Shane Meisner, Class of 1993, Aeronautical Studies

Shane Meisner graduated from the University of North Dakota (UND) in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Studies with minors in Meteorology and Space Studies. While earning his degree he completed an internship with Northwest Airlines Meteorology, where he assisted in the development of new mountain wave turbulence avoidance routes. Simultaneously, he began working part-time for Sun Country Airlines in the Flight Crew Support and Customer Service departments.

Following graduation Meisner began working full-time for Sun Country, first as the Flight Publications Coordinator, and then as the Ground and Flight Training Coordinator responsible for scheduling and tracking the training requirements for the airline’s 120 pilots. Based on the knowledge of the Global Positioning System (GPS) he acquired while a student at UND, he was placed in charge of the airline’s effort to integrate the emerging technology into its flight operations. In July 1995 his pioneering work as the GPS Program Manager culminated in Sun Country Airlines becoming the first airline in the world approved to use GPS as the sole source of navigation in oceanic airspace.

Desiring to enter the world of commercial flying, Meisner took leave from Sun Country in 1996 to become a pilot for Great Lakes Airlines, flying Beechcraft 1900s and E-120 Brasilias. After one year at Great Lakes he accepted an offer to become the Director of Pilot Training at Champion Air. While at Champion Air, he managed the training program for the airline’s 80 pilots, oversaw two periods of significant growth in the pilot ranks and flew the line as an active pilot on B-727 aircraft. In 2000 he accepted an offer to fly for Trans World Airlines (TWA), which eventually became part of American Airlines. While at TWA/American he flew DC-9 and B-717 aircraft until the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the resulting economic downturn forced him to be placed on furlough.

While on furlough and serving in the Navy Reserve, Meisner began to look for an opportunity to combine his two strongest interests: aviation and national defense. The perfect opportunity arrived in August 2004 when Northrop Grumman hired him to be one of an initial cadre of four Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft Systems pilots for the U.S. Navy’s Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) program. After completing initial training at Edwards AFB, he reported to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland to assist in establishing GHMD operations (now BAMS-D). His efforts contributed greatly to the Navy’s BAMS-D program evolving into a model of success for UAS operations. Following the U.S. Navy’s selection of Global Hawk as the desired platform for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program, he was promoted to work on the BAMS Test and Evaluation (T&E) and Airspace Integrations (AI) teams. He is slated to become the Northrop Grumman BAMS Chief Pilot when the Navy begins testing and fielding the asset in 2012. He continues to fly BAMS-D missions to maintain currency and proficiency in tactical operations.

Meisner has accumulated more than 3700 hours of flight time in turbojet, turboprop and reciprocating powered aircraft. In addition, he has over 1100 hours of experience flying Global Hawk aircraft. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot AMEL with a B-727 type rating, Commercial Pilot SEL and SES, CFI, CFII, MEI and Flight Engineering – Turbojet (FEX) certificates.

In addition to his aviation endeavors, Meisner serves in the Navy Reserve, obtaining his current rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in August 2009. He recently completed a Master of Science degree in International Relations.

Meisner currently resides in southern Maryland with his wife and two children.