THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY FALL 2018 EYES ON THE SKY How Dennis Jones became the NTSB’s first African-American managing director PAGE 10 Fall 2018 FROM THE PRESIDENT 10 16 Volume 14, No. 2 Lift, the alumni magazine of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is published twice annually (spring and fall) by the division of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement. Copyright © 2018 “Your wings already exist. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Florida/Arizona/Worldwide All you have to do is fly.” 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 A feather featured prominently All rights reserved. 6 in the design of our 2018 Senior Vice President of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement commencement programs. Marc Archambault 12 Senior Executive Director of Philanthropy Feathers seem delicate — but a Christopher Lambert, J.D. Executive Director of Alumni Engagement feather is both light and strong. Bill Thompson (’87) PHILANTHROPY & ALUMNI Bald eagles have about 7,000 feathers promote research-driven education COMMUNICATIONS in layers that channel airflow and insulate and entrepreneurship. The plan Executive Director of Communications Anthony Brown them. The shape and spread of an eagle’s identifies steps to grow our culture of Director of Communications/Editor primary feathers control lift and direction philanthropy, but our goals go beyond Sara Withrow 22 in flight. Tail feathers stabilize movement. encouraging giving. We want to build Assistant Director of Communications Melanie Stawicki Azam Eagles fly smart. They climb high in lifelong relationships by recognizing Assistant Director of Digital Engagement & a thermal, then glide down to catch the your contributions, offering career Philanthropy Alan Marcos Pinto Cesar IN OTHER WORDS ALUMNI @WORK next updraft. When they soar through development resources and cultivating 5 ‘The Long Gold Line’ 22 Tinkering with the a thermal in a home flock, they are volunteerism that invites alumni to join CONTRIBUTORS Mark Overley reflects on the flight described as a kettle of eagles. Our forces with faculty and students. Melanie Hanns, Senior Communications Master Control System Advisor team’s origins and successes Laura Tyler Perryman engineers 2018 graduates now soar with a kettle What we will do matters. So does Daryl LaBello, Multimedia Producer 16 pain and disease management David Massey, of Eagles. who we are. I am reaffirming our identity Multimedia Producer WINGS OF LEGACY technology for human good Connor McShane, Multimedia Producer Airborne We also move forward with great through a simple statement of our values, 6 40 Years of Ascent Sam Mittelsteadt Asia’s aviation industry friends and supporters. We recently mission and vision: The Prescott Campus celebrates GIVING TO EMBRY-RIDDLE Kevin Montgomery, Archivist is experiencing rapid honored former Congressman John Mica Our Values: We embrace collaboration Mark Overley (‘81) its past while growing toward 24 Double the Impact with the Sky King Award, in gratitude for and teamwork, ethical and responsible Ginger Pinholster, Assistant Vice President growth, and Embry-Riddle the future Prescott Campus alumnus vows to for News & Research Communications is in the thick of it match gifts to Doryland Aerospace his service to Embry-Riddle. The award behavior, and a culture of research and Jenny Quill FLIGHT PATH Engineering Endowment itself is a smaller replica of the bronze discovery that mirrors the professions James Roddey, Director of Communications eagle sculpture that stands in the lobby we serve. Bob Score, Multimedia Producer 10 Eyes on the Sky How a kid from Long ALUMNI IN ACTION of the Jim W. Henderson Administration Our Mission: We teach the science, Published by Casual Astronaut Island became the NTSB’s 26 Direct Connections and Welcome Center at the Daytona practice and business necessary Senior Editor first African-American Colleen Ringer Capt. Nikki Yogi’s ACE program pairs Beach Campus. to prepare students for productive managing director Creative Director Air Force ROTC Det. 157 cadets with I remind new graduates that they careers in aviation, aerospace and other Marc Oxborrow CHECK OUT THE Embry-Riddle Det. 157 alumni for benefit, by association, from your technologically driven industries. Art Director LIFT WEBSITE! 12 Going Global mentorship opportunities and an Felicia Penza Read Lift on your desktop, Study abroad experience helps in-depth look at active-duty life success. Your achievements enhance Our Vision: We will be a global Chief Client Officer our reputation. In appreciation, we are source for innovation and excellence in Paul Peterson tablet or phone and get students in careers and life immediate access to video working to increase your return on aerospace education and research. