence and legacy, who has shaped yours?

Jacky Clyman: My mother-in-law had a tremendous influence on me. She managed her husband’s medical practice and showed me that the “woman behind the man”can be a real essential force.

 

When Jeff asked me to join the business, it felt like a natural step. While his passion was always rooted in product and design, I was able to help structure and grow the business alongside him.

 

Cockpit USA:  Have maternal instincts influenced your leadership style?

Jacky Clyman: Absolutely. I have a strong maternal instinct, and it translates directly into how I lead. I genuinely care about the people around me including our team, our customers and our partners.

 

I believe a brand is built one person at a time. No customer is more important than another. I still love being on the showroom floor, speaking with customers and hearing their stories, especially those who discovered us decades ago and are now returning.

 

How do you balance leading multiple areas of the business?

Jacky Clyman: With difficulty and honesty about the fact that I don’t always get it right. Business is never a straight path. You face challenges constantly, and there’s no perfect roadmap for how to handle them. It requires constant adjustment.

Jacky Clyman photographed above by Jürgen Frank for IWC

Cockpit USA : How does a heritage brand remain relevant today?

Jacky Clyman: I can’t say that we know how to stay relevant. For us, preserving history and creating products with real longevity is relevance. 

 

We see jackets from decades ago come back for repair, not replacement that are often to be passed down to the next generation.  That speaks to sustainability in a way that isn’t always discussed today. While repairs may not be "good for business", when was the last time a faux leather jacket was passed on instead of being dumped in the garbage?

 

Consumers also want to understand why something is worth investing in. While we may not operate with chat boxes and AI generated responses, we prioritize human connection like answering calls, responding to emails, and being present in real time. In many ways, we embrace being a "throwback" to a more personal time.

Cockpit USA: What does exceptional customer service look like to you?

Jacky Clyman: Being available, being honest, and truly listening. The relationship with the “customer” has always been key to me. We answer all calls (yes, I'm sure that we have missed some) and make ourselves accessible. Our emails and phone numbers are public, and we encourage customers to reach out. If there is any chance a product is defective we address it immediately.

 

I encourage our team to think like a customer and consider how they would want to be treated. Many websites invite you to send in a communication request form but how many times have you received an answer to those? How many times have you tried calling for the President or EVP or manager and gotten thru? People are warmly welcomed (or please tell me if not) to our retail showroom. You are not rushed and you can “browse”. You are not told a jacket fits when it doesn’t even if we miss a sale. That honesty is part of the Cockpit  USA customer experience.

 

Cockpit USA: Where did your passion for history begin?

Jacky Clyman: Entirely through my husband. His dedication to preserving history became the foundation of our brand.

 

When we began recreating WWII jackets in the 1970s, no one else was doing it. Jeff recognized that original surplus wouldn’t last and that insight led to the creation of Avirex and Cockpit USA.

Jeff & Jacky Clyman photographed at the American Airpower Museum 

Cockpit USA: What has been the greatest challenge and reward of working with family?

Jacky Clyman: I have shared with whomever wants to listen that “working with your spouse and being with them 24/7 is the main reason we are not divorced - while it’s a miracle we are not”. We’ve been married 55 years and working together since 1975! 

 

Now, with our son Scott joining the business after retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel flying F-16s, we’re navigating a new dynamic. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it also brings fresh perspectives and challenges as he finds his own way within the company.

 

Cockpit USA: What excites you most about the future?

Jacky Clyman: It’s open. Tomorrow is a new day.

 

Cockpit USA:  Looking back on 50 years, what advice would you share?

Jacky Clyman:  Be patient. Always think about how you would feel on the receiving end.

Jeff & Jacky Clyman and their two sons photographed at “Sun and Fun” taken by Gilles Lhote for Cockpit USA's “Cowboys of the Sky” book. 

From her early career in diplomacy to her time in the nonprofit world, each chapter of Jacky’s journey led her to the fashion industry with a uniquely grounded perspective. Working alongside her husband, founder Jeff Clyman, Jacky has helped guide the Cockpit USA brand from its early days under Avirex, to its evolution into an enduring symbol of American craftsmanship. Her leadership defined by intuition, resilience, and a deeply personal approach to relationships has not only shaped the company’s trajectory but also the experience of every customer who walks through our doors.

 

Honoring Jacky Clyman and all the mothers who balance care, strength, and leadership at home and in the workplace. Wishing you a very Happy Mother’s Day! 

 

Shop the jackets featured in this story here.