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40 airportbusiness November 2015 Robert Peterson's grandfather flew B-24s in WWII and inspired him to follow his aspirations and career goals, even when his aviation career took him far from home. After completing a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University and obtaining his Certified Flight Instruc- tor (CFI) with Multi-engine rating, Peterson started his career as a flight instructor then moved into the airline industry as an operations supervisor for Atlantic Coast Airlines. He later returned to Southern Illinois University to complete his Master's degree in Public Administration-Aviation. Peterson says he knew he would need this education to better prepare himself for an airport management position. He then accepted a position at Denver International Airport as an airport operations representative, where he learned about large hub operations and how airport departments work together to ensure safety and efficiency. With an ambition to grow and diversify his career, he took a position as an airport operations and maintenance supervisor at Dayton International Airport. Day- ton gave Peterson the opportunity to supervise the daily operations both airside and landside with the experience in leading a team of more than 30 building technicians. For the last couple years, Peterson has spent his free time teaching Airport Management students as an adjunct professor for Central Washington University and training Airport Management interns at Yakima Air Terminal. Peterson says he tries to use his real world experiences and passion for avia- tion to inspire future pilots and airport operators. He says it has been a heart-warming experience to watch his students and interns graduate college and accept airport operations positions or continue their aviation training in the military. DID YOU KNOW? PETERSON 's wife shares his love for aviation and is an airport planner and pilot. Robert Peterson: Inspired by Grandfather's Aviation Career Airport Manager Yakima Air Terminal Age: 36 Years in Aviation: 17 Memberships: AAAE, Washington Airport Management Association (WAMA) Aviation Security Manager– Compliance & Enforcement Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport Age: 36 Years in Aviation: 12 Memberships: AAAE Jerome D. Woodard's aviation career began at a young age, after par- ticipating in a United Airlines aviation exposure program. This inspired Woodard to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University. While earning his degree, Woodard obtained his private pilot's license. Upon graduation, Woodard was recruited by the Gary/Chicago International Airport. A highlight of his years at Gary/Chicago International Airport was serving on the management team that advanced the airport's master plan, while ensuring the airport maintained its FAA commercial certification. In 2006, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport selected Woodard to join the Airport's Landside Operations division. Airport leadership recognized Woodard's potential and invited him to participate in the airport's "Manager-In-Training" (MIT) program where he was exposed to all levels of airport management. While in MIT program, Woodard played a major role on the activation teams for the airport's Consolidat- ed Rental Car Center and Maynard H Jackson Jr. International Terminal. Woodard now serves as a security compliance and enforcement manager. In this role, he ensures the airport's 63,000-plus employees observe and comply with the airport's federally approved airport security program. Recently, Woodard managed the development and imple- mentation of operational standards for the airport's new employee screening checkpoint. This installation conducts more than 30,000 employee screenings per week. Jerome D. Woodard: Secures the World's Busiest Airport DID YOU KNOW? WOODARD is one of the few Visual Flight Rules (VFR)- rated private pi- lots who can say he was caught in a thunderstorm in pure Instru- ment Meteoro- logical Conditions and survived to tell the story.