Department of Aviation
Full-Time Faculty and Staff
The aviation faculty and staff members at UCM represent a wide range of academic and professional training. All faculty hold terminal degrees in their areas of specialization and practices in the field.
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Tony Monetti Monetti brings a wealth of experience to UCM including having served as director of operations of the 13 Bomb Squadron, one of two operational B-2 stealth squadrons. He served as chief of safety directing U.S. Air Force 509th Bomb Wing safety and mishap prevention program, effecting more than 10,000 personnel, and has 24 years of jet flying experience, including commercial and military aircraft: 757, B-52, B-1, B-2, T-38 and T-37. He holds an Air Transport Pilot and Airframe and Powerplant Technician rating. Monetti is a seasoned international leader as Chairman of NATO Time Sensitive Targeting committee using diplomatic skills with senior leaders in ndustry, military and government. Monetti is a published author and restaurant owner of Monetti's Pizzeria Ristorante. He is an Air Force Academy graduate and holds two master's degrees. Email: tmonetti@ucmo.edu |
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Mary Shaw Email: mshaw@ucmo.edu |
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Fred Schieszer Prof. Schieszer comes to UCM with both military and civilian experience in aviation. While in the military, he flew search and rescue missions in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft and participated in maritime law enforcement and humanitarian missions as a member of the United States Coast Guard. In civilian aviation he worked as an aircraft accident investigator for many years and is nationally recognized as an accident investigation consultant and expert witness. During previous employment at UCM he established an “Aircraft Accident Investigation Laboratory” at Skyhaven Airport which set the standard for the Air Safety industry and was responsible for training nearly 20% of the current “General Aviation Air Safety Investigators” Most recently he helped start an aircraft manufacturing business which was the first to introduce electronic “capacitance discharge” high energy ignition systems in production aircraft. Schieszer holds multiple degrees in Psychology, Aviation and Education and has been a licensed pilot since 1967. Email: schieszer@ucmo.edu |
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Dave Card Card has more than 30 years of experience in general aviation flight training and Part 135 Air Taxi operations. He started his aviation career as a crop duster and high-line patrol pilot in northern South Dakota. Prior to coming to the University of Central Missouri, he taught for 11 years at South Dakota State University as the lead flight instructor and worked as a charter pilot at a local FBO. Card is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and FAASTeam Representative. Card has a Master of Science in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri. |
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Scotti Holbert Among other duties, Holbert assists students with the necessary steps in obtaining additional financial aid for flight training, updates student accounts in ETA and maintains the bookkeeping for UCM flight operations. Email: holbert@ucmo.edu |
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John Horine Teaching areas: Aviation Management, Air Transportation, Technical Report Writing, Development of Industrial Education. Research area: thesis consultant. Horine serves as the program coordinator for students enrolled in the Aviation Safety graduate program. Horine has his Ed.D. from the University of Missouri. |
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Darlene Loeffler Loeffler joined the UCM team in the fall of 2012. She brings more than 13 years of previous flying experience; including three years of Part 141 flight instructing and six years of flying under Part 121 Air Carriers. In her most recent position she was a captain on the CRJ 200 at Pinnacle Airlines Inc., a Delta Connection Carrier. She is an ATP, a flight instructor with single, multiengine and instrument airplane ratings, and an Instrument ground instructor. She brings real-world airline experience to the program and hopes to serve as a role model and mentor to students. Email: loeffler@ucmo.edu |
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Richard Martinez Martinez has 33 years experience in the aviation industry, including 22 years as an aviation professor and 20 years as an assistant chief flight instructor. His experience in the field includes aviation management, aviation safety, aerodynamics, international aviation, aviation industry career development, curriculum development and ground school from Private Pilot to CFI. His responsibilities at UCM include student advisement, recruitment, retention, assessment and program development. Martinez has a Master of Science in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from California State University - Los Angeles. He is currently a doctoral candidate for Ed.D. in Education through Northcentral University. Email: rmartinez@ucmo.edu |
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William B. Rankin Previously, he served as an assistant professor of aviation at Florida Memorial University in Miami, Fla., and deputy director of aviation for the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. His teaching philosophy is that faculty must work with students to strengthen their importance, dignity and unique potential. Rankin is actively pursuing research on reducing runway incursions and commercial space flight. Rankin has his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Northcentral University in Prescott, Ariz. He has 29 years of airport management experience, is an Accredited Airport Executive in the American Association of Airport Executives and has a Commercial Pilot and Advanced Ground Instructor license. Email: wrankin@ucmo.edu |
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William (Bill) Runyon Assistant Chief Flight Instructor Runyon brings a passion for aviation education stretching across 26 years of teaching people to enjoy the joy of flying. He brings experience from teaching courses for Sport Aviation, Private Pilot Ground School and Commercial Pilot Ground School, and all flight classes leading to the attainment of a Certified Flight Instructor Certificate. He especially is engaged in promoting professionalism in aviation and his hobbies include glider flying and antique tail-wheel aircraft. Runyon has a Bachelor of Science in Science and Religion from Mid-America Nazarene University and a Master of Science in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri. Email: brunyon@ucmo.edu |
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Darren Smith, Ph.D. After serving for 17 years as an adjunct professor for a community college located at MacDill Air Force Base, Smith joined UCM in 2012. He has been an aviation safety counselor for 10 years and has presented safety seminars across the U.S. He has been an airline pilot and is a Gold Seal Instructor, with Master Flight Instructor and Master Ground Instructor designations. He has consulted on a variety of projects including airspace redesign, light sport aircraft certification and pilot training consultation for the military's Maverick UAV helicopter. Education: B.A. Psychology, B.S. Nursing, M.S. Counseling Psychology, Ph.D. Educational Management Email: dasmith@ucmo.edu |
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Jonathan Scott Ellis Jonathan obtained two Bachelor of Science degrees in Airport Management and Flight Operations Management at the University of Central Missouri in May 2013. He is currently working on his M.B.A in Ethical Strategic Leadership at UCM. Email: jsellis@ucmo.edu |
