Age: 21
Hometown: Lynwood, IL
School: Lewis University, Graduated May 2021
Career Aspirations: Commercial manned pilot, UAS pilot, Information Security specialist Hobbies & Interests: Writing, service, leadership, Star Wars, exercise Organizations/Clubs: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Why are you passionate about aviation?
I found my passion through aviation since it taught me amazing lessons about life. Growing up, I was never on the honor roll, never fully interested in the world of sports, or passions that my friends had. Something I did have a love for was Star Wars and the airport next to my house. Building LEGO aircrafts with spinning rotors was one of my favorite pastimes as a child, and this naturally turned me into a dreamer. When I grew older, I still had dreams of becoming an aviator, but I did not know where to start. I began my first steps in organizations like Ace Academy. I learned about the basics of aerodynamics, parts of an airplane, and careers that had to do with it all! The academy gave me the true spark into the broader world of aviation. By the end of the week, we met the first-ever Tuskegee NEXT class, where I found the people who turned the spark into a fire.
I applied to become part of the second-ever class and found myself in one of the most life-changing experiences I would ever have. That summer, I fell in love with spectacular aircrafts and the ability to pilot them. When I returned to school that fall, everything changed for the better. Through being involved with these organizations, aviation has taught me lessons about academic excellence, dedication, determination, and the importance of how I must pass it along.
What is your future aspiration?
As I begin my post-graduate life, I aspire to be a professional cybersecurity specialist, a commercial UAS pilot, a manned corporate pilot, and a professional who wants to pass it along to the next generation.
I am interested in information security and risk management because our aviation world is developing at a tremendous rate. Technology on a smaller scale is marvelous and still growing. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones, have opened up the door to new possibilities for almost every industry across the globe and beyond. Our advances in UAS technology rivals some of our most outlandish science fiction stories, mirroring some like Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To keep these new and expanding devices safe, aviators must also face the dangers that can spawn from cyberspace. Information Security and Risk Management was the key to figuring out the future.
Especially since we will see the first-ever unmanned aircraft that carry passengers in the future, now is the time for aviators to understand aspects of UAS and how to protect them. I want to learn more about how to protect the world I love and this is what I will continue to do for my career.
Why did you choose to apply to Tuskegee NEXT?
I applied to become part of the second-ever class and found myself in one of the most life-changing experiences I would ever have. That summer, I fell in love with spectacular aircraft and the ability to pilot them. When I returned to school that fall, everything changed for the better. Through being involved with these organizations, aviation has taught me lessons about academic excellence, dedication, determination, and the importance of how I must pass it along.