Leo Garcia

Title
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email
Department
Department of Undergraduate Studies
College
College of Aviation

Officer (Ret) Leonardo Garcia bring 15+ years of Aviation Operations and Federal Law Enforcement combined experience. He posses a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology (Everglades University - 2008) and a Master of Science in Aviation & Aerospace Operations with dual specialization in Human Factors degrees (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - 2011). He also flew over 5,000 hours in commercial passenger airplanes on Domestic and International routes. In addition, he also hold several aviation certificates (FAA & ICAO) such as: Commercial Pilot - Multi-Engine & Instrument, Flight Engineer, Flight Dispatcher and Advance Ground Instructor (AGI). He is a graduated Police Officer from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Brunswick, GA. Some of his Federal Law Enforcement experience included assignments as a Liaison Watch Officer - Airspace Security - for the Department of Homeland Security National Capital Region Coordination Center in Washington, DC. He also participated in the Airspace Security detail for several VIP events such as: Presidential Inaugurations, State of the Unions, Pope Francis Joint Session of Congress (2015), and many other high profile events including Government Relocation (COOP). Recently, he was the lead Agency Officer in charge to investigate UAS/UA events inside the National Capital Region (NCR) and other incidents that involved illegal UAS operations that represented a threat to national security. Officer (Ret) Garcia is also a Master Instructor for the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) developing and providing training regarding UAS/UA Operations and Law Enforcement Response to UAS events in the NAS. He is an aviation enthusiast father of two children who still reside in the Washington, DC., area.

  • M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Aerospace Operations and Human Factors Aviation Systems, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology, Everglades University

  • Commercial Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Remote Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Ground Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Aircraft Dispatcher - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Flight Engineer - Federal Aviation Administration