Matt Vance Shares Passion for Teaching, Flying

Friday, November 20, 2015

So, you think you can fly? Dr. Vance says so and there’s no better time than now to become a pilot.

 “I think it’s an interesting time in history that we’re facing because the job opportunities in aviation, in particular, are looking very bright - especially if you’re interested in piloting,” said Matt Vance, assistant professor in aerospace and aviation at Oklahoma State University.  “There has never been a circumstance quite like this in the history of aviation for about 100 years now. We are looking at a wave of retirements and there are more aircraft being produced than there are seats to fill them.”

Piloting isn’t the only area in the industry needing employees, Vance said.

“There are all sorts of opportunities in aviation that have to do with safety-related facets. You could investigate accidents, you can manage airports, you can run airlines, you can be in [human resource] departments, do research, or be a maintainer. Really the opportunities are just as diverse as in any other industry they just happen to have airplanes all around them,” Vance said.

Vance is new to the aerospace administration and operations program at OSU beginning his position as assistant professor in the fall of 2015. He came to the College of Education for his third career, following a 23-year corporate aviation career and 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy. 

“The best job I ever had was when I was a teacher during my military on-shore assignment when I was 26 years old. I knew I wanted to teach again in some capacity,” he said. “I’m very pleased to be here.”