{"id":87700,"date":"2021-04-15T12:14:48","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T17:14:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/?p=87700"},"modified":"2021-04-15T12:16:09","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T17:16:09","slug":"vp-of-flight-operations-bob-waltz-and-commercial-aviation-alums-featured-during-inaugural-southwest-airlines-day-at-delta-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/2021\/04\/vp-of-flight-operations-bob-waltz-and-commercial-aviation-alums-featured-during-inaugural-southwest-airlines-day-at-delta-state\/","title":{"rendered":"VP of Flight Operations Bob Waltz and Commercial Aviation alums featured during inaugural Southwest Airlines Day at Delta State"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND, Miss.\u2014<\/strong>Students at Delta State University received the unique opportunity to connect with leadership and alumni working for the world\u2019s largest passenger airline company Tuesday during the inaugural “Southwest Airlines Day.”<\/p>\n

Organized by the College of Business and Aviation, the virtual event was highlighted by a special presentation from Bob Waltz, vice president of flight operations for Southwest (SWA). Waltz also invited DSU Commercial Aviation alumni, Mark Smith \u201893, Robbie Cole \u201898 and Josh Kypke \u201811\u2014all current pilots at Southwest\u2014to join him during the event.<\/p>\n

As vice president of flight operations, Waltz\u2019s primary responsibility is serving Southwest’s nearly 10,000 flight operations employees with one of the largest Boeing fleets in the world.<\/p>\n

He provides leadership and support to the Flight Operations Department, which includes 11 pilot bases; crew planning, scheduling and payroll; numerous headquarters technical and support functions as well as guiding the LEAD Center, which is home to SWA world-class pilot training. Waltz also works with his team to develop and implement policy and procedures to ensure safe and efficient flight operations at Southwest.<\/p>\n

During his presentation, Waltz gave a brief overview of the company, which boasts 725 aircrafts in 120 cities (and counting). He also provided students with pointers on job interviewing and discussed career possibilities available at Southwest.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Southwest Airline’s Vice President of Flight Operations Bob Waltz addresses the DSU community during the University’s first “Southwest Airlines Day.”<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe look at a total person concept. Your experience and your ratings are your table stakes\u2014they\u2019re the things you need just to get there, but there are other things like leadership that we consider important,\u201d explained Waltz.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy leadership\u2014it doesn’t mean only that you were a check airman, a chief pilot or on the management team for that company. It could also be based on your personal circumstances. What we are interested in are folks who have a sense of themselves and a sense of being part of a team because that\u2019s what\u2019s so important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Waltz also encouraged students to observe what he calls the \u201cplatinum rule.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really have to take the golden rule a step further\u2014the platinum rule, \u2018do unto others as they would be done onto,\u2019 and that means understanding the world from their point of view,\u201d explained Waltz.<\/p>\n

Smith, who has worked for Southwest since 2000, told DSU Commercial Aviation students that they are in a great position.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as I’m concerned, you’re sitting in a great spot\u2026the sky’s the limit, so don’t get discouraged,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know this pandemic has been tough on everyone but hang in there because there’s going to be opportunities ahead, and you’re in a great position right now so just keep working hard and have a good attitude,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Three DSU Commercial Aviation alumni who are currently flying for Southwest Airlines also attended the virtual event.<\/p><\/div>\n

A native of Gulfport, Miss., Cole said flying was always a passion of his while growing up, and Delta State equipped him with the credentials needed to fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot and presented him with internships and job opportunities even before graduating.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my advice to you\u2014if you have an opportunity at Delta State, get involved in anything extra that sets you apart from the crowd like an internship. It looks really, really good and will provide experiences to you that are just immeasurable, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe amount of people that I met and the things that I learned doing my internship were just absolutely irreplaceable\u2014not to mention the networking. It can really help to get your foot in the door in the airline world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kypke, who began his career as an army infantryman, said he decided to attend flight school at Delta State after finishing up his last deployment in 2009. Kype also earned his master\u2019s at Delta State and served as an adjunct instructor before joining Southwest in 2018.<\/p>\n

He encouraged students to never stop learning.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe a sponge because there’s a lot to learn,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m still learning. You know as much as we fly at Southwest, I learn something new every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been a great event to show our students the possibilities out there,\u201d said Joseph Saia, interim chair of Commercial Aviation at DSU.<\/p>\n

\u201cSouthwest has always been a great airline, and our Delta State team is very proud of each and every one of our alumni who joined us for this special occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delta State\u2019s Department of Commercial Aviation is the state university system\u2019s only undergraduate and graduate aviation programs. Students are prepared for a variety of opportunities in the aviation industry including the airlines, aircraft manufacturing, airport management, air traffic control, military aviation and logistics.<\/p>\n

The department offers a Bachelor of Commercial Aviation (BCA) in Flight Operations and Aviation Management with a concentration in Logistics, and a Master of Commercial Aviation (MCA).<\/p>\n

To learn more about Commercial Aviation programs at Delta State, visit\u00a0 www.deltastate.edu\/college-of-business\/commercial-aviation\/<\/a><\/p>\n

For questions, e-mail cavinfo@deltstate.edu<\/a>, or call (662) 846-4205.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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