PDF Download
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY SPRING/SUMMER 2021 FLIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Alumni help industry find new ways to adapt to global pandemic Spring/Summer 2021 FROM THE PRESIDENT 8 Volume 17, No. 1 Lift, the alumni magazine of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is published twice annually (spring/summer and fall/winter) by the division of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement. made a full recovery, the pandemic Copyright © 2021 and struggling economy sidelined his Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University goal of becoming a pilot with the U.S. Florida/Arizona/Worldwide Army Air Corps. Rather than abandon 1 Aerospace Blvd. 26 Daytona Beach, FL 32114 his dream, Riddle focused on aviation All rights reserved. 6 maintenance, until a spot in the Army flight program opened. At 25, he Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Bill Thompson (’87) opened a flight school of his own that grew into an aviation business. Based PHILANTHROPY & ALUMNI on this early experience, he insisted his COMMUNICATIONS Executive Director of Communications pilots complete extensive maintenance Anthony Brown training, convinced it would make them Senior Director of Communications/Editor safer operators. His conviction paid Sara Withrow off when the company’s reputation for Assistant Director of Communications Melanie Stawicki Azam 20 12 safety led to its success in securing Assistant Director of Digital This issue of Lift celebrates CAM-24, one of the first U.S. Air Mail Engagement & Philanthropy Alan Marcos Pinto Cesar routes. The government contract IN OTHER WORDS GIVING TO EMBRY-RIDDLE Embry-Riddle alumni who are Alumni Digital Engagement Coordinator stabilized the fledgling company, Cynthia Puckett 5 Family Fuel 22 Giving to the translating resilience into action. allowing it to expand to cargo service, Sergio Sovero (’16) recounts his Bigger Picture photogrammetry and even aviation- CONTRIBUTORS From seizing new market journey to becoming a pilot, which Retired professors make based tourism. Mike Cavaliere, News Manager 12 opportunities for business took him from Peru to Florida planned gift to support student- Each of us, in our own way, carries Michaela Jarvis jet fractional ownership, to Daryl LaBello, Multimedia Producer Flight at athlete scholarships forward Riddle’s combination of daring WINGS OF LEGACY David Massey, Multimedia Producer retooling a critical supply and pragmatism. As you will see from Annelise O’Donnell the End of 6 Riding the First ALUMNI IN ACTION chain, to raising standards of the achievements featured in this issue, Ginger Pinholster, Associate Vice President excellence at the intersection our graduates continue to embody for News & Research Communications Wave of Feminism 24 By Air or by Sea creativity and productivity even in the the Tunnel Embry-Riddle hosted high- Drew Ferguson (‘01) is preparing EAGLE WRITERS CORPS of safety, quality and customer face of unexpected challenges. Alumni help industry profile fliers during 1929 students for aviation and Tristyn Bemis (‘20) service, Eagles move our These success stories are a source find new ways to adapt Women’s Air Derby maritime careers Kim Sheeter industry forward. of pride. We can’t say it too much: Sergio Sovero (’16) to global pandemic FLIGHT PATH GLOBAL Thank you for serving as ambassadors Jack Sprankle (’76) Although the past year brought of inspiration. Thank you, too, for the 8 Blasting Off 26 Fu eling Change delays and detours, our insight, generous financial support that funds Published by Casual Astronaut to Cure Cancer Aviation Management students experience and sheer love of scholarship, research and futures. Managing Editor help revise aviation fuel Colleen Ringer Billionaire charters humanity’s flight and exploration remained as Embry-Riddle graduates have always Creative Director CHECK OUT THE first all-civilian spaceflight regulations in Brazil motivating as ever. I like to believe we shown the industry what excellence Marc Oxborrow LIFT WEBSITE! share a little historical DNA as a part looks like, and your support will Art Director GLOBAL Felicia Penza Read Lift on your of Embry-Riddle. Resourcefulness is continue that tradition. 10 Team Eagle Chief Client Officer desktop, tablet or phone. 28 Eagle Odyssey the core of our legacy. And how we Alumni collaborate on aviation Paul Peterson lift.erau.edu Alumnus honored for creating advance, even when the route seems Onward. Upward. Beyond, modeling and simulation company 1980s Greek alumni group indirect, can bring unexpected gains. