Shawn A. Arena

Title
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email
Department
Department of Applied Aerospace Science
College
College of Aviation

Areas of Expertise

Airport Operations, Safety, and Management; Aviation Human Factors; Aircraft Accident Investigation; Aviation Legislation; Air Traffic Control;  Aeronautical Science & History

Mr. Shawn Arena, A.A.E., has accrued over 30-years of Instructor experience as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Campus. Currently assigned to the College of Aeronautics, Mr. Arena has also served as a full-time Assistant Professor with the College of Business, one term as a Worldwide Campus Faculty Senator, and Director of Academics for the Luke AFB Campus. His instructional specialties include Airport Planning and Design; Airport Operations, Management, Safety, and Certification; Aviation Legislation, and Aviation Human Factors and Safety. 

A Graduate of the University of Southern California (B.A. Psychology) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Campus (Masters of Aviation Management & Masters of Aeronautical Science), Mr. Arena held  professional administrative, management, and operational positions at eight (8) public-use airports in the United States from 1987-2014. These airports included four commercial service airports and four general aviation airports. He is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) as designated by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and served on the AAAE Board of Examiners, responsible for professional development and Accreditation. Additionally, he held Board memberships with the Arizona Airports Association (AzAA) and Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (SWAAAE). Additional professional roles included an airport consultancy company, specializing in Airport Emergency Preparedness, and Certification from 2013-2014.

He has been designated a Course Developer / Monitor for ERAU-WW for the following course: ASCI 254 - Aviation Legislation.

Currently, Mr. Arena is the Aerospace Program Magnet Manager, and FAA Certified Ground Instructor-Advanced (AGI) for the Academies @South Mountain High School in the metropolitan Phoenix, AZ area. South Mountain High School is one of few high schools in the country that offer a full Aviation / Aerospace curriculum, including  Aviation Human Factors, Aircraft Accident Investigation, UAV Operations, Aircraft Maintenance, Aviation History, Air Traffic Control, and FAA Private Pilot Ground School and Flight School.


  • M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Aerospace Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • M. - Master in Aviation Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.A. - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Southern California

  • Ground Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Private Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration

  • ASCI 254: Aviation Legislation
  • ASCI 202: Intro to Aeronautical Science

MGMT 408 - Airport Operations and Management

ASCI 401 - Airport Development and Operations

ASCI 202 - Intro to Aeronautical Science

ASCI 491 - Oper'l Apps in Aeronautics

ASCI 254 - Aviation Legislation

MGMT 412 - Airport Planning and Design


 Thirty-four (34) years of Instructor experience as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Campus. Currently assigned to the College of Aeronautics, Mr. Arena has also served as a full-time Assistant Professor with the College of Business, one term as a Worldwide Campus Faculty Senator, and Director of Academics for the Luke AFB Campus. His instructional specialties include Airport Planning and Design; Airport Operations, Management, Safety, and Certification; Aviation Legislation, and Aviation Human Factors and Safety. 

Professional administrative, management, and operational positions at eight (8) public-use airports in the United States from 1987-2014. These airports included four commercial service airports and four general aviation airports. He is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) as designated by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and served on the AAAE Board of Examiners, responsible for professional development and Accreditation. Additionally, he held Board memberships with the Arizona Airports Association (AzAA) and Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (SWAAAE). Additional professional roles included an airport consultancy company, specializing in Airport Emergency Preparedness, and Certification from 2013-2014.

Currently, the Aerospace Program Magnet Manager, and FAA Certified Ground Instructor-Advanced (AGI) for the Academies @South Mountain High School in the metropolitan Phoenix, AZ area.



American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.); FAA Private Pilot- Airplane, Single-Engine Land Rating; FAA Ground Instructor-Advanced (AGI); Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)