Peter Hermes

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

Office Hours

1500-2100 MST (2200-0400 UTC)
I have been an aviation manager and pilot for over 46 years, working primary in general aviation as a flight instructor, charter pilot, and government pilot and federal law enforcement officer.  I retired from government service at the end of September in 2012, having served over 25 years with the U S Customs Service, and later U S Customs and Border Protection within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Some key highlights of my career include operational management of the first application of an unmanned aerial vehicle in airborne law enforcement in the United States for the Customs Service, work in establishing guidelines and policy for the application of aviation resources for DHS, deriving  requirements for the DHS' Secure Border Initiative, also known as the "virtual fence", and compiling a report for DHS that presented a first ever quantitative risk analysis of air domain gaps and deficiencies pertinent to overall aviation security in the U S. Starting in the spring of 2013, I returned to flying a bit more frequently, piloting Beech Barons and King Airs in support of wildfire fighting in the western U S.  Over the past 16 years I have taught graduate courses in Aviation/Aerospace Human Factors, Transportation Security, and System Safety for Embry-Riddle online and in the classroom, undergraduate courses in general, physical, homeland, and aviation security, served as committee member on a number of Graduate Capstone Projects, participated as a teaching assistant and teacher in ERAU's Human Factors, Aircraft Accident Investigation, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), Aviation Maintenance, Aviation/Aerospace Sustainability, and Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) MOOCs, and have worked in course development and instructed at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.  Currently a member of the Embry-Riddle Faculty Senate's Promotions and Tenure Committee.  I am a licensed pilot and certificated flight instructor, having logged more than 12000 hours in over 40 different types of general aviation aircraft from single engine trainers up through light business jets and turboprops.  I have been married for more than 42 years to my wife Carol (BFA, University of Michigan), have a son who graduated from Michigan (BA, Cinema Studies) and law school at Arizona State, and a daughter who graduated from USC (BA, Economics and BA, French) and San Jose State (MA, Social Work).  In my spare time, I officiate at track and field meets as a certified USA Track & Field master’s level official, spend clear nights surveying the skies as an amateur astronomer, and try to get out on my bicycle at least five days a week. 
  • M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Aerospace Management and Aviation Aerospace Safety Systems, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • M.A. - Master of Arts in Homeland Security, American Public University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Flight Technology, Western Michigan University
  • Flight Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Airline Transport Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Commercial Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Ground Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Repairman - Federal Aviation Administration
  • ASCI 406: Airborne Law Enforcement
  • HLSD 280: Pro Skills in Homeland Sec
ASCI 604, Human Factors in Aviation/Aerospace Industry; ASCI 611, Aviation/Aerospace System Safety; ASCI690, Graduate Capstone Project; ASCI 616, Transportation Security; SCTY 310, Introduction to Security; SCTY 410, Physical Security; SCTY 490, Aviation Security Capstone Course; SCTY 430, Counterterrorism for Aviation; ASCI 406, Airborne Law Enforcement; HLSD 360, Strategic Planning & Decision Making in Homeland Security; HLSD 280, ​Professional Skills in Homeland Security
U S Customs Aviation. Air Beat [professional bi-monthly journal of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association], March/April 2002. Man, Machine & Mission: Operational risk management for aviators [two-part series]. Air Beat [professional bi-monthly journal of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association], September/October and November/December 2005.
Department of Homeland Security, US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) (formerly US Customs Service), Tucson Air Branch, P.O. Box 15009, DMAFB, Tucson, AZ 85708 Supervisory Air Interdiction Agent (Associate Field Director), January 15, 2000 to September 30, 2012. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Operations Coordination and Planning, Domains Section CBP Air & Maine Detailee, September 19, 2011  August 31, 2012. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Field Operations Academy, Acting Branch Chief, Air & Marine Basic Training, July  November 2008. Department of Homeland Security, US Customs & Border Protection, Secure Borders Initiative (SBInet) Program Management Office (PMO), Mission Engineering Division CBP Air & Maine Liaison, December 2006  November 2007. Department of Homeland Security, Border & Transportation Security (BTS) Directorate, Operations Staff, Aviation and Law Enforcement Liaison, May  December 2004. Department of Treasury, US Customs Service, Tucson Air Branch, P.O. Box 15009, DMAFB, Tucson, AZ 85708, Customs Pilot/Officer, March 29, 1987  January 14, 2000.
Airborne Public Safety Association