Over 40 years of experience in the aviation industry with extensive experience in flight operations, financial planning, research,  teaching, safety management, contract negotiations, equipment procurement, and personnel management.   

Courses taught at institutions of higher learning:

      Applied Aerodynamics

      Instrument Ground School

      Crew Resource Management

      International Airline Operations

      CFI – Instrument Ground School

      Human Factors

      Aviation Policy Development

      Airport Management

      Contemporary Problems in Air Transportation

                   Multi-Engine Ground School

                   Private Pilot Ground School

                   Corporate Aviation Management

                   Corporate Aviation Management (graduate level)

                   Aviation Business Design (graduate level)

                   Airline Management

                   Fixed Base Operations

                   Safety and Ethics in Aviation

Current Position

Director of Aviation and Special Programs, and Professor emeritus of Aviation, University of Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa 

Education

1996 - Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National Defense

University, Washington, DC

1985 - Master of Science, Operations Research, Case Western Reserve

University, Cleveland, Ohio

1974 - Bachelor of Science, Business Management,

University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Pertinent Aviation Certificates

                NBAA Certified Aviation Manager

                Initial certification 09/2007

                Recertification 09/2010 and 09/2013

                FAA Pilot Certifications

                Air Transport Pilot, Multi-engine Airplane

                Commercial/Instrument Helicopter

                Certified Flight Instructor, Airplane Single & Multi Engine

                Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument Airplane

                Helicopter Instructor (Military)

                Airman Certification Representative (ACR)

                Designated Pilot Examiner (Ground Instructors)

Flight Experience

                Total Time 8400 hours

                Turbine 4525 hours

                Multi-engine 4100 hours

                Helicopters 3500 hours

                Instrument 1550 hours (Actual 1125 hours)

                Night 1030 hours

                Dual given 1950 hours

Pertinent Experience

1/99 to present Department Head for a University Aviation Department consisting of 240 majors, 21 aircraft and 38 faculty and staff.  Responsible for academic direction and program development.  Manage a budget of over 2.8 million dollars with maintenance, safety, logistics, recruiting, and employee hiring responsibilities. 

9/02 to present Airport Commissioner, Dubuque Regional Airport.  Currently serving as the Chairperson of an autonomous Commission for an airport ranked second busiest in the State with part 139 responsibilities and over 40,000 annual passengers. 

7/83 to present Flight Instructor for single and multi-engine aircraft to include instruments; non-current helicopter flight instructor.

7/98 to 8/99 Adjunct Instructor III, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, qualified to teach 19 graduate courses.

6/96 to 1/99  Principle Adviser to the Adjutant Generals of the Montana and Idaho National Guard for training, operations, personnel, and logistics in support of 7000 National Guard soldiers.  Developed detailed training plans and coordinated the execution of training leading to significantly improved unit readiness.  Developed plans and policies that increased personnel fill to high priority units and increased promotion selection rates.  Developed training and deployment plans for infantry, aviation, public affairs, and fire fighting units participating in Bosnia operations and National Training Center (NTC) rotations.

6/94 to 6/95  Senior Military Analyst in an office led by a Department of Army Civilian in the Senior Executive Service.  Provided oversight and policy guidance to Army Experimentation and Testing programs.  Assigned as lead analyst on the policy committee for the Comanche Helicopter Program.  Project analyst for the integration of all analytical efforts in support of Force XXI digitization experimentation.

6/92 to 6/94  Commander, Aviation Battalion, Fort Rucker, Alabama.  Directly responsible for the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing training program.  Budget authority exceeded 12 million dollars.  Supervised flight activities that achieved over 270,000 accident free flight hours.  Provided quality assurance for over 200 contract flight instructors and 700 maintenance personnel.  Supervised over 320 personnel of which approximately 200 were flight instructors.

1/91 to 5/92  Senior Aviation Advisor to the U.S. Embassy La Paz, Bolivia.  Coordinated 50 aircraft from various U.S. Government agencies and the Bolivian Air Force in our Nation’s efforts against illicit drug activities.  Developed training, logistics, operations, safety education, and aircraft overhaul programs in a country with limited infrastructure.

9/88 to 1/90 Vice-president, Fixed-wing Operations, Air North, Watertown, New York.  A part-135 business integrating two companies with fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

6/88 to 1/90  Executive Officer for an Assault Helicopter Battalion in Fort Drum, New York.  Responsible for the staff integration of maintenance, logistic, administration, personnel, operations, safety, and training for an organization consisting of 325 personnel and 55 helicopters.  Project officer for the formation of this new unit.  Developed and oversaw execution of a plan to consolidate unit split by a distance of over 100 miles two years early.  This resulted in savings of 1.8 million dollars.  Planned and executed transition to the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter with minimum impact on unit readiness.

