MK K. Gorman

Title
Associate Professor of the Practice and Curriculum Coordinator
Email
Department
Department of Applied Aerospace Science
College
College of Aviation

Office Hours

9am -- 6pm EST

Areas of Expertise

Investigative Methods

Accident Investigation Theory and Methods

Research Design

Qualitative Research

Environmental Issues

Water Supply Problems

Hydraulic Fracturing

Groundwater Contamination/Surface Water Contam/Methane Gas

Pollution Investigation & Remediation

Regulatory Policy and Development

Public Policy and Analysis

MK K. Gorman

Dr. Mary Kathleen “MK” Gorman serves as Curriculum Chair for the College of Aviation (COA) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide. Based in Richmond, Virginia, she oversees college-wide curriculum development, program assessment, academic program reviews and implementation of new and existing degree programs. In addition, she provides mentorship to faculty and ensures academic alignment with university policies and standards.

Since joining Embry-Riddle in 2010, Dr. Gorman has held several key leadership positions, including Program Chair of the B.S. in Safety Management and Associate Chair of the B.S. in Emergency Services within the College of Arts & Sciences.

Before entering academia, Dr. Gorman spent nearly two decades as a geological consultant in the private sector, managing projects involving hazardous materials and environmental contamination. Her work included developing innovative solutions to groundwater and surface water challenges, methane gas investigations and site remediations. Notably, she championed, designed and completed Virginia’s first Brownfields landfill reclamation project.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Gorman served with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, where she worked in multiple regional and central offices. During her 10-year tenure, she managed millions in federal grant funding for the State-Lead and Alternate Water Supply Programs, contributed to the drafting of Underground Storage Tank Program legislation and regulations and helped establish key groundwater protection policies.

Her research and publications span environmental science, public safety, policy analysis and emerging technologies in aviation. Areas of focus include unconventional energy development, water resource management, emergency management and Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF). Her doctoral dissertation explored the social dimensions of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in the Marcellus shale. Through collaborative research at Embry-Riddle, Dr. Gorman continues to explore intersections between emergency management and innovative aviation technologies. She has also developed several courses in safety management and accident investigation for both the College of Aviation and the College of Arts & Sciences.

Outside of academia, Dr. Gorman is an avid sports enthusiast who played competitive softball for over 30 years and still celebrates the excitement of baseball’s Opening Day. She enjoys golf, horseshoes, cornhole, cooking, gardening, relaxing with neighbors on the porch and exploring Virginia’s many wineries and microbreweries.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration: Public Safety Management, Walden University
  • M. - Master in Disaster Science, University of Richmond
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Geology, College of William and Mary
  • IS-00003 Radiological Emergency Management - Emergency Management Institute - FEMA
  • IS-00001 Emergency Program Management, An Orientation to the Position - Emergency Management Institute - FEMA
  • AVSF 330: Acft Accident Investigation
  • BSAS 330: Acft Accident Investigation
  • BSAS 350: Acft Crash & Emergency Mgmt
  • AVSF 350: Acft Crash & Emergency Mgmt

SFTY 205 Principles of Accident Investigation

SFTY 315 Environmental Compliance and Safety

EMGY 405 Disaster Policy and Management

EMGY 310 Fundamentals of Emergency Management

SFTY 570 Fire Safety Management

SFTY 540 Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response

PHYS 142 Introduction to Environmental Science

BSAS350 – Acft Crash & Emergency Mgmt

BSAS330 – Acft Accident Investigation

SFTY 691 -- Graduate Capstone Course

FIRE/ESVS 304 -- Fire Investigations & Analysis

ESVS 402 -- Fire & Emergency Service Administration

SFTY 420 -- Systems Design for Fire & Life Safety

ESVS 302 -- Fire Dynamics

ESVS 404 -- Managerial Issues in Hazardous Materials

Gorman, M.K. (2015).  Social Consequence, Stakeholder Influence, and Resource Needs for Marcellus Shale Communities.  (Doctoral dissertation).  ProQuest (15588).

Herron, R., Smith, T., Mikutel, D. & Gorman, M. K. (2016). Case Study: An examination of the developmental process of NFPA standards for the ARFF industry.    International Journal of Emergency Services, 5 (1). http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journal/ijes

Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Working Group A-14-59 Task Group (2018).  Recommendations to the National Transportation Safety Board A-14-59 Recommendation. (M. K. Gorman, Ed.).

Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Working Group A-14-61 Task Group (2018).  Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Working Group Response to the National Transportation Safety Board A-14-61 Recommendation. (M.K. Gorman, Ed.).

Senior Project Geologist, Bennett & Williams, Inc. (1994-2012); Geologist, Environmental Program Planner, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (1985-1994).

American Society of Safety Professionals

Association of Women Geoscientists

Women in Aviation

Embry-Riddle Safety Industry Advisory Board

National Society of Leadership and Success (2023)

Embry-Riddle College of Aeronautics Making a Difference Award (2021)

Embry-Riddle Latitude Awards Faculty Member of the Year Finalist (2016)

Embry-Riddle College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Member of the Year Award (2014)

Virginia Network Senior Women's Leadership Seminar, Executive Board Women in Higher Ed. (2013-14)

Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society (2015)

Golden Key International Honour Society (2015)

University of Richmond Disaster Science Book Award (2009)