Liberty University Lifts Students to Aviation Careers and Lives of Purpose
June 18, 2026
The next generation of aviation professionals are driving the industry forward at a rapid pace. At the same time, it’s critical that these new workers embody integrity, fidelity and a commitment to servant leadership.
Founded in 1971, Liberty University is one of the world’s largest faith-driven private universities, offering degree programs in fields ranging from aviation to law, medicine and health sciences, divinity and government, through both on-campus and online coursework.
Perhaps most importantly, the school also instills a strong moral code in all its students. Recently, King Aerospace Chairman and Founder Jerry King had the chance to visit the Liberty University campus and its School of Aeronautics. He came away from the experience with very strong and favorable impressions.
“Everywhere I went, the students were so professional and focused,” he says. “I asked one of the guides why the students seemed so different at Liberty than other universities. She replied that lots of schools provide a great education, but Liberty focuses on a holistic training experience.
“That teaches them lifelong lessons, from how to shake someone’s hand and dress for an interview to taking accountability and refusing to make excuses,” King adds. “I thought that was a pretty good answer.”
The school also invited King to speak to approximately 200 students across four different classes focused on leadership, logistics and related disciplines. Dr. Steven Brinly, dean of Liberty’s School of Aeronautics, says King’s visit highlighted the strong alignment between the university and King Aerospace.
“It’s great to see a large aviation organization like King Aerospace that shares many of our values at Liberty,” Brinly adds. “As Jerry King toured our facilities, interacted with our students and spoke in classes, it became very clear that his company runs on similar principles of faith, character and integrity in which we pride ourselves.”
Another meaningful aspect of the trip for King was spending time with retired Army Maj. Gen. Chris McPadden, a longtime supporter of King Aerospace and an adjunct instructor at Liberty. It was Chris’ idea to invite Jerry to visit Liberty, to share his experience with Liberty’s students and faculty.
“Jerry was an immediate rock star with the students and faculty.” McPadden says. “His energy motivated everyone with whom he interacted, whether in smaller groups or larger lectures, and the students were exceptionally attentive and engaged.
“They asked Jerry great questions because they could see that he was genuinely interested in them as individuals and their future careers,” he adds. “I believe Jerry had a generational impact on the Liberty student body in a single day!”
Sharing the Experience
King’s time at Liberty convinced him that other team members would also benefit from seeing the campus and visiting with students and faculty there. For longtime King Aerospace team member Pat Brooks, one of the most striking aspects of the visit was the Liberty campus itself.
“Everything was so clean,” she says. “They offer everything students need on campus, which helps keep them focused on their studies and out of trouble. It’s clearly a well-run institution with strong values, outstanding facilities, engaged leadership and a student-focused culture.”
Company President Jarid King took notice of the training students receive in the school’s aviation program. That includes Liberty’s Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology degree program that combines flight training and maintenance, preparing students to pursue both commercial pilot and aviation mechanic certifications.
“It’s really impressive from every angle,” Jarid says. “Whether you’re looking at pilot training or aircraft maintenance, they’ve built a program that gives students access to outstanding resources and hands-on experience.
“Their maintenance students have the opportunity to see and interact with aviation systems in ways that make the learning process much more effective,” he continues. “They’re able to progress through different phases of certification while gaining practical experience troubleshooting systems, working on engines and learning in an environment designed to prepare them for real-world aviation careers.”
Keith Weaver, vice president for business development at King Aerospace, also noted Liberty’s extensive A&P [airframe and powerplant] program that provides students with hands-on experience servicing the school’s fleet of Cessna 172 Skyhawks, working on CFM56 engines, system-training boards and engine test cells.
“Liberty’s doing all the right things to prepare students to step into their first job,” he says. “At the same time, it is clearly a faith-based aviation program combining technical expertise with a culture of leadership and service.”
That makes graduates of Liberty’s aeronautics school impressive candidates for working at King Aerospace, adds Mel Mericle, human resources coordinator for the company.
“Every student and faculty member we interacted with clearly upholds the culture and faith-first education, and that just shines through,” she says. “They clearly align very well with ‘King Kulture,’ which really makes the aviation department stand out from a recruiting perspective.”
Jerry King echoed that sentiment, citing one experience in particular from his tour of Liberty when he met with five students working on a former U.S. Army C-12, the military variant of the Beech King Air.
“They were clearly focused on what they were doing; they weren’t looking at their phones,” he says. “But when they saw me, they immediately stopped their work, introduced themselves professionally and clearly explained what they were doing.
“They stood up straight and looked me in the eye,” King continues. “When I told them I was with King Aerospace, one of the young men stood up even straighter and said, ‘Mr. King, I graduate in May. Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.'”