Lift 2020 Spring
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY SPRING 2020 On the Horizon Alumni are leading the autonomous systems industrial revolution PAGE 12 FROM THE PRESIDENT Llft ......................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Volume 16, No. 1 Lift, the alumni magazine of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is published twice annually (spring and fall) by the division of This issue focuses on autonomous Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement. systems. From a technology Copyright © 2020 perspective, they can help us collect Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Florida/Arizona/Worldwide data without putting anyone in harm’s 1 Aerospace Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 way. We can restore independence to All rights reserved. people by giving them new mobility Senior Vice President of Philanthropy options. We can move materials & Alumni Engagement Marc Archambault expeditiously. As impressive as the Executive Director of Alumni Engagement “how” of these systems is — now, Bill Thompson (’87) more than ever, I want to acknowledge PHILANTHROPY & ALUMNI the “why.” We don’t pursue these COMMUNICATIONS Executive Director of Communications projects to create gizmos and gadgets. Anthony Brown Senior Director of Communications/Editor We create them to put technology in Sara Withrow Assistant Director of Communications service to society. Melanie Stawicki Azam Assistant Director of Digital Engagement & Philanthropy Applying science, technology, Beyond our campus communities, our work Alan Marcos Pinto Cesar engineering and mathematics — STEM as a global research and engineering institution Assistant Digital Engagement Coordinator skills — to real-world problems goes back to has far-reaching impact and potential. This Cynthia Puckett issue describes how an alumnus — through our roots in early aviation. So does a sense CONTRIBUTORS of duty to our communities. At 17, John Paul his employer — is using autonomous systems Mike Cavaliere, News Manager Riddle volunteered to drive his town’s doctor to deliver medical supplies to remote areas Ken Hurt (‘97) to house calls. The 1918 influenza pandemic in Rwanda and Ghana. Our unmanned aerial Michaela Jarvis hit his hometown of Pikeville, Kentucky, so systems (UAS) faculty and students have also Daryl LaBello, Multimedia Producer hard that officials were too overwhelmed surveyed cultural sites in Kosovo, monitored David Massey, Multimedia Producer to report all the deaths to the board of the aftermath of hurricanes and fires, helped Connor McShane, Multimedia Producer health. Riddle got the flu but recovered to farmers mitigate climate change with high- Sam Mittelsteadt enjoy 82 more years. Today, Embry-Riddle resolution imagery, and are developing robots Kevin Montgomery, Archivist Jon O’Neill, Marketing Copywriter Aeronautical University continues to live up that remove microplastics from beaches. Chris Pezalla (‘07, ‘12) to our founder’s example of civic service Our students will be qualified for the Ginger Pinholster, Assistant Vice President and resilience. more than 100,000 “disruptive” jobs for News & Research Communications In the present pandemic, our staff and projected by 2025 in transportation, energy, Kelly Pratt, Director of Special Projects faculty moved quickly to protect students telecommunications, the government, military Jenny Quill and our communities, migrating programs and even entertainment. Embry-Riddle has James Roddey, Director of Communications online and instituting wellness checks for always been synonymous with “all things Published by Casual Astronaut those who needed to remain on campus. aviation.” Our tradition of excellence continues Managing Editor We also extended our resources to help as we become synonymous with “all things Colleen Ringer younger students keep learning during autonomous,” inspired by a spirit of service. Creative Director Marc Oxborrow school closures. In March, we began offering Art Director free, online programs for young learners and Sincerely, Felicia Penza seven college-credit courses to high school Chief Client Officer students in Arizona and Florida. Our Massive Paul Peterson Open Online Course (MOOC) on aviation P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is fundamentals reached more than 3,000 President an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on homebound students across the world. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, veteran’s status or sexual orientation. Nonprofit identification: 59-0936101. Have you moved? Send address changes ~ or unsubscribe requests to: WEARE Embry-Riddle Office of Development An online resource to help Services, 1 Aerospace Blvd., EAGLESTRONG you stay Eagle Strong during Daytona Beach, FL 32114 alunml.