With more than 9,000 hours logged as a professional pilot, the flight deck is a pretty comfortable place for Chase Trissel (’17, ’25).
But when Chase was asked to step into a management role at the Part 91 company he was flying for in Virginia, things got a little turbulent. That’s when he turned to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to help smooth out the ride.
“I learned really quickly that leading people did not come naturally,” said Chase, who had earned a B.S. in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle in 2017. “In fact, I experienced a 70% turnover of my employees within one year. And at that time, I needed to make a decision. Am I going to step up and learn these leadership skills, or am I going to be a line pilot again?”
Why Choose Embry-Riddle’s M.S. in Leadership Program?
Chase opted to face the challenge and enrolled in the M.S. in Leadership program at Embry-Riddle Worldwide’s College of Business, which offers a unique blend of leadership theory, concepts, core knowledge, and tools and techniques that prepare students to lead confidently.
Chase says the impact has been almost immediate.
“I feel like I'm beginning a new chapter of my life and learning new leadership skills to be a better leader and a better person in general,” he said.
Taught by faculty members who have terminal degrees and are experts in the field, the online M.S. in Leadership course is designed to accommodate busy professionals and allow them to complete coursework as it fits into their schedules.
It’s also designed to showcase the critical importance of good leadership in any endeavor.
“Although leadership is not a technical skill, it has the potential of binding an organization together and ensuring its sustainability and productivity,” said Dr. Kees Rietsema, an associate professor at the Worldwide College of Business. “It is a key competency for those in organizational leadership positions and for any person, whether a parent, colleague or employee.”