Delbert Shorb

Title
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email
Department
Department of Applied Aerospace Science
College
College of Aviation

Areas of Expertise

  • Aircraft Maintenance
  • Aviation Management
  • Training & Instruction
  • Quality Assurance
  • Operations Leadership 
  • Mishap Investigation Causal Factors
  • Airworthiness Inspections
  • Flight Safety

Delbert R. Shorb has been an adjunct assistant professor since 2005, teaching at the Barksdale AFB, LA campus. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in February 2011 after more than 24 years of distinguished service.

Delbert began his Air Force career in January 1987 as a Flying Crew Chief on KC-10s at Barksdale AFB, LA, within the Strategic Air Command (SAC). As a patch-wearing SAC Journeyman Crew Chief, he was later assigned to Travis AFB in October 1994 under Air Mobility Command. At Travis, he earned the elite designation of Certified Mechanic, enabling him to sign off on Red X discrepancies independently. Over a decade, Delbert logged over 5,000 flying hours as a Flying Crew Chief and participated in multiple global campaigns, including Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Phoenix Pace, Phoenix Scorpion I & II, Restore Hope, Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).

His KC-10, Southern Knight (86-0027), was the first in Air Mobility Command to achieve 200 and 300 consecutive on-time take-offs and was the primary aircraft for Bomb Comp during the SAC era. Delbert’s expertise was further recognized when he was selected as a Quality Assurance (QA) Crew Chief inspector and was the lead QA inspector for KC-10 aircraft at Travis AFB. He also managed the Weight & Balance program for 62 aircraft, including KC-10s and C-5s.

Delbert is a graduate of multiple specialized courses, including the Air Force Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course (AMIC), Jet Engine Mishap Investigation Course (JEMIC), NCO Flight Safety Course, and Boeing Human Factors Course. He holds an FAA Airframe & Powerplant license and concluded his Air Force career as the Flight Safety NCO for the 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, the largest bomber base in the world.

Currently, Delbert works for Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) as a B-52 airworthiness and certification systems engineer.

  • D.B.A. - Doctor of Business Administration in Strategy and Innovation, Capella University
  • M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Aerospace Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • M.B.A. - Master of Business Administration in Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics: Aviation Safety, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • A.S. - Associate of Science in Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Mechanic - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Mechanic - Federal Aviation Administration
  • AMNT 260: Aircraft Electrical Sys Theory
  • AMNT 270: Airframe Structures & Appl
  • AMNT 271: Airframe Systems & Application

AMNT 240, 260, 270,271, 280, 281

ASCI 202, SFTY 350, 375, 435,

AASI 605, 635

  • Vast experience with military and commercial derivative aircraft (KC-10A), C-5, B-52H, F-15, F-16, and F-22, including proficiency in aviation safety operations, maintenance management, quality assurance, OHSA, AS9100/ISO9001, system safety program development, FAA compliance in Airworthy Directives (AD’s) and Advisory Circulars (AC’s).
  • Adept at standardizing, evaluating, and supervising procedures for aviation operations through Model-Based Safety Analysis (MBSA) in coordination with air vehicle Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to identify irregularities in flight safety or ground operations.  
  • Leverage advanced talents in earned value management, quality assurance, and trend analysis to create, implement, and administer reliability and sustainability programs.
  • Excel at planning, coordinating, implementing, managing, and monitoring projects in program life cycles, timeline-oriented environments, and tracking through (CAM).
  • Highly skilled at all aspects of operations management, project management, and process improvement, constantly focusing on meeting all deadlines and expectations.
  • Solid expertise in interpreting and writing complex technical data while reviewing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and managing cross-functional projects with oversight.  
  • Extremely well-versed in root cause analysis, human factors, and corrective action.
  • Proactively evaluate existing systems and procedures to identify shortcomings and rapidly implement solutions and controls that streamline operations with SMS principles.
  • Skilled at fostering an environment based on efficiency while maintaining cost control.
  • Possesses excellent negotiating and interpersonal skills with a capacity to build unified working relationships enterprise-wide with Earned Value Management (EVM) skills applied.
  • Consistently explore, devise, and steer continuous improvement initiatives to optimize productivity and quality within internal programs, functions, and organizational processes.
  • Provide in-depth and sophisticated analyses with interpretive thinking to define problems, develop innovative solutions, and influence strategic functional decisions.