Kenneth Byrnes

Dr. Kenneth Patrick Byrnes serves as the Flight Department Chairman and Assistant Dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. With over two decades of aviation leadership experience, he oversees one of the world’s largest collegiate flight training operations, leading more than 400 aviation professionals and 1,800 flight students.

Dr. Byrnes holds a Ph.D. in Business from Northcentral University with specializations in Airline Management and Management of Engineering and Technology. His research and publications focus on safety culture, aeronautical decision-making, and flight training innovation.

He has led numerous modernization initiatives, including the integration of advanced simulation and virtual reality technologies into pilot training, and the development of data-driven safety and quality management systems.

A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Dr. Byrnes has received multiple awards for excellence in safety leadership and education, and frequently contributes to national and international discussions on aviation training advancement and safety improvement.