Administration

Richard A. Roof, B.S. M.A.R., Ph.D., FAA ATP, COMM, INST, IGI
Dean, School of Aeronautics
Associate Professor of Aeronautics

Julie Speakes, B.C.A., M.B.A., M.C.A., Ph.D., FAA COMM, INST, ME, CFI, CFII, MEI, IGI, AGI, GS, RP 
Online Dean, School of Aeronautics
Professor of Aeronautics

Mitchell A. Morrison, B.S., M.A.S., Ph.D., FAA ATP, HELO, COMM, INST, CFI, CFII, ME, MEI
Associate Dean, School of Aeronautics
Associate Professor of Aeronautics

Anton W. Cihak II, B.S., M.A., FAA ATP, COMM, INST, CFI, CFII, ME, MEI, AGI, IGI
Chair, Flight Science
Chief Instructor
Associate Professor of Aeronautics

Steven R. Brinly, B.S., M.A., M.C.A., FAA COMM, INST, ME, CFI, CFII, AGI, A&P, IA, RP
Chair, Aerospace Technology
Assistant Professor of Aeronautics

Andrea L. Smith, B.S., M.ED. 
Online Chair, School of Aeronautics 
Assistant Professor of Aeronautics

Executive Director of Business Development/Affiliate Operations
Adjunct Professor

Andrew Walton, B.S., M.A., FAA ATP, COMM, INST, CFI, CFII, ME, MEI, A&P, AGI
Director of Safety
Adjunct Professor

David Miller, B.S., M.A., FAA ATP, COMM, INST, CFI, CFII, ME, MEI
Executive Director of Flight Operations

Jerrold Wangberg, B.S., M.A.S., FAA COMM, INST, CFI, ME
Director of Flight Training
Adjunct Professor

Tana Jamison, B.S.
Director of Affiliate Operations

Aviation Qualifications Legend

• A&P – Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance Technician
• AGI – Advanced Ground Instructor
• ATP – Airline Transport Pilot
• CFI – Certified Flight Instructor
• CFII – Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
• COMM – Commercial Pilot
• DME – FAA Designated Maintenance Examiner
• DPE – FAA Designated Pilot Examiner
• GS – Gold Seal Flight Instructor
• HELO – Helicopter Rated
• IA – Inspection Authorization
• IGI – Instrument Ground Instructor
• INST – Instrument Rated
• ME – Multi-Engine
• MEI – Multi-Engine Instructor
• RP – Remote Pilot

Program Directors

A listing of program directors can be viewed at https://www.liberty.edu/institutional-effectiveness/academic-program-directors/.

Research Intensive Courses

All research intensive courses are listed online at https://www.liberty.edu/center-for-research-scholarship/qep-overview/.

Purpose

The School of Aeronautics equips, mentors, and sends champions for Christ into the aerospace community to serve as professional pilots, mechanics, unmanned aerial systems operators, flight attendants, aviation safety managers, administrators, and leaders in the aviation field. The School of Aeronautics grows leaders one at a time who know their identity, thrive in their faith, and love others in Christ to become difference makers.

 

The School of Aeronautics (SOA) offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics with Corporate/Commercial Concentration, Global Studies Concentration, Military Cognate, and Unmanned Aerial Systems Cognate. Additional offerings include: Bachelor of Science in Aviation Administration degrees with Flight and Aviation Safety Management cognates, and Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance with Management and Unmanned Aerial Systems cognates. Additionally, Associate of Arts degrees in Aviation Maintenance Technician and Flight Attendant are available. SOA offers a certificate in Aviation Maintenance Technician. Various minors are also offered.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certification

The School of Aeronautics is a fully certified FAA 14 CFR Part 141 school authorized to teach Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Multi-Engine courses. Certified Flight Instructor, Certified Flight Instructor, Instrument, and Multi-Engine Instructor courses are taught under 14 CFR Part 61. The FAA has also certified the School as an FAA 14 CFR Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School authorized to teach Airframe and Powerplant.

Course Fees

Some aviation courses, including all flight courses have additional fees, which vary depending on course requirements. In addition, course fees may vary between residential and online courses.

All University course fee information can be found at this link: https://www.liberty.edu/student-financial-services/basic-costs/course-fees/

Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits

For those qualified for and using Veterans Benefits, please review: https://www.liberty.edu/military/gi-bill/

Admission Requirement for Online Degrees

In order to be admitted into the Liberty Online BS Aviation degree, the student must certify that he or she understands that degree completion requires acceptance, enrollment and completion of all flight training requirements at an LU-approved, independent Flight Training Affiliate and requires the student to meet all Federal Transportation Security Administration requirements for flight training, or the student must have a Commercial Pilot Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration prior to admission. Further information about admission into this program can be found at this link: https://www.liberty.edu/online/aeronautics/bachelors/aviation/.

An FAA Medical Certificate is required prior to starting flight training at most training locations, and prior to solo flight at all training locations. Although the minimum certificate required for flight training is a Class 3 Medical Certificate, students should obtain a Class 1 Medical Certificate to ensure eligibility for airline operations as Class 1 is the minimum required for employment as an airline pilot.

In order to be admitted into the Liberty Online BS Aviation Maintenance Management, students who do not hold a valid FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate must certify that he or she understands that based on FAA requirements, the AVMT courses (45 hours) listed on this degree cannot be offered online and must be taken residentially at Liberty University. FAA mechanic training and certification, with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, may be done outside of Liberty University and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credit may be awarded for licensure to meet the requirements of the AVMT courses (45 hrs.) if a student already has a valid FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate. Further information about admission into this program can be found at this link: https://www.liberty.edu/online/aeronautics/bachelors/aviation/aviation-maintenance-management/.

Language Proficiency Requirements

Minimum English proficiency test score requirements for admission to a School of Aeronautics major, minor, or certificate program of study leading to FAA certification or enrollment in a course leading to FAA certification are:

• TOEFL (Internet Based Test or iBT): 79
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS):  6.5
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): 55
• International Test of English Proficiency Academic Plus (iTEP):  3.9
• Successful completion of Level 7 at Language Consultants International (LCI)
• Successful completion of Level 112 at ELS Educational Services (ELS)

Students enrolled in these programs or courses, who do not reside in an English-speaking country, are not eligible to have the English proficiency test requirement waived.