Frank Ayers Jr., Ed.D.

Executive Vice President,
Prescott Campus

Frank Ayers is the Executive Vice President of the Prescott, Ariz., campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he is responsible for leading more than 1,600 students and over 300 employees. He oversees a full range of academic, operational, and professional activities and sets strategic direction in areas such as business operations, enrollment management, academic support, financial aid, and student life. His other responsibilities include leadership at the University Cabinet level, philanthropic initiatives, and external relationships with government and industry.

Previously he was the Chairman of the flight training department at the University’s Daytona Beach, Fla., campus. In that position, he managed a staff of 250 personnel, including 160 instructor pilots, in the training of more than 1,000 students annually to the commercial/multi-engine level, using 61 aircraft and 11 level-6 flight training devices.

From 2003-2005, Ayers was principal investigator for the FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS) program, which is developing scenario-based education and training programs for a new generation of technically advanced aircraft. He supervised researchers and graduate assistants at Embry-Riddle and the University of North Dakota.

Prior to joining Embry-Riddle in 2000, Ayers served in the U.S. Air Force (1974-2000) and is rated as an airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, and flight instructor. Before retiring from the Air Force as a colonel, he served as chief of Joint Military Education Policy at the Pentagon. Prior to that, he was commander of a B-52 Training Squadron and Air Base Group.

Ayers received his B.A. in history and education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, his M.S. in aviation management from Embry-Riddle, and his Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University. He has published articles on scenario-based recurrent training and the teaching of FITS.

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