Northwest Aerospace News December | January Issue No. 12 | Page 14

Dr. Scott Burgess operates a UAS at the Arizona Aerospace Day in January 2019.
H
e states “No matter where you are physically
located, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University makes
it possible for you to take your career to the next
level. With 40-plus degree programs, you can choose
from various areas of study ranging from Aerospace
Engineering to Unmanned Systems.”  Their astound-
ing enrollment numbers, 23,000 students online, are
a testimony to ERAU’s contribution to the future of
aerospace.
John Hornibrook, a onetime flight instructor and 30-
year veteran of the aviation industry, chose a growth
journey that included specialized training in his
industry of choice. In a recent interview with ERAU’s
Katharina Lane, Hornibrook confessed that when he
began his aviation career he never dreamed he would
one day be enrolled in a post-graduate degree program
at Embry-Riddle. After being a pilot for Alaska Air,
Hornibrook worked his way through the ranks to Vice
President of Flight Operations for Horizon Air, an Alas-
ka subsidiary. “When I became the Managing Director
and System Chief Pilot for Alaska Airlines, I quickly
realized most of the people I work with had a master’s
degree and had graduated from college within the past
10 years. I work with people of all ages, and in order to
compete, I needed to go back to school.”
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NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
Embry-Riddle’s virtual crash lab.
Today, within weeks of completing his Master’s of Science
in Leadership at ERAU, Hornibrook realizes the program
has impacted every aspect of his life. The insights and
instruction in critical thinking and organizational develop-
ment have been integral to his ability to develop high-per-
forming teams, as well as helping him see past his own
biases to objectively evaluate ideas and innovations.
Embry-Riddle’s instructors embody the principles they
teach, exhibited by their availability to student inquiries and
discussion, confirms Hornibrook. He states this access has
benefitted him beyond the actual instruction. “I’ve probably
spoken on the phone with every single professor I’ve had.
They are all really great and involved. It is a real partner-
ship and talking with them made my life so much better.”
Hornibrook goes on to express, “This was one of the best
things I’ve ever done for myself. I’m really looking forward
to my next challenge and to using the habits I’ve learned at
Embry-Riddle to continue lifelong learning.