Susan M. Burrell

Susan M. Burrell is President of Delta Connection Academy, a