Elizabeth City State University Navy Flight Academy
Abstract
This proposal outlines a scholarship program for high-caliber high school students to earn their private pilots license. The ultima,te goal of the program is to lead more members of minority demographic groups to join the Naval Aviation Community by providing them, an opportunity for hands-on aviation experience. This program is particularly aimed at diverse students (grades 11 and 12) from pop,ulations that are currently underrepresented within Naval Aviation.The Naval Aviation Enterprise represents one of the Navys most h,omogeneous communities, second only to the Special Operations community. This organization, comprising of approximately 12,574 avia,tors (Pilots and Naval Flight Officers), consists of 87% White males, and is only 2.3% African American, and 11% Female. Naval Avia,tions underrepresentation of racial and gender diversity begins at accessions, is exacerbated through poor retention, and degrades,further through lower promotion rates. By providing a means to get their Private Pilots License, the Summer Flight Academy will ex,pose Naval Aviation to a wider, more diverse range of Generation Z, and inspire those youths to eventually join the Naval Aviation C,ommunity. The Flight Academy achieves this through recruiting minority students, and exposing them to an academic, hands-on, and pra,ctical aviation curriculum based in STEM principles. The University will partner with the Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) Diversi,ty, Equity, and Inclusion Team to select from a pool of highly-qualified candidates, mirroring the screening and selection process f,or NROTC pilot selection. Upon completion, the cadets would earn a private pilots license and five college credits. The funding lif,e cycle request is for three years (FY22-FY24). This Summer Flight Academy program will build a positive reputation of the Naval Avi,ation Community among minority demographics, and empower diverse, potential future-aviators with a base of aviation-specific STEM sk,ills to help them succeed in the field. This program has strong potential to increase representation among minority demographic grou,ps within Naval Aviation over a 5-year period, and beyond. Through positive and direct experiences with the Naval Aviation Enterpris,e, youths from minority demographics, with real potential to join the community, will be exposed to Naval Aviation, and inspired to,pursue it. Upon completion of this program, young, diverse talent could ultimately consider Naval Aviation as a viable career path.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 08, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212446
Entities
People
- Orestes Gooden
Organizations
- Elizabeth City State College
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy