Biography
Julie Speakes, Ph.D. has 28 years of aviation education experience from the flight line to the classroom. Speakes’ experiences range from a flight instructor to a full professor and the Online Dean for The School of Aeronautics at Liberty University. Currently, Dr. Speakes serves as the Associate Dean in the School of Aeronautics and the program director for the Masters of Science in Aeronautics and the Ph.D. in the School of Aeronautics and the program director for the Masters of Science in Aeronautics and the Ph.D. in Aviation. She teaches in the Master of Science in Aeronautics and Ph.D. in Aviation programs. Her current position requires a combination of both teaching excellence and a wide range of administrative skills. She serves on thesis assemblies, dissertations, and as the faculty advisor for Women in Aviation Chapter. Dr. Speakes is the Chair of the Board for Aviation Accreditation Board International where she also serves as the guidance committee chair and a visiting team chair. Speakes retired after 24 years from Delta State University where she served in various roles at DSU including the department chair, coordinator of the MCA program, and the FAA’s Airman’s Certification Representative (ACR) issuing the flight certificates earned with the FAA Part 141. Speakes serves as chair of the Aviation Management and Business Division at Middle Georgia College. At MGC, Speakes helped build a Bachelor of Science in Aviation degree with four tracks: flight management, air traffic control management, airport management and logistics management. She also served on the Georgia Aviation Implementation Team for the Georgia Aviation Authority (GAA) and the Transportation Education Foundation of Georgia (TEFGA). Prior to returning to academia Speakes was a corporate pilot.
Professional and Notable Memberships
- Aviation Accreditation Board International:
- Interim President (January 1, 2024 – July 31, 2024)
- Executive Board Committee, Chair (July 2024 – present)
- Executive Board Committee, Vice Chair (2022 – July 2024)
- Executive Board Committee, Treasurer (July 2021 – July 2022)
- Executive Board Committee, Secretary (July 2020 – July 2021)
- Accreditation Committee Member (2012 – 2016)
- Education Board member (2006 – present)
- Guidance Committee Chair (2016 – present)
- Graduation Education Committee (2007 – 2012)
- Strategic Planning and Corporate Communications Committee Chair (2021 – Present)
- Accreditation Visiting Team Chair (2014 – present)
- Accreditation Educator Visiting Team Member (2011 – present)
- Industry Educator Panel Forum (2007 – 2008; 2022 – 2024)
- University Aviation Association
- President (2013 – 2014)
- Membership Committee Chair (2008 – 2013)
- Planning Committee (2006 – 2019)
- University Representative (2022 – present)
- Women in Aviation International
- Member
- Faculty Advisor
- Presenter
- Professional Aviation Honor Society
- Alpha Eta Rho, Professional Aviation Fraternity
- National Secretary and Board Member (2018 -2019)
- Alpha Eta Rho, Professional Aviation Fraternity
Courses Taught
- AVIA 331: Commercial Pilot, Single Engine Add on
- AVIA 340: Aviation Weather
- AVIA 422: Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)
- AVIA 505: Aviation Context & Foundations
- AVIA 525: Applied Aviation Research
- AVIA 535: Developing Aviation Leaders
- AVIA 572: Applied Aviation Factors
- AVIA 705: Advanced Aviation Research Orientation
- AVIA 706: Advanced Aviation Investigation
- AVIA 735: Human Factors and Aviation Automation
- AVIA 745: The Economic Environment of Aviation
- AVIA 980: Research Concepts and Methodology
- AVIA 987: Dissertation I
- AVIA 988: Dissertation II
- AVIA 989: Dissertation III
- AVIA 990: Dissertation IV
Research Interests
Aviation Education, Aviation Leadership, Accreditation, Student Success
Awards
- Aviation Accreditation Board International Paul A. Whelan Educator Award is the highest teaching awards for efforts to improve aviation education and advance accreditation.
- University Aviation Association Wheatly Award for having over ten years of excellent teaching experience in the aviation education profession and making outstanding contributions to aerospace education.
Favorite Verse
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13