Brent A. Terwilliger

Title
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator
Email
Department
Department of Aeronautics
College
College of Aviation

Office Hours

9-4PM ET, M-F (by appointment)

Areas of Expertise

Uncrewed and autonomous system development and application; AI-integration in online education; online STEM education; and topics associated with uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and mobile robotics, including: teleoperation, situational awareness, human-machine interface (HMI), modeling and simulation, and human-in-the-loop control
Brent A. Terwilliger

Dr. Brent A. Terwilliger is an associate professor of Aeronautics and the program coordinator for the M.S. in Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems (MSUAS) degree at Embry-Riddle. Dr. Terwilliger earned a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a focus on Aviation from Northcentral University ('12), as well as a Master of Aeronautical Science ('05) and a B.S. in Aerospace Studies ('00) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

With over a decade of experience in defense contracting, Dr. Terwilliger has supported federal clients, including the U.S. Postal Service, in developing automated sortation technologies and the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy with simulation training systems. As a tenured faculty member at Embry-Riddle, he has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications, presented research at international conferences and shared expertise on uncrewed systems across television, print and digital media.

Dr. Terwilliger previously served as the associate dean for Research in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Worldwide. He currently serves as the Vice President for the Florida Peninsula Chapter of the Association of Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI); a Co-Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation-funded IUSE project; a Co-PI to the FAA-sponsored ASSURE a83 UAS research project (Analyze Drone Traffic); and as the Editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, Northcentral University
  • M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Space Studies and Aviation Aerospace Operations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Studies: Professional Communications, Humanities, and Space Studies, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Amateur Radio License - Federal Communications Commission
  • Part 107 Small Uas Recurrent, Course Number ALC-677 - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Remote Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • UNSY 501: Application of UAS
  • UNSY 502: Current Issues in UAS
  • UNSY 603: UAS Operational Configuration
  • ASCI 410 Unmanned Systems Sensing
  • ASCI 515 Aviation/Aerospace Simulation Systems
  • ASCI 530 Unmanned Aerospace Systems
  • ASCI 531 Robotics and Control,p
  • ASCI 637 Unmanned Aerospace Systems Operations and Payloads
  • ASCI 691 Graduate Capstone Course
  • UNSY 501 Application of Unmanned Systems
  • UNSY 502 Current Topics in Unmanned Systems
  • UNSY 601 Unmanned Systems Command, Control, and Communications
  • UNSY 603 Unmanned Systems Operational Configuration
  • UNSY 605 Unmanned Systems Sensing, Perception, and Processing
  • UNSY 610 Unmanned Systems Autonomy and Automation
  • UNSY 615 Unmanned Systems Power, Propulsion, and Maneuvering
  • Professional Education UAS Applications, Operations, and Support: Key Topics of Industry, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide (Las Vegas, San Diego, and Berlin)
  • Professional Education Unmanned Aircraft Systems Short-course
  • Professional Education sUAS 1000: History and Application of sUAS,
  • Professional Education sUAS 1100: sUAS Design and Configuration
  • Professional Education sUAS 1200: sUAS Operations and Regulations

Technical Writer/Editor, ENSCO Inc, Binghamton, NY (2001-2003)

Technical Writer/Editor, Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solutions, Binghamton, NY (2003-2004)

Software Engineer, Rockwell Collins STS, Binghamton, NY and Orlando, FL (2004-2012)

· National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Business Aviation Management Committee (BAMC; formerly CAMC) member (January 2015-August 2019); UAS Subcommittee Chair (February 2015-November 2018) and member (November 2018-August 2019); Innovative Technologies Committee member (August 2019-present)

· Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Florida Peninsula Chapter, Board of Directors member (June 2020-present); Vice President (May 2025-2028)


2024-2025 Faculty Member of the Year, Department of Aeronautics, College of Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide [awarded August 11, 2025 in San Diego, CA]

Featured in Faculty Spotlight for ERAU-Worldwide RefreshER 2025 Training (Strategy #3: Provide Real-World Context) [based on incorporation of Guest UNSY SME Sessions into teaching; December 2024]

5C’s Humanizing the Virtual Learning Environment Award, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Rothwell Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence [Awarded March 25, 2022 in relation to instruction of UNSY 501 Application of Unmanned Systems; awarded February 10, 2023 in relation to instruction of UNSY 502 Current Issues in Unmanned Systems]

AY2019-2020 Making a Difference Award, Certificate of Achievement, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University [contributing recipient along with other colleagues from the College of Aeronautics]

2018 CIO 100 Award for the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, ERAU Virtual Hub [contributing subject matter expert]

Aviation Supplies and Academics, Editor’s Pick for the 2017 Holiday Season [featuring “Small unmanned aircraft systems guide: Exploring designs, operations, regulations, and economics”]

Faculty Member of the Year, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus, 2013-2014

Presented at the 2014 Latitude Awards, Orlando, FL: Models of Innovation Award, [presented to all members of the ERAU-Worldwide College of Aeronautics], 2013-2014 and Faculty Member of the Year, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus, College of Aeronautics, 2013-2014

Presented at the Blackboard Catalyst Awards, Las Vegas, NV: Exemplary Course, ASCI 638 Human Factors in Unmanned Systems [with Felix Brito and Tim Houston], 2014