For This Aerospace Engineering Student, Brothers Make All the Difference

Cameron Archibald’s (’23) path to an Aerospace Engineering degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University hasn’t been easy or smooth.

But it has been 100% worth it.

So worth it, in fact, that his two younger brothers, Jack and Wyatt, have followed him to the world’s leading aviation and aerospace educator. They will study together at the Daytona Beach Campus in Fall 2023, which will be Cameron’s final semester before graduating.

“I'm only taking six credits so I can hopefully enjoy the time with my younger brothers before I go off and become a real adult,” said Cameron, who is projected to graduate magna cum laude. “I’ve learned how to balance the fun with the academics, so it'll be a good last semester.”

A stellar student athlete at Monomoy Regional High School in Harwich, Massachusetts, Cameron earned a scholarship from The Boston Globe and had a world of possibilities when it came to college.

“I was one of 14 chosen for that scholarship and only one of two from my district,” Cameron said. “So that was pretty cool.”

Cameron’s exposure to aviation started early—his grandfather was a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force and later a captain at American Airlines, while his dad is a private pilot—and he says he’s always had his sights set on the sky.

“I am a big “Star Wars” nerd,” he said. “And I have always been fascinated by space.”

Although he has some piloting time and once flew from Massachusetts to Iowa in a Cessna 150 with his dad, Cameron was more interested in engineering and that brought Embry-Riddle directly into the picture.

“I wanted to do aerospace and some of the schools I applied to had mechanical engineering degrees with aerospace, but I ended up choosing Embry-Riddle, because the program that was specifically aerospace,” said Cameron, who was accepted at eight other colleges.

Fraternity Brothers to the Rescue

He started classes in Fall 2019 only to have his freshman year virtually derailed by the pandemic. The disruption and uncertainty almost ended his Embry-Riddle journey, but Cameron credits joining the Sigma Chi fraternity with keeping him on track.

“Freshman year was a little rough and I really wanted to transfer and go somewhere close back home,” he said. “But I stayed because of the people from my fraternity. Some of them have become my best friends and probably will be for life.”

These good friends also have good connections. It was a fraternity brother who helped Cameron land his first internship, working as an avionics system engineer at MITRE.

More Connections Lead to More Internships

The Embry-Riddle Career Expo in 2022 landed Cameron a stint at Collins Aerospace and he took a semester off to spend eight months working there as test engineer on C-130 aircraft and MH-6 helicopters.

“I am graduating in the fall because of that semester off, but it was a great choice,” he said. “I've been very grateful to have a network that I've kind of built up and that's mainly through my fraternity.”

His fraternity brothers also helped Cameron with his initial adjustment to the rigors of studying at a renowned aerospace university.

“I was always good at math and science, so everything came pretty easy to me in high school,” he said. “When I got here, I realized I actually had to study, and I had to learn some good habits.”

His classroom success has been matched by the practical experience he’s amassed, and his internship this summer is with The Boeing Company.

“I was lucky enough to get selected, so now I'm a mission systems design intern for their Phantom Works division,” said Cameron, who was among 10 engineering majors and one business student chosen to work at the aerospace giant.

When he graduates in December, Cameron has a full-time job waiting at Phantom Works as an Integration and Test (AIT) Engineer in Advanced Mission Systems Analysis.

Lifelong friends, connections that count and a lasting academic foundation all make Cameron grateful that he stayed at Embry-Riddle.

“It’s definitely paid off,” he said. “I mean, I've had a really great time here.”

The Archibald brothers, Jack, Wyatt and Cameron, celebrate Wyatt’s high school graduation and his plan to join them at Embry-Riddle. (Photo: Cameron Archibald)

Band of Brothers

He believes his brothers will share the same success. Jack Archibald (’25) is now pursuing his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering after transferring from the University of Colorado Boulder, and has also joined the Sigma Chi fraternity.

“He's loved it ever since he got here,” says Cameron. “He definitely is enjoying himself much more than he was at Boulder.”

Youngest brother Wyatt (’27), already a private pilot, will continue his flight training and start the B.S. in Aeronautical Science program this fall while also planning to try out for Embry-Riddle’s hockey team.

Wyatt wants to be a commercial pilot and knows that Embry-Riddle is “the best pilot school in the country,” said Cameron, who cited another family connection that has been key to his success:

“My parents have helped me through school and pushed me to do what I wanted – to do something unique. They are the reason I am here and still making it through school more than anything.”

As he looks ahead to his post-graduation future, Cameron is excited about the options his Embry-Riddle education have provided.

“My ultimate career goal is to go into space,” he said. “And I believe I will find a way to do it.”

Beyond that stellar ambition, Cameron said there are several other career routes that would work for him.

“I've always really liked the idea of working on rockets and helping with deep space exploration, but I also could see myself working on next generation fighters and technology if I get the chance to do that,” he said. “Preferably not just sitting behind a desk all the time but going out into the field and seeing the stuff that I contribute to building and watching it fly.”

What could you build here? Apply at Embry-Riddle today and find out.