“I aspire to be a pilot for the Air Force. I enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard when I was 17,” said Brody Beaver, a mass communications student with a love for aviation. “My parents had to sign a waiver allowing me to enlist before I was 18.”
Everything Beaver has worked towards until now is to fulfill his childhood dream of being a pilot.
In November of 2016, Beaver earned his pilot license. Two years later, he earned his instrument-reading license. With this, he can fly through and above clouds, as well as bad weather. He still has a long way to go to be a full-fledged pilot but he is determined to work for it.
It was only natural that his love for aviation would lead him to Wright State University. To him, the university is the perfect place for aviation enthusiasts.
Despite the school not offering aviation courses, Wright State is a place full of history, especially about the Wright brothers.
“I want to know what the Wright Brothers thought. I want to know what they’re thinking of aviation today. Did they even comprehend, ‘this is how rapidly aviation advanced?’” he mused. “They are the pioneers of something amazing, something people couldn’t understand back in the day.”
Beaver is grateful to his professors for laying out the foundation for his goals.
“I’ve had a great time with my professors. My professors have been very inspiring, knowledgeable and helpful for what I want to do in the future,” he said.
He enjoys spending time in Wright State’s Special Collections and Archives and wrote articles about pieces from their collection.
So far, one of his articles have been published, but he hopes more of his writing can be published in the future.
“It’s on my bucket list to get an article published in the Dayton Daily News,” said Beaver.
As a mass communication major, journalism is only one of his interests.
“I’m a very extroverted individual and I could always see myself being a journalist, being a news anchor or even being a DJ, so I think it went hand in hand with my personality,” Beaver explained.
Beaver’s love for public speaking led to him speaking about his experience as a pilot at the Aviation Historical Society.
“I was the MC for my Military Ball for the Air Force and for a very prestigious Airman of the Year ceremony,” he said.
When he is not busy writing, flying or speaking at events, he volunteers at the Air Force Museum.
“It gives me freedom bumps every time I go in there,” he laughed. “Just looking at the history of aviation in one place is amazing.”
He expressed his wonder at how aviation has progressed in only 115 years.