1/86 to 6/88 Ad Hoc Member, Graduate School, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Provided counseling to graduate students and served on thesis committee for computer simulation experimental design proposals.

3/85 to 7/88 President, Fort Leavenworth Flying Club, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  Directed flight school, supervised maintenance, and managed fuel operations.

9/83 to 1/85 Fixed and rotary wing commercial pilot for Baron Aviation, Cleveland, Ohio.  Established turbine helicopter operation.

6/81 to 6/83 Aviation Company Commander for UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter unit.  Unit consisted of 15 helicopters and 190 personnel.  Responsible for operations, training, safety, maintenance, and logistics.

6/73 to 5/81 Various aviation leadership, maintenance and flight positions in Europe and the United States.

6/73 First paid flight (aviation employment)

National and Regional Level Aviation Activities 

National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA)

Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)

Access Committee member – Airport Working Group (6/08-9/12)

Co-Chair, CAM Testing Committee

CAM Governing Board member

Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI)

Past Secretary

Past Treasurer

Ad Hoc member Outcomes Assessment Committee

2007 Visiting Team Accreditation, SE Oklahoma State University

2008 Visiting Team Accreditation, Southern Illinois University

2009 Elected Trustee, re-elected in 2102

2010 Visiting Team Accreditation, ERAU Prescott and Daytona Beach

2010 Conducted Workshop for SIU on Aviation Accreditation Assessment

2011 Conducted Assessment Workshop, Raising the Standard

2011 Presentation, Safety Programs for Collegiate Aviation

2011 Qualified as Visiting Team Chair

2011 Visiting Team Accreditation, St. Louis University

2012 Visiting Team Accreditation Chair, Westminster College

2013 Visiting Team Accreditation Chair, Mercer County Community College

2014 Visiting Team Accreditation Chair, Purdue University

2015 Visiting Team Accreditation, Kent State University

University Aviation Association (UAA)

Aviation Policy Seminar Director (15 seminars to Washington, DC)

Safety Auditor, 2007 ERAU

2009 Presentation on Establishing an Aviation Advisory Board

2013 Presentation on Aviation Policy Development

                School of Missionary Aviation (SMAT) Advisory Board Member (2005-2011)

Dubuque Regional Airport Commission

 Member, 2002

Treasurer, 2003

Secretary, 2004

Vice-Chair, 2006 – 2007, 2013 - 2014

Chair, 2007- 2010, 2014 – present

State of Iowa

Aviation Advisory Committee, 2005 to 2010

Aviation Infrastructure Committee, 2009 to 2011

University Service

University of Kansas: Graduate Thesis Advisor

University of Dubuque

Professional Development, Promotion,  and Tenure Committee

Core Curriculum Committee

School of Professional Programs representative to the Board of Trustees

Planning and Finance Committee

Presidential Ad Hoc Committee on Enrollment/Student Body Size

Advisor Flight Team/Qualified NIFA Judge

Faculty Search Committees (Aviation/Business/Criminal Justice/Environmental Science)

Faculty Athletic Representative

Chair, Management Council, Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC)

Two years on the Executive Management Council, IIAC

Academic Council

Professional Development Committee, past Chair

Professional Associations

Member, Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) Institutional Representative, University Aviation Association (UAA) Institutional Representative, Aviation Accreditation Board, International (AABI) Committee Member, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Member, National Air Transportation Association (NATA)

Robert A. Grierson, AAE, is currently serving as the manager of the Dubuque Regional Airport. He previously managed the Chico Municipal Airport and served as assistant director for the Fresno Airport System. Robert Managed the operating and capital budgets for O’Hare, Midway & Meigs for the City of Chicago, and served as Commissioner on the DuPage Airport Authority.

Robert holds a master and bachelor degrees in public administration. He is an Accredited Airport Executive by the American Association of Airport Executives. He served second term as president of the Iowa Public Airports Association. Robert has 30 years of experience in airport management, has been teaching undergraduate and graduate classes since 1996, and is an active pilot with commercial, instrument, multi-engine, and helicopter ratings.

Robert retired as full Colonel with over 38 years of military service, and he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Master Army Aviator Badge.

Robert is married with two sons, one at University of Missouri, the other at University of Iowa.