Keith DeBerry was officially announced as Director of the FAA Academy on January 5, 2018. The FAA Academy is the premiere provider of technical training for the agency, with over 400 employees and hundreds of contractors who provide quality, cost effective learning solutions for thousands of students annually across the FAA and global community. Keith is no stranger to the FAA, having over 20 years’ experience with the agency and having managed the Regulatory Standards Division (AMA-200) and the Airworthiness Branch (AMA-250).
Fascinated with air travel since he was a child, Keith joined the U.S. Air Force working as an aircraft maintenance technician. He also had the honor of being an alumnus of the Air Force’s elite air demonstration team, the “Thunderbirds.” Keith comments, “During my tour with the Thunderbirds, I had the opportunity to travel extensively and interface with the American public. Those experiences reinforced my belief that the American people are what make the U.S. the greatest country in the world.” Upon retiring from the military in 1997, he started his career with the FAA in Louisville, Kentucky, working with the Delta Airlines Certificate Office as a Regional Inspector. During his career, he also worked as a Supervisory Principal Maintenance Inspector for UPS Airlines and eventually began working for a newly established Safety Management System (SMS) program office where he served as the field lead working with major airlines on a pilot project to develop and implement SMS processes and procedures. Years later, he accepted a detail position in Washington D.C. with the newly established Systems Approach to Safety Oversight (SASO) program office. This organization was responsible for developing the next generation of safety oversight for all certificate holders. In 2010, Keith transferred to Oklahoma City to work at the FAA Academy. Prior to moving into an executive position, he has held several management positions at the Academy.
From a young man who was raised on a cattle farm, responsible for taking care of the land and its livestock, Keith reflects on his solid upbringing. “The best advice came from my grandfather when I was 10 years old, if you want respect, you must earn it, so…always do what you say you’ll do, and pay your bills on time,” says Keith. Diligent and grateful for the stepping stones in his life, Keith’s high school graduation class in Chandlers, Kentucky was only 19 people. “Growing up on a farm in the country, I learned quickly that if you want to be successful, you must work hard and always tell the truth. Those two simple sayings have become my mantra and have become the cornerstones of my achievements.”
Keith says he admires those individuals who take the time to make an investment in the people around them. In thinking about some of his memorable career experiences, he enjoyed working with the employees in the Regulatory Standards Division, in helping to position the organization on a new path. “The AMA-200 Division was the first governmental flight program to develop and implement a Safety Management System (SMS) using Part 5 rules. I challenged the employees to do better, be better, to continue to increase our value and relevance in the aviation community. To this day, I am still amazed at the dedication and professional of those employees,” says Keith.
Keith holds a Master’s Degree in Aviation Operations and Safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and is energized about his new position. He reveals, “This job is not about me, it’s about having the ability to influence the working environment in such a way that all employees have the opportunity to grow, contribute at higher levels, and achieve what they may think is impossible.” A family man at heart, Keith has five granddaughters and one grandson whom he explains are his ‘hobbies.’ He strives to maintain that healthy balance of doing a good job and being able to take good care of family.
The Aeronautical Center is delighted to have Keith as Director of the FAA Academy due to the wealth of knowledge and expertise he bring to this position. Center personnel are excited about Keith’s vision in charting a new course for the FAA Academy.
