Finding a New Path in Aviation

Discovering a Passion for Aviation

At the age of 12, I was fortunate enough to complete my first discovery flight. From there, I had the opportunity to attend several summer aviation camps at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus. Those experiences quickly made two things clear to me: Aviation was what I wanted to pursue in life, and Embry-Riddle was where I wanted to go to college.

I eventually attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, graduating in 2020 with a B.S. in Aeronautical Science. There, I obtained my Instrument rating through my Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII) certificate. Like many new pilots entering the industry during COVID-19, I graduated at a very difficult time for aviation. Opportunities were extremely limited, but I eventually found work as a flight instructor at a small flight school in South Florida, where I continued building flight time toward my goal of becoming an airline pilot.

When Everything Changed

By the summer of 2021, I was close to reaching that goal. I had accumulated nearly 1,000 flight hours, completed interviews with PSA Airlines, accepted a job offer and had a class date scheduled just a few weeks away. After years of training and preparation, I was finally about to begin my career as an airline pilot.

Then, on June 18, 2021, everything changed.

I was flying with a student when the aircraft’s magneto housing detached, resulting in a complete loss of engine power. We were forced to make an emergency landing in a wooded area. My student walked away with only a couple of scratches, but the windshield on my side of the aircraft was crushed during the impact. I suffered a severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Instead of reporting for airline training a few weeks later, I began a long and unexpected journey, spending months in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, followed by years of continued therapy and rebuilding my life. I had to relearn basic skills and adjust to challenges I never could have anticipated. This included how to walk, talk and hear. For the first time in my life, I truly had no idea what my future would look like.

Finding a New Path in Aviation

What I did know was that I still retained my knowledge and memories. Most importantly, I still loved aviation. However, nearly everything I understood about the industry revolved around becoming a pilot. I had spent years preparing for one very specific career, and suddenly I had to figure out what else aviation had to offer.

After three years of rehab, I moved back to Daytona Beach. During a visit to Embry-Riddle, I spoke with several people, including Lisa Kollar, Assistant Dean of Student Success, as well as Dr. Alan Stolzer, Dean of the College of Aviation. I told them about my accident, my recovery and how I was searching for the best path forward. I knew I still wanted aviation to be part of my life, but I had no idea what that would look like.

Dr. Stolzer suggested that I speak with Dr. John Robbins, Chair of the Aeronautical Science Department. That conversation opened a door I never expected. I was offered an opportunity to work as a graduate assistant within the College of Aviation while pursuing a master’s degree.

I had never envisioned earning a master’s degree, and after everything I had been through, I did not know whether I was capable of doing it. But I had been given an opportunity to potentially build a new future for myself, so I took it.

Discovering Aviation Safety

Through my graduate studies, I discovered a new passion for aviation safety. I began learning about safety systems, accident investigation, human factors, risk management and other areas of aviation I had briefly been exposed to while focused on becoming a professional pilot. I started to realize just how many ways I could remain involved in the industry I loved without following the path I had originally planned.

My experience at Embry-Riddle has also extended well beyond my own classes. As a graduate assistant in the Aeronautical Science Department within the College of Aviation, I have served as a teaching assistant for Aviation Legislation and Electronic Flight Management Systems, supported other courses and departmental projects and contributed to research involving Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), drones for the FAA and aviation safety.

Building a Future in Aviation Safety

Dr. Robbins has been a tremendous help throughout this journey. His guidance, along with the support of other professors, coworkers, friends, mentors and the Eagle community, helped me discover opportunities in aviation that I did not even know existed when I returned to campus.

As a student, I have also become involved with organizations like the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) and the Business Aviation Student Association (BASA). I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities these organizations provide to students as they prepare for their professional careers.

I’m now preparing to graduate with distinction in a Master of Science in Aviation, specializing in Aviation Safety Systems. I’m currently in the final stages of preparing my capstone project, a speech-to-text display system designed to capture all radio communications and integrate them with ADS-B in data. This research aims to analyze the potential benefits of pilot situational awareness, aviation safety and accessibility in flying, particularly for pilots who have experienced significant physical or cognitive recovery challenges.

Outside of Embry-Riddle, I have also been fortunate to build relationships through the Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). Those connections have led to scholarships, mentorship and professional development opportunities, including earning my NBAA Safety Manager Certificate.

Looking Ahead

My life today looks nothing like the one I had planned in June 2021. For a long time, that was difficult to accept. Now, I can look back and recognize that losing one path forced me to discover another.

If there is one lesson I have taken from all of this, it is that purpose can emerge from adversity. Sometimes moving forward does not mean getting back to where you were. It means finding out where you can go from here.