Notable Alumni of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University stands as a globally recognized institution with a rich history and a strong focus on aviation and aerospace education. EduRank places Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach at 1409th in the world, 494th in North America, and 462nd in the United States based on aggregated alumni prominence. Since its establishment, the university has produced a diverse array of accomplished graduates who have made significant contributions across various fields, including aviation, space exploration, military service, business, and academia. Embry-Riddle takes pride in its 160,000-plus alumni, who embody the university's commitment to excellence and innovation. This article aims to highlight some of the most notable alumni from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, showcasing their remarkable achievements and the impact they have had on the world.

A Legacy of Leadership and Achievement

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University boasts a large pool of notable alumni, including high-ranking military officials, politicians, airline business leaders, intelligence agency officials, and White House advisors. The university's alumni network also includes six NASA astronauts, one Canadian Space Agency astronaut, and two commercial astronauts, demonstrating the institution's prominent role in shaping the future of aerospace. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is the only accredited aviation-oriented university in the world. The university offers bachelor's and master's degrees at two residential campuses and through Embry-Riddle Worldwide. Associate degrees and non-degree programs are also offered by Embry-Riddle Worldwide.

Alumni of Embry-Riddle "land jobs quickly and become leaders of industry."

Pioneers in Space Exploration

Several Embry-Riddle alumni have distinguished themselves as pioneers in space exploration, contributing to groundbreaking missions and scientific discoveries.

Jared Isaacman: Entrepreneur and Commercial Astronaut

Jared Taylor Isaacman is an American entrepreneur, pilot, philanthropist, and commercial astronaut. He is the founder of Draken International, which provides adversary training to the US, British, and other NATO air forces, and the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, a payment processor. Through his leadership in private space exploration, Isaacman has been credited with advancing competition in the space industry and reducing reliance on government programs. As of September 2024, his estimated net worth is US$1.9 billion. Isaacman's achievements in both business and space exploration exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit fostered at Embry-Riddle.

Read also: Tuition at Embry-Riddle

Nicole Stott: NASA Astronaut and Engineer

Nicole Marie Passonno Stott is an American engineer and a retired NASA astronaut. After 27 years of working at NASA, the space agency announced her retirement effective June 1, 2015. She served as a flight engineer on ISS Expedition 20 and Expedition 21 and was a mission specialist on STS-128 and STS-133. Stott's contributions to space missions and her dedication to engineering have made her a role model for aspiring astronauts and engineers.

Terry W. Virts: NASA Astronaut and International Space Station Commander

Terry W. Virts is a retired NASA astronaut, International Space Station Commander and colonel in the United States Air Force. Virts's leadership in space and his service to the nation highlight the diverse career paths available to Embry-Riddle graduates.

Daniel C. Burbank: NASA Astronaut and Veteran

Daniel Christopher Burbank is a retired American astronaut and a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions. Burbank, a Captain in the United States Coast Guard, is the second Coast Guard astronaut after Bruce Melnick.

Ronald J. Garan: NASA Astronaut

Ronald John Garan Jr. is a retired NASA astronaut. After graduating from State University of New York College at Oneonta in 1982, he joined the Air Force, becoming a Second Lieutenant in 1984. He became an F-16 pilot, and flew combat missions in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He first flew in space as a mission specialist on the May 2008 STS-124 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He returned to ISS on April 4, 2011, for a six-month stay as a member of Expedition 27. Garan is a highly decorated former NASA astronaut who flew on the US Space Shuttle, Russian Soyuz, and International Space Station. In total he spent 178 days in space and more than 71 million miles in 2,842 orbits of Earth, 27 hours and 3 minutes of EVA in four spacewalks, and 18 days on the bottom of the ocean during the NEEMO-9 undersea mission.

Alvin Drew: NASA Astronaut

Benjamin Alvin Drew Jr. is a United States Air Force officer and a former NASA astronaut. Drew's second spaceflight took place in March 2011 on STS-133, another mission to the International Space Station. STS-133 was Space Shuttle Discovery's final mission. Drew took part in two spacewalks while docked to the station. Drew was the final African-American to fly on board a Space Shuttle, as the final two Space Shuttle missions, STS-134 and STS-135, had no African-American crew members.

Susan Kilrain: NASA Astronaut

Susan Kilrain is an American aerospace engineer, United States Navy officer and NASA astronaut. She is the youngest person to pilot a Space Shuttle. She has flown more than 3,000 hours and among her merits she was awarded with the Defense Superior Service Medal.

