Amber Wilson, Ph.D.

Program Director, Associate Professor

Education

Ph.D. in International Development – The University of Southern Mississippi
M.S. in Aerospace: Safety & Security – Tennessee State University
B.S. in Aerospace: Airport Management – Tennessee State University

Biography

Dr. Amber Wilson currently serves as the Program Director for the Aviation Administration program and an Associate Professor for the Liberty University School of Aeronautics.

Prior to her current position, she served as the Manager of Aviation Technology for the Virginia Department of Aviation. In that capacity, she worked closely with agency leaders to guide the Commonwealth’s growth and oversight of all aviation technology, such as uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), Advanced Air Mobility, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), etc.

This was accomplished through developing and recommending rules and regulations to ensure the safe operation and integration of UAS and other emerging technologies with manned aircraft and educating the public on UAS benefits and safe operations. She managed the Governor’s Aerospace Advisory Council and SB07 DOAV UAS Work Group and managed the Virginia Flight Information Exchange. Moreover, Dr. Wilson led the DOAV Advanced Air Mobility Task Force and co-led the Virginia Advanced Air Mobility Alliance (VAAMA). She has been recognized as an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) policy leader and subject matter expert where she has testified. She currently serves on the Unmanned Systems Advisory Board for the Virginia Unmanned Systems Center at the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, serves on the Advisory Board for UnTrafficked and engaged nationally and internationally on AAM and Human Trafficking.

She earned her Ph.D. in International Development from The University of Southern Mississippi. Her dissertation research focused on aviation’s role in human trafficking and through that research, she developed human trafficking training for the aviation industry. Moreover, she researches various factors of political, social, cultural and economic development of various nation-states. She completed her Master of Science degree in Aerospace, specifically Aviation Safety and Security Management and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Airport Management (both from Tennessee State University). Her McNair Scholar’s Research and Master’s Thesis focused on Safety Management Systems.

Aside from spending time with our Lord and her family, she thoroughly enjoys running/training, hiking, traveling, and serving her community and church in various ways.

Certifications

Certified Member – American Association of Airport Executives, in progress
Remote Pilot Certificate – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
International Aerodrome Certificated Employee (IACE) – International Association of Airport Executives
Airport Certified Employee: Airport Operations – American Association of Airport Executives, in progress
Maryland Human Trafficking Professional Seminar
Airport Security Coordinator – American Association of Airport Executives
End Slavery: Strategies for Contemporary Global Abolition – The University of Nottingham, in progress
Recognize It. Report It. Human Trafficking Awareness Training for Airport/Airline Personnel – Airline Ambassadors International
Human Trafficking for the Beauty Industry – End Slavery Tennessee
Human Trafficking for the Hospitality Industry – End Slavery Tennessee

Professional or Notable Memberships

Include, but not limited to:

Air Domain Intelligence and Analysis Center (ADIAC)
National Associations of State Aviation Officials (NASA)
American Associate of Airport Executives (AAAE)
National Safer Skies Alliance
DRONERESPONDERS
InterDrone
Association for Unmanned Vehicle System International (AUVSI)
FEMA Region III UAV Working Group
National Association of Counties (NACo)
International Studies Association (ISA)

Courses taught

AVIA 230 – Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
AVIA 361 – Airport Management
AVIA 491 – Aviation Capstone: Advanced Research Concepts
AVIA 505 – Aviation Context & Foundations
AVIA 525 – Applied Aviation Research
AVIA 543 – Ethics in Decision-Making
AVIA 725 – Current Practices and Future Trends in Aviation
AVIA 735 – Human Factors and Aviation Automation
AVIA 745 – The Economic Environment of Aviation
AVIA 860 – Literature Review for Advanced Research
AVIA 987 through AVIA 990 – Dissertation (1-4): forthcoming

** other courses taught formally at two universities.

Professional and Academic Research In-Progress

State Governance Model for Authoritative Supplemental Data Service Provider (ASDSP)

This research examines state models for governance and focuses on how states collaborate and integrate toward a national SDSP model.

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

This research focuses on the state and local government use of UAS and AAM, examines and writes legislation and policy and seeks to advance the National Airspace (NAS).

Human Trafficking in Aviation

This research focuses on the role of aviation in human trafficking in the United States.

Human Trafficking

This research examines the United Nations, United Kingdom, and the United States’ mandates on human trafficking and the governmental and non-government’s role in preventing and raising awareness.

Aviation Museums

This research on what/who is aviation to the decision-makers at aviation museums, namely to what extent is females represented, and how choices are made.

United Kingdom & the United States South

This research focuses on slavery in the United Kingdom and the association with trade in the British Empire. Additionally, this research focuses on the perception of the UUS South by UK visitors.

Safety Management Systems

This research is a follow-on study of re-examining the perspective of Tennessee Airports.