Bob John Waltz

Captain Bob Waltz, Ph.D., FRAeS, is an aviation operations, safety and training professional with more than 36 years of experience spanning commercial aviation and military service. As an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he contributes his expertise in safety management systems, including work with the university’s Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety.

Throughout his career, Waltz has held senior leadership and operational roles with Part 121 and Part 135 air carriers, including Chief Commercial Officer, 14 CFR Part 5 Accountable Executive, Vice President of Flight Operations, Part 119 Director of Operations, Part 119 Chief Pilot, Check Airman and Captain. His leadership experience encompasses flight operations, inflight services, technical operations, safety, network operations control, program management and technical publications.

A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and former Operations Council Chair for Airlines for America, Waltz has contributed to the implementation of significant aviation rulemaking and safety initiatives. His work focuses on systematic risk mitigation and advancing safety, compliance and reliability within high-reliability organizations.

Waltz also served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve before retiring in 2016. His roles included worldwide Night Vision Goggle Tactical Airdrop Standards/Evaluator Pilot and emergency preparedness leadership positions supporting FEMA Region IV and the State of Texas. He flew combat and combat-support missions in the Middle East and the Balkans.

An experienced pilot, Waltz has flown the T-37, T-38, T-1, C-21 and C-130E/H aircraft and is type-rated on multiple Boeing 737 variants, including the 737 MAX 8.

Waltz earned a B.S. in Human Factors Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an M.S. in Educational Psychology from Florida State University and a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Science from the University of North Dakota, where his doctoral research focused on safety management systems.

• JSX (Oct 2025–Aug 2026): COO, SMS Accountable Executive — P/L over $72M Flight Ops and $108M Tech Ops budgets, 1,171 personnel
• Surf Air Mobility (Mar–Oct 2025): FAR Part 119 Director of Operations, VP Flight Ops
• Sun Country Airlines (Jul 2024–Mar 2025): FAR Part 119 Director of Operations, Senior Director Flight Ops
• Southwest Airlines (2000–2024): VP of Flight Operations (P/L $3.5B OPEX/$400M CAPEX), 737 Captain/Check Airman; prior roles as Chief Pilot, Senior Director Flight Ops Compliance, Network Director/NOC
• US Air Force Active Duty, Air Guard & Reserve (1990–2016): Colonel (O-6) at retirement; Regional Director/Pilot Examiner; Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer; USAFA Liaison Officer Director roles
• Concurrent: Adjunct Faculty, ERAU Worldwide Campus (2022–Present); Senior Consultant, Boeing Safety Center (2022–Present)

• Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS)
• Ph.D., Aerospace Science / Safety Management Systems (4.0 GPA), University of North Dakota, Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
• MS, Educational Psychology / Experimental Design & Statistical Modeling, Florida State University
• BS, Human Factors Engineering, Distinguished Graduate, US Air Force Academy
• Nominated as candidate for the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), Part 135 Operators (2025)
• Chair, Airlines for America (A4A) Operations Council (2020–2022)
• Senior Advisor, Advanced Air Mobility Institute
• AOPA

• Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society, nominated by industry peers (2022)
• SWA Heroes of the Heart Award — Southwest’s highest team honor (2021/2022)
• USAFA National Diversity Recruiting Award
• USAF: National Advisory Panel Chair; National Liaison Officer Director of the Year (x2);
• USAF: Air Medal (Combat and Combat Support missions in the Balkans)
• USAF: Meritorious Service Medal (x3)
• USAF: Flying Training Unit Instructor Pilot of the Year
• Invited speaker, SXSW (Austin) on Advanced Air Mobility
• Guest Speaker/Lecturer — University of North Texas, University of North Dakota, Delta State University (2014–2026)

• Kiernan, Samu, Boquet, Epperson, O’Brien, Odisho, Rice, & Waltz (2024). Measuring, training, evaluating, and supporting resilient performance in routine operations on the flight deck: A gap analysis in US Part 121 carriers. NASA Cooperative Agreement Project Report (not publicly available)
• Epperson, O’Brien, Odisho, Waltz, et al. (2024). Transcription methodology for SOTERIA simulator scenarios. NASA Cooperative Agreement Project Report (not publicly available)
• Boquet, Epperson, O’Brien, Juliano, Odisho, Rice, Waltz, Kiernan, & Samu (2024). Identifying resilient performance in National Transportation Safety Board accident dockets. NASA Cooperative Agreement Project Report (not publicly available)
• Rice, Jones, O’Brien, Waltz, Odisho, & Kiernan (2024). ERAU–NASA in-time safety management data development and analysis: Background report. NASA Cooperative Agreement Project Report (not publicly available)
• Kiernan, Samu, Odisho, Waltz, Epperson, O’Brien, Rice, & Boquet (2025). Supporting resilient performance in U.S. airline flight deck operations: Gaps, challenges, and opportunities. Presented at the 78th International Aviation Safety Summit, Lisbon, Portugal
• Gap analysis manuscript (Kiernan, Samu, Boquet, Epperson, O’Brien, Odisho, Rice, & Waltz) — under review, Journal of Air Transport Management (major revisions completed, being resubmitted)