School of Aeronautics
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 http://www.liberty.edu/programdirectors.
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.
- Aeronautics Major (B.S.)
- Aeronautics Minors
- Associate of Arts Degrees
- Aviation Administration Major (B.S.)
- Aviation Maintenance Major (B.S.)
- Aviation Maintenance Technician Major (A.A.)
- Aviation Major (B.S.)
- Aviation Management Major (B.S.)
- Aviation Technology: Flight and Maintenance (B.S.)
- Undergraduate Certificates
B
Beckner, Jerry; B.S.
B.S. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Blank, Bradley; B.S., M.A.
Title: Assistant Professor of Aviation
B.S. - Clemson University, M.A. - Liberty University
Brinly, Steven; B.S., M.A., M.C.A.
Title: Chair, Aerospace Technology
B.S. - Liberty University, M.A. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Bulles, Joshua; B.S., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
C
Cihak, Anton; B.S., M.A., M.A., M.S., M.S.
Title: Chair, Flight Science
B.S. - Southern Illinois University, M.A. - Naval War College, M.A. - Liberty University, M.S. - Air University, M.S. - Air University
Clark, Joshua; B.S., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Liberty University, M.A. - Liberty University
Cox, Laura; B.S., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Cox, William; B.S., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Curley, Marc; A.A.S., B.S., M.B.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
A.A.S. - Community College Beaver County, B.S. - Geneva College, M.B.A. - Liberty University
E
Erhardt, April; B.S., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Western Washington University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
F
Fenson, Alexander; B.S., M.B.A.
B.S. - Liberty University, M.B.A. - Liberty University
Fritschle, Jennifer; B.S., M.C.A.
B.S. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Fuhrmann, Jacques; B.A.S., M.A., M.C.A., M.Div.
Title: Assistant Professor
B.A.S. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, M.A. - Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.C.A. - Delta State University, M.Div. - Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
G
Gauthier, Alessandra; B.S., M.B.A., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Liberty University, M.B.A. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
H
Hewitt, Jonathan; M.B.A.
M.B.A. - Liberty University
Hough, Brian; B.S., M.C.A.
B.S. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Hudson, Robert; B.A., M.A., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, M.A. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
L
Lee, Joshua; B.S., M.A.
B.S. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, M.A. - Liberty University
Lichty, Chad; B.S., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - United States Air Force Academy, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
M
Mahr, Daniel; B.S., M.C.A.
Title: Assistant Professor
B.S. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Mashburn, James; B.A., M.C.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Aeronautics
B.A. - Baptist Bible College West, M.C.A. - Delta State University
McKenzie, Mark; B.S., M.A., M.A., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Pennsylvania State University, M.A. - United States Army Command and General Staff College, M.A. - United States Army War College, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Merritt, Benton; B.A.S., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A.S. - United States Air Force Academy, M.A. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Molloy, James; B.S., MSA, Ed.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - University of Illinois at Urbana, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ed.D. - Liberty University
Morris, Shane; B.S., M.B.A., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, M.B.A. - Liberty University, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Morrison, Mitchell; B.S., MSA, Ph.D.
Title: Associate Dean
B.S. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ph.D. - Northcentral University
Muller, Kurt; B.S., M.S.
B.S. - United States Naval Academy, M.S. - Naval Postgraduate School
N
Neas, Stephen; B.A., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
P
Potecha, Reed; B.A., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - SUNY College at Oneonta, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Prather, Daniel; B.A., M.B.A., M.P.A., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - Delta State University, M.B.A. - University of North Alabama, M.P.A. - Southern Illinois University, Ph.D. - University of Nebraska Lincoln
R
Reichard, Walter; M.B.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Aviation
M.B.A. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Rogers, James; B.B.A., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.B.A. - Howard Payne University, M.A. - Salve Regina University
Roof, Richard; A.A.S., B.S., M.A.R., M.A.R., M.A.R., Ph.D.
Title: Interim Dean
A.A.S. - Community College of the Air Force, B.S. - Southern Illinois University, M.A.R. - Liberty University, M.A.R. - Liberty University, M.A.R. - Liberty University, Ph.D. - Regent University
S
Smith, David; B.S., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - San Jose State University, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Spahr, Peter; B.S., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Moody Bible Institute, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Speakes, Julie; M.B.A., M.C.A., Ph.D.
Title: Online Dean, Aeronautics
M.B.A. - Delta State University, M.C.A. - Delta State University, Ph.D. - University of Mississippi
Swanson, Amanda; B.S., M.A., M.C.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Liberty University, M.A. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Sweeney, James; B.A., M.S., MSA, MSA, MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - Western Kentucky University, M.S. - University of Alabama, MSA - Air University, MSA - Air University, MSA - Air University
T
Tripp, Wayne; B.S., M.C.A., M.Ed.
Title: Assistant Professor of Aviation
B.S. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University, M.Ed. - University of Lynchburg
W
Waggoner, Brandon; B.A.S., M.A., M.C.A.
B.A.S. - Liberty University, M.A. - Liberty University, M.C.A. - Delta State University
Walton, Andrew; B.S., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Piedmont International University, M.A. - Liberty University
Wangberg, Jerrold; B.A., MSA
B.A. - Southwest Minnesota State University, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Washburn, Jonathan; B.S., MSA, MSA
Title: Assistant Professor of Aviation
B.S. - Liberty University, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
White, Benjamin; B.A.S., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A.S. - Florida Institute of Technology, MSA - Florida Institute of Technology
Williams, Brandon; B.S., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - United States Air Force Academy, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Willis, William; B.S., M.A.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Oklahoma State University, M.A. - Air University
Wilson, Aaron; A.A.S., B.S., M.B.A.
Title: Associate Professor of Aviation
A.A.S. - Bob Jones University, B.S. - Bob Jones University, M.B.A. - Daniel Webster College
Wing, Peter; B.T., MM
B.T. - Piedmont International University, MM - Piedmont International University
Y
Yerrington, Daniel; B.A., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.A. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Youngdale, David; B.S., MSA
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - United States Air Force Academy, MSA - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Certified Flight Instructor
- Commercial Pilot
- Corporate Pilot
- Military Pilot
- Airline Operations
- Government Organizations
- Airport Management
- Aviation Safety Manager
- Missionary Pilot
- UAS Operator
- Aircraft Mechanic
- Maintenance Manager
- Flight Attendant
- UAS Maintenance Manager
- Other aviation related careers