Patrick Sherman
- Title
- Assistant Professor of the Practice, College of Aviation; Chief, Media Operations
- shermanp@erau.edu Email
- Department
- Department of Flight
- College
- College of Aviation
Areas of Expertise
Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (sUAS) Operations
Biography
Patrick Sherman is a pioneer in the drone industry, with 15 years of operational experience flying small, civilian uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). An award-winning educator, noted author and engaging speaker, he is an assistant professor of the Practice at the Embry-Riddle. He shares his knowledge and experience around the world.
Recognized with an Xcellence Award as the “Drone Instructor of the Year” by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), he has been quoted in the New York Times and the Washington Post as a drone expert. Patrick is a certified Level 3 Remote Pilot Instructor (RPI) through the AUVSI Trusted Operator Program (TOP) and a DronePro serving with the Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team (FAAST). Patrick has logged more than 600 hours of UAS flight time.
The author of several books and more than 200 published articles about drones and their applications, Patrick’s writing has appeared in print across numerous magazines, as well as online media. For the past decade, he has been the Advanced Flight Technology columnist for Model Aviation, the flagship publication of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), read by its 250,000 members.
His most recent book is “Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes,” published by Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA), the leading aviation publisher in the United States, based in Seattle. He is also the author of “DRONES: HOW THEY FLY,” a STEM-education coloring book for children ages 6 to 9, and a co-author of “Using Drones in Planning Practice,” published by the American Planning Association in 2020.
A top-rated speaker, he has given more than 70 presentations at events across the United States and around the world. These have included conferences such as CES, AUVSI Xponential, Commercial UAV Expo, and Drones Oman in Muscat, but also regional gatherings, schools, museums and student groups, as well as working professionals looking to add drones to their toolbox. Patrick has been recognized by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with awards for innovation in online teaching and humanizing the virtual learning environment.
Known to fans worldwide as “Lucidity,” Patrick is the public face of the popular Roswell Flight Test Crew YouTube channel, which has more than 46,000 subscribers and more than 10 million video views. Sharing their adventures online since 2011, the crew promotes the safe, beneficial and non-intrusive use of drones.
A master scuba instructor and licensed private pilot, he holds an undergraduate degree summa cum laude from the University of Southern California in sociology and English, as well as an MBA with honors from Willamette University. He also holds a Part 107 Remote Pilot In Command (RPIC) certificate and is a certified Level 2 Thermographer.
Education
- M.B.A. - Master of Business Administration in Business, Government and Not-for-Profit Management, Willamette University
- B.A. - Bachelor of Arts in English: Creative Writing and Sociology, University of Southern California
Ratings and Certificates
Awards, Honors and Recognitions
- Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Xcellence Award for Drone Instructor of the Year (2018)
- Faculty Innovation Award, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (2022)
- Rothwell Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (RCTLE) 5C’s Humanizing the Virtual Learning Environment Award (2022)
- Aviation Safety Certificate of Appreciation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for "exemplary support to the FAA Safety Team's goals and objectives by participating in safety activities which attests to this individual's dedication to aviation safety." (2020)
- Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo), given “in recognition of an effective and innovative program which contributes to and enhances county government in the United States.” (2011)
- Graphic Design, First Place, awarded by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) Better Newspaper Contest (2007)
- Fire Safety Community Service Award, given by Clackamas Fire District #1, “in appreciation of your contributions and commitment to fire and life safety education.” (2005)
- Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Xcellence Award for Drone Instructor of the Year (2018)
- Faculty Innovation Award, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (2022)
- Rothwell Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (RCTLE) 5C’s Humanizing the Virtual Learning Environment Award (2022)
- Aviation Safety Certificate of Appreciation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for "exemplary support to the FAA Safety Team's goals and objectives by participating in safety activities which attests to this individual's dedication to aviation safety." (2020)
- Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo), given “in recognition of an effective and innovative program which contributes to and enhances county government in the United States.” (2011)
- Graphic Design, First Place, awarded by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) Better Newspaper Contest (2007)
- Fire Safety Community Service Award, given by Clackamas Fire District #1, “in appreciation of your contributions and commitment to fire and life safety education.” (2005)