Joshua Kutryk: Canadian Astronaut

Joshua Kutryk CD is a Canadian astronaut, test pilot, fighter pilot and engineer. He was selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as one of the two members of the 2017 CSA Group alongside Jenni Sidey.

Leaders in the United States Air Force

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has a long-standing tradition of producing leaders in the United States Air Force, with numerous alumni rising to the highest ranks of military service.

Charles Q. Brown Jr.: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Charles Quinton Brown Jr. is a United States Air Force general who has served as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 1 October 2023. Prior to his appointment, Brown served as the 22nd chief of staff of the Air Force from 2020 to 2023. Brown entered the Air Force in 1984 and served as a fighter pilot, where he has logged over 3,000 flight hours, including 130 hours in combat. Air Force Weapons School, and 78th Fighter Squadron. Central Command. Brown's distinguished career and leadership exemplify the values instilled at Embry-Riddle.

JoAnne S. Bass: Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

JoAnne S. Bass is a retired senior noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force and the nineteenth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. She became the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, and the first female to hold the highest senior enlisted rank in any United States military branch, on August 14, 2020, having been selected for the position on June 19. She is also the first person of Asian-American descent to hold the highest senior enlisted position in the Air Force.

Jeffrey L. Harrigian: Commander of United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa

Jeffrey Lee Harrigian is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) general who last served as the commander of United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa from May 2020 to June 2022. He concurrently served as the commander of Allied Air Command and director of the Joint Air Power Competence Center. He previously served as deputy commander and as commander of United States Air Forces Central Command.

Darren W. McDew: Commander of United States Transportation Command

Darren Wayne McDew is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the Commander of United States Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. His previous senior command positions include Commander of Air Mobility Command as a general and Commander, Eighteenth Air Force (18AF) as a lieutenant general.

Timothy Ray: Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command

Timothy Michael Ray is a retired United States Air Force general who last served as the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command from August 21, 2018, to August 27, 2021. He concurrently served as the commander of Air Forces Strategic - Air, United States Strategic Command.

Marc H. Sasseville: Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau

Marc Henry Sasseville Frontera is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who served as the 12th Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau. He previously served as the commander of the Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and concurrently as commander of the First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) from June 2019 to August 2020.

Margaret H. Woodward: Major General

Margaret H. Woodward is an American former military officer and major general in the United States Ai…

Other Notable Alumni

Besides those mentioned above, Embry-Riddle has produced a wide range of successful individuals in various fields:

Michael Durant: An American veteran, former pilot, businessman, author, and political candidate. Army pilot, and ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for the 2022 United States Senate election in Alabama.
Scott O'Grady: A former United States Air Force fighter pilot known for being shot down over Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 and his subsequent rescue.
Jerry Doyle: An American talk radio host, political commentator, television actor, and founder of the content platform EpicTimes. As an actor, Doyle was best known as security chief Michael Garibaldi in the science fiction series Babylon 5 (1994-1998).
Jake Pavelka: An American television personality, pilot, actor, and model who appeared on six reality TV programs, most notably The Bachelor. He is also the CEO of the company "Rhino Removal".
Vicente Gonzalez: An American lawyer and politician who serves as the United States representative for Texas's 34th congressional district since 2023 and served as the representative for Texas's 15th congressional district from 2017 to 2023. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Greg Feith: An American former Senior Air Safety Investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. He currently works as a consultant on aviation safety and security matters in the private sector, and as the aviation expert for NBC and MSNBC.
Erik Lindbergh: An American aviator, adventurer, and artist. He is the grandson of pioneering aviator Charles Lindbergh.
Moriba Jah: An American space scientist and aerospace engineer who specializes in orbit determination and prediction, especially as related to space situational awareness and space traffic monitoring. He is currently a full professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin, a position he attained in 2024, and a National Geographic Explorer. Jah has co-founded Privateer Space x Orbital Insight, GaiaVerse, and Moriba Jah Universal. His work now broadly focuses on decision intelligence to improve the stewardship of the planet and beyond.
Landon Ashworth: An American actor, director, and pilot.
Robert L. Sumwalt: An American academic, aviator, government official and writer. He was a board member of the National Transportation Safety Board for over 15 years, from August 2006 to June 30, 2021, serving as the agency's chairman from 2017 to 2021. He currently serves as the executive director of Embry-Riddle's Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety.

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