-.u.edu/connect the coronavirus pandemic. Email: [email protected] Visit: alumni.erau.edu/update-my-info -0 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Spring 2020 24 22 6 20 12 IN OTHER WORDS ALUMNI @WORK 5 What Makes an 20 Powering Investment Engineer Tick? in Clean Energy 12 Ken Hurt’s (’97) journey took him David Rogers (’89) never from the U.S. Naval Academy imagined his career path would Piloting the to a small liberal arts college to lead to blockchain technology Embry-Riddle Wave of the GIVING TO EMBRY-RIDDLE WINGS OF LEGACY 22 Expanding Horizons Future 6 Front Row Seats FedEx, Spirit Airlines’ scholarships Autonomous technology The Betz brothers participate encourage diversity in aviation is turning science in history-making decade at fiction into reality Embry-Riddle ALUMNI IN ACTION 24 Rowing the Distance 8 Space Eagles Former Air Force aviator Alumni team contributes to historic sets world rowing record Boeing Starliner capsule landing CHECK OUT THE 26 Global LIFT WEBSITE! 10 Coastal A new section focused on Read Lift on your Collaboration Embry-Riddle’s international desktop, tablet or phone. Unmanned aircraft systems are impact and alumni around lift.erau.edu helping researchers track the the world changing coastal environment 2 Chatter 4 Feedback 30 Alumni News 34 Class Notes News and notes Embry-Riddle alumni A message from the Find out what your from the world of and friends offer executive director, fellow alumni are Embry-Riddle comments and opinions upcoming events and more up to now BOTTOM LEFT AND TOP RIGHT: DAVID MASSEY; BOTTOM RIGHT: FRANK ROGOZIENSKI FRANK ROGOZIENSKI RIGHT: BOTTOM MASSEY; DAVID RIGHT: TOP AND LEFT BOTTOM ON THE COVER: A Zipline drone launches in rural Africa to deliver precious medical supplies. Alumnus Joseph Marshall (‘10) is helping Zipline bring its delivery service to the United States (see Page 12). Photo courtesy of Zipline. LIFT ■ SPRING 2020 ■ ALUMNI.ERAU.EDU 1 NEWS & NOTES FROM THE WORLD OF EMBRY-RIDDLE CHATTER ALTIMETER: HIGH POINTS AT EMBRY-RIDDLE U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Colleges’ guidebook ranked the Prescott Campus No. 1 Best Undergraduate Aerospace/ Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering program for schools without a doctorate. The Daytona Beach Campus’ Undergraduate Aerospace/Aeronautical/ Astronautical Engineering program was ranked No. 4 (tie) for schools with a doctorate. Men’s Basketball Head Coach Steve Ridder celebrated his 700th career victory in November 2019. Embry-Riddle student Shlok Misra, The Prescott Campus was right, and his research partner, designated a National Center of Tanish Jain, won top honors at the Academic Excellence in Cyber USAIRE Student Awards Program. Defense Education through 2024. U.S. News & World Report ranked Embry-Riddle No. 1 for online undergraduate degrees EAGLE ACCEPTS PRESTIGIOUS tailored to veterans; and No. 2 for its online bachelor degree INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE AWARD programs, overall. Embry-Riddle student Shlok Misra was “Protectionism in the Defense Aerospace Eduardo Rojas, assistant one of only five students worldwide awarded Industry in a Multipolar World.” professor of computer and top honors in the 14th annual Association “Going to Paris was a great opportunity to electrical engineering, received of United States and European Aerospace interact with leading industry executives and a National Science Foundation Industries Representatives (USAIRE) Student represent Embry-Riddle at a global platform,” Faculty Early Career Development Awards Program. Misra says. Program award. Misra and his research partner, ..... Terry Oswalt, chair and professor .. “Going to Paris was a great opportunity Tanish Jain, a student . .. .. of engineering physics, was to interact with leading industry named an inaugural American at the University of Astronomical Society Fellow. California San Diego, . .. executives and represent Embry-Riddle won scholarships and .. at a global platform.” — SHLOK MISRA Susan Allen, associate dean were flown to Paris in of research and distinguished November to attend professor of mechanical the USAIRE gala and present their paper to USAIRE includes representatives from over engineering, was named a global industry and government leaders. 100 American and European companies in the National Academy of Inventors The two students spent six months aviation, aerospace and defense industries. Its 2019 Fellow. researching and writing a comparative analysis student awards program aims to identify the of two emerging military powers — India next generation of administrators, disruptors and Israel — and their defense capabilities and visionaries. for the award program’s prescribed topic: — James Roddey USAIRE 2 LIFT• SPRING 2020• ALUMNI.ERAU.EDU Park Place Embry-Riddle’s