James Holliman

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT JAMES HOLLIMAN

I bring over 15 years of hands-on experience in aviation, education, and operations—with a track record of turning complex systems into efficient, forward-looking programs. My career spans flight instruction, program management, applied research, and team leadership. Across every role, the constant has been this: building practical solutions, empowering teams, and integrating emerging tech where it matters most.As Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus, I led the UAS undergraduate degree program while carrying a full teaching load and driving department research. I managed labs, contracts, and student teams, all while translating real-world applications into the classroom. I taught everything from flight ops to human factors to high-altitude physiology. Results mattered, and my focus was always on relevance, execution, and student success.Before that, I spent nearly a decade delivering one-on-one flight instruction in the cockpit, classroom, and simulator. I later stepped into a Training Manager role where I led 25+ instructors supporting 250+ students. With airline hiring constantly churning the roster, I had to make hiring, onboarding, and retention into a system—not just a checklist. I used data, scheduling optimization, and performance tracking to keep the engine running, but leadership and team cohesion were the key deliverables.At a university-affiliated aviation research center, I worked with five PhDs and 20+ student researchers managing budgets, purchasing, personnel, and project timelines across industry and government contracts. I ran reports, reconciled accounts, planned technical events, and built systems that scaled.I\'m a Commercial Pilot (single & multi), CFII, and Part 107 operator with over 900 hours logged in manned aircraft and dozens more in unmanned—manual and autonomous. I advocate for open-source, immersive learning, and practical application of tech in the air and on the ground.I’m at my best when I’m leading from the front, building smart systems, and helping others grow into their next level. If you’re building something in aviation, education, or UAS, let’s talk.