CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1506749
CityViewNC.com | 17 degree from Northcentral University. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Wake Forest University before going to flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He served 25 years in the Army as an aviation and special operations officer. He earned two Bronze Stars for distinguished service during combat operations in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Aer leaving active-duty service, he was hired by then-Fayetteville Regional Airport Director Tom Ray as an intern in 1993. Aer working his way up, he replaced the retiring Bradley Whited as airport director three years ago. Now, Coleman is paying it forward. Fayetteville Regional is one of 10 public airports in North Carolina that hosts an ACE Academy program. "When I look at these kids, they don't know what a great opportunity this is for them to be able to come over here and for all the people that are supporting us," Coleman says. "ey're giving their time and their manpower to come here to make sure that these students are at least given some introduction into what aviation is all about. "ese kids aren't paying for any of this fuel; they're not paying for the flight instructor time." Coleman learned his work ethic from his family and the military. He told the students about a motto he learned from a military supervisor. "'It's hard but it's fair,'" Coleman recited. "ere's a lot of things in life that you don't want to go through because they seem difficult. But once you go through them, you can get to the goal you want to reach." In its second year, the ACE Academy made changes in response to feedback from its first year. e number of days was cut to two, and enrollment was limited to 41. "So, this year we're able to get every student an introductory flight. Last year we couldn't do that. So, the students will be more engaged." At the pinnacle of his profession, Coleman is flying high. "e good Lord is looking aer me," he says. "is is what I love to do. It's aviation, whether it's airborne, jumpmaster, air assault, flying them, jumping out of them, rappelling out of them. … I am blessed that I've always been in a job that's what I like, military and civilian." by Clayton Britt & Sons 910.868.8319 3703 Bragg Blvd. Fayetteville, NC 28303 customercare@spaandpoolworld.com