Prepared for Anything: Victor Serrano on Safety, Sustainability and Resilience

For Victor Serrano (’22, ‘25), his fascination with aviation began as a child watching planes soar overhead at airshows. That early passion eventually led him to Embry-Riddle, where he discovered the Aviation and Aerospace Safety program (now Aviation and Aerospace Safety).

“While I started with a passion for aviation safety, courses like environmental compliance, fire protection and risk management opened my eyes to the occupational side,” he says. “It blended my love for aviation with a drive to make workplaces safer. I was hooked.”

The Embry-Riddle Experience

During his time at Embry-Riddle, Serrano was recognized with the Outstanding Student Award, an honor that fueled his confidence and shaped the way he approaches challenges today. “It was a nod to all the hard work I put in,” he reflects. “That recognition still motivates me at Northrop Grumman, where I take on big tasks like leading safety efforts.”

Serrano believes one of the most influential courses he took was SF 580 Environmental Protection Management, where his class held weekly discussions on the East Palestine train derailment and spill.

“Diving into the real-time details of how the incident unfolded, from the initial response to the cleanup, made me realize how important proactive planning and quick decision making are in a crisis,” he says.

Those lessons came to life again in his on-campus job with the university’s Environmental Health & Safety department, where he gained hands-on experience performing chemical inventories, inspections and hazardous waste disposal.

Today, Serrano serves as an environmental health and safety engineer at Northrop Grumman’s Apopka site. His daily responsibilities include hazardous waste inspections, chemical compliance checks, accident investigations and preparing the facility for audits. He also works closely with engineering teams to ensure that expansions and new processes meet environmental standards.

Balancing strict regulatory compliance with the fast pace of national security programs is no small feat. “I plan ahead, keep permits and waste management on schedule and work hard to build trust with both my team and regulators. That way, compliance fits smoothly into operations without slowing down critical projects,” he notes.

Beyond compliance, Serrano is proud to be part of Northrop Grumman’s push toward sustainability. He has contributed to projects exploring renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen generators and solar panels, which reduce the company’s dependence on public utilities. “It’s exciting to work on cutting-edge energy solutions that help lower our environmental footprint while keeping operations running,” he says.

His leadership style centers on trust and collaboration. “I value team members’ ideas because they’re the experts on their processes and equipment,” he explains. “By connecting safety improvements to their daily work and celebrating wins, we’ve created a culture where everyone feels invested in making sure we all go home safely.”

Interning in Emergency Operations

Serrano’s foundation in crisis management also comes from his time as an intern at the Volusia County Emergency Operations Center during hurricane season. Those long days, often stretching from before sunrise to after midnight, taught him how to remain calm under pressure.

“I helped coordinate resources with the Florida Department of Emergency Management, local fire and sheriff departments and county leadership,” he recalls. “It showed me how crucial planning ahead is and how rewarding it feels to make a difference for the community.”

That internship also gave him a glimpse into public communication during crises when he appeared on local television during hurricane briefings. “Seeing the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into clear, calm communication during an emergency was eye-opening,” he says.

Looking back, Serrano credits his Embry-Riddle education and his early professional experiences with preparing him for the challenges he faces today. In addition to his degree, he has earned the Graduate Safety Practitioner designation, which he describes as “a badge that says I’m ready for tough safety challenges in high-tech fields,” and the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certification, which could allow him to use drones for inspections or site surveys in the future.

For current students, his advice is simple: get out into the field early.

“Dive into internships and certifications. Those moments teach you to think fast, communicate clearly and build confidence. My time at Embry-Riddle and in county emergency operations taught me how to handle pressure and work with people — skills I still use every day. Get out there, learn by doing, and you’ll be ready to make a difference.”