Embry-Riddle President to Resign

In his memo, Sliwa said, "I have always been clear that I would serve between a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years as president of Embry-Riddle before returning to the private sector. I like to consider myself a change agent and during the past seven years we have made many changes together. I am content with the progress we've made in such short time and the directions in which our University is headed."

Sliwa, the third president of Embry-Riddle, is best known for creating an entrepreneurial environment and for developing strategic partnerships with industry. These partnerships include a joint venture with FlightSafety International, resulting in the University's Advanced Flight Simulation Center; a partnership with Cessna that includes options to purchase 300 aircraft; a technology alliance with IBM; and an exclusive educational partnership with AOPA. He also spearheaded a $100+ million capital expansion program, which included a $11.5 million congressional line-item appropriation. In addition, new academic and research programs were created at his direction to respond to structural changes in the industry while increasing market share in the University's core programs. He also successfully launched the Center for Aviation Training at Embry-Riddle (CATER), a division dedicated to domestic and international contract training.

Sliwa announced his intentions to allow the University to begin planning for the transition to a new administration. The exact timing of his departure will be coordinated with Embry-Riddle's board of trustees. The board will announce an interim president to serve after Sliwa's departure while they work with various university and industry constituencies to select the new president.

James O'Connor, chairman of Embry-Riddle's board, said, "I've had the pleasure of working with Steve Sliwa for seven years, and he has proven to be a man of vision and action. The growth of the University's reputation, the increase in industry partnerships, as well as the physical growth of the University are testament of his leadership. Steve can be proud of his accomplishments at Embry-Riddle and his legacy."

Sliwa plans to remain involved with the University as a university benefactor and athletic booster. "I am sure most understand that my tenure at Embry-Riddle has been one of passion and fulfillment," said Sliwa. "I am proud of the effort applied and the results achieved by our entire team. I have been privileged to have had the best job in higher education."

Before Embry-Riddle, Sliwa served as vice president, engineering and product development for Integrated Systems Inc., a Silicon Valley engineering software company. He also served in several management positions at NASA and was the founder and CEO of SEI, an educational software firm he sold. Sliwa is a graduate of Princeton University, George Washington University, and Stanford University, where he was a Sloan Executive Fellow.

Embry-Riddle, the world's largest fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, meets the needs of these and related industries through its educational, training, research and consulting activities. Degree programs through the master's level are offered in Daytona Beach, Florida, Prescott, Arizona, and more than 100 teaching sites in the U. S. and Europe.