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is and other web extras. As alumni, you continue to inspire us an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity investment in an Embry-Riddle education. Employer and does not discriminate on lift.erau.edu As we enrich student experience with by how high you fly. the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, veteran’s research and entrepreneurship, our status or sexual orientation. graduates become more sought after and Sincerely, Nonprofit identification: 59-0936101. Have you moved? Send address changes your alma mater is more respected. or unsubscribe requests to: 2 Chatter 4 Feedback 28 Alumni News 32 Class Notes Our board recently approved a Embry-Riddle Office of Development Services, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., News and notes Embry-Riddle alumni A message from the Find out what your strategic plan that set objectives to P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 from the world of and friends offer executive director, fellow alumni are Email: [email protected] increase our enrollment; support President VICTOR DONNA COWAN, DALTON DER BEEK, STEPHANIE VAN BRYAN KORN, SUBMITTED, HOWARD LEFT: FROM BOTTOM CLOCKWISE Embry-Riddle comments and opinions upcoming events and more up to now Visit: alumni.erau.edu/update-my-info student success; expand globally; and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ON THE COVER: Dennis Jones (‘80) is managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board. Photo by Howard Korn. LIFT FALL 2018 ALUMNI.ERAU.EDU 1 NEWS & NOTES “Dr. Mason is a visionary leader with FROM THE WORLD John F. Kennedy trained at New Faces OF EMBRY-RIDDLE this seaplane base deep knowledge of higher-education in Miami. at the Top challenges and an exemplary track record for making good things happen,” says Embry- CHATTER University fills four key Riddle Board Chair Mori Hosseini (HonDoc leadership positions ’13; ’78, ’79, ’82). Senior Leadership Embry-Riddle recently welcomed Sally Three new executives also recently Mason, Ph.D., as the newest member to its joined the university. Lon D. Moeller is Board of Trustees, and three new executives now senior vice president for academic to its senior administrative team. affairs and provost; Marc Archambault is Named to the Embry-Riddle Board in senior vice president of philanthropy and March, Mason served as the 20th president of alumni engagement; and Anne Broderick ALTIMETER: the University of Iowa (UI) from 2007 to 2015. Botteri is vice president of marketing and HIGH POINTS AT A president emerita of UI, Mason retired in communications. EMBRY-RIDDLE 2016 as a tenured faculty member of the UI Read more about Embry-Riddle’s senior JFK Is ‘Forever an Eagle’ biology department. While there, she oversaw leadership at lift.erau.edu/new-faces. Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide a historic era of campus transformation. — Ginger Pinholster From top left, clockwise: Sally Mason, Lon D. Moeller, President John F. Kennedy learned to fly Anne Broderick Botteri and Marc Archambault. Campus was honored by IDG Communications with the 2018 at an Embry-Riddle seaplane base in 1944 CIO 100, an annual award recognizing organizations that exemplify excellence in ocuments have come to light that confirm “The flights recorded in the log took place in Fulfilling Pilot Demand in Asia information technology. that President John F. Kennedy learned Miami, in Piper Cub seaplanes, the same type of BY THE NUMBERS: to fly at an Embry-Riddle seaplane base aircraft used at the seaplane base,” Montgomery International partnership provides flight The Prescott Campus’ Student in Miami during World War II. The training says. But without a record of the seaplane training to Asia Campus students ALTIMETER Aerospace/Aeronautical/ Athletes Astronomical Engineering D took place over 10 days in May 1944. base’s fleet (with tail numbers), the training site (CONTINUED) program was ranked The findings, verified by was inconclusive. Soar in the No. 1 in the nation among Embry-Riddle Archivist Kevin Classroom undergraduate institutions Montgomery, have been Social Media Connection Professor of Homeland in the 2018 edition of corroborated by presidential A chance Facebook message in U.S. Student Athlete Security (DB) William J. “Bill” News & World Report’s historian Douglas Brinkley. WATCH spring 2017 to the Embry-Riddle GPA Results Lahneman, Assistant Professor Best Colleges guide. “JFK was staying in Palm Alumni group from Bambi Miller at Spring 2018 in the College of Aeronautics Beach at his father’s home during View a the Piper Pilot Shop in Vero Beach, (WW) Narcrisha Norman 75% The Prescott Campus Golden the same weeks shown in his documentary Florida, led to the final puzzle piece. 66% and Professor of Aviation Eagles Flight Team won its Finance (DB) Vedapuri Sunder logbook,” says Brinkley, co-author about the JFK- “Bambi had a customer who 12th National Intercollegiate Raghavan received 2018-19 of JFK: A Vision for America, which Embry-Riddle had told her she had trained at our Flying Association Safety and 50% U.S. Fulbright Scholar Awards. Flight Evaluation Conference was published in 2017. “He had a connection at: seaplane base,” says Alan Cesar, 39% championship in May. The win love of aviation and coastal areas, lift.erau.edu/ an employee at Embry-Riddle and a 3.0 or The 2018 Daytona Beach marks the team’s first three-peat so it all makes sense.