Joseph Cerreta
- Title
- Associate Professor and Chief of Standardization and Training
- cerretaj@erau.edu Email
- Department
- Department of Flight
- College
- College of Aviation
External Links
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Biography
Dr. Joseph Cerreta is an assistant professor with nearly three decades of experience in uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) as an instructor, manager and program director across Department of Defense, public safety and academic sectors.
Dr. Cerreta played a key role in developing the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management’s UAS emergency response capability, which enabled the National Weather Service to use live UAS data for tornado damage assessment, the first instance of its kind in NWS history. He also co-developed a UAS public safety integration program that helped establish new aviation units for agencies including the Daytona Beach Police Department.
His current research explores the use of 3D point-cloud data collected from UAS to assess plant health in vertically arranged vegetation, such as citrus trees, and evaluates how 3D methods may enhance traditional 2D vegetation indices.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Cerreta served as Chief Instructor at the U.S. Army’s UAS training schoolhouse, working on the RQ-5A Hunter, RQ-7A/B Shadow 200, and Aerosonde Mk 4.7G systems. He led the development of multiple UAS training programs, including the Army’s transition course from Hunter to Shadow platforms and the U.S. Marine Corps’ transition from Pioneer to Shadow. He also co-authored the U.S. Army Training Circular 1-600, UAS Aircrew Training Manual (2nd Edition).
As a Program Manager, Dr. Cerreta oversaw UAS lifecycle sustainment, manpower planning, and deployment operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, achieving over 4,600 flight hours per month with a 95% readiness rate.
He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Northcentral University, where his doctoral research examined performance-based logistics predictors of earned value management outcomes.
Education
- Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, Northcentral University
- M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Aerospace Safety Systems, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- B.A. - Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, Excelsior College