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity ALUMNI @WORK Embry-Riddle’s founder, John Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, Paul Riddle, faced setbacks that feel P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. age, national origin, disability, veteran’s 20 Online Detective familiar to us a century later. In 1918, President status or sexual orientation. Albane Flamant (’10) analyzes Nonprofit identification: 59-0936101. he caught influenza. Although he Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University online conversations to benefit Have you moved? Send address changes or unsubscribe requests to: brands and customers Embry-Riddle Office of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement, 1 Aerospace Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Email: [email protected] 2 Cha tter 4 Feedback 30 Alumni News 36 Class Notes Visit: alumni.erau.edu/update-my-info News and notes Embry-Riddle alumni A message from the Find out what your PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER from the world of and friends offer executive director, fellow alumni are Embry-Riddle comments and opinions upcoming events and more up to now ON THE COVER: Illustration by Daniel Hertzberg LIFT SPRING/SUMMER 2021 ALUMNI.ERAU.EDU 1 NEWS & NOTES FROM THE WORLD OF EMBRY-RIDDLE BY THE NUMBERS EMBRY-RIDDLE Expanding Innovation CHATTER Research Park adds Advanced Technology RESEARCH PARK and Manufacturing Center 22 Embry-Riddle’s Research Park will soon The Research Park brings business companies served gain another 10,000 square feet of leaders together with Embry-Riddle faculty ALTIMETER: production space to advance innovation and and students, promotes out-of-the- HIGH POINTS AT entrepreneurship in Central Florida. box thinking and drives technological Dubbed the Advanced Technology and advancement, says Embry-Riddle President EMBRY-RIDDLE $41.1M Manufacturing Center, the new facility will P. Barry Butler. “Our highly collaborative include 5,000 square feet of space for both business ecosystem encourages Worldwide Campus Chancellor raised from grants emerging and established businesses in need transformative ideas enriched by many John R. Watret was appointed and investors of a larger footprint for light assembly and different perspectives,” he adds. “By by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to Matthew Robinaugh, a senior in the Florida Virtual School Board aerospace engineering, confirms the production operations. WeatherFlow-Tempest providing an environment where academia, of Trustees. rotation direction of the motors and Inc., an existing Research Park innovator industry and entrepreneurship can share syncs the transmitter on a drone. 104 focused on weather observation, modeling their best ideas, entrepreneurs in Embry- Embry-Riddle Director of and forecasting technology, was first in Riddle’s Research Park are translating full-time jobs created Athletics John Phillips has line to claim all of the leasable space. The innovation into new products, services been named chair of the newly other half of the building will be devoted to and solutions.” formed Business of Small Research Park operations. — Ginger Pinholster College Athletics Advisory Board Air Taxi Innovators (BOSCA). The BOSCA board will $67,000 be tasked with giving back to the Students gather scalable data for average annual salary collegiate athletics profession and mentoring future leaders. Honeywell’s urban air mobility research Students Jenesis Tucker, Kyle Honeywell is partnering with Embry-Riddle student participants have the same major — Kingsberry and Chelsea Slater to design air taxis and help shape the urban they also come from the computer science 159 will receive paid internships, air mobility (UAM) industry — and students and unmanned aircraft systems programs, for student interns employed professional mentoring and are more than just along for the ride. They’re instance — Cross and Stoutenburgh share an grants of $2,000 as awardees of benefiting from hands-on research opportunities, academic focus in propulsion, and both say they the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship internships and employment offers. are fascinated with engines. competition, which was The project, which aims to characterize the “It was within the last few years that I realized $90M co-founded by alumnus Col. B. Embry-Riddle’s John Mica flight performance of future urban air vehicles by my passion for engines,” Stoutenburgh says. Alvin Drew Jr., USAF, Ret. (’95) to in total economic impact Engineering and Aerospace help “bring long-overdue diversity using scaled-down models, involved six Embry- “They’re a topic I could talk about all day.” in Florida, to date Innovation Complex to the U.S. aerospace industry.” Riddle juniors last year, and all were offered Cross, who is the team lead on the UAM (MicaPlex) is at full capacity. Honeywell summer internships, according to project, says the research will help to determine MASSEY DAVID Three student teams scored in Johann Dorfling, assistant professor of aerospace characteristics of full-size air taxis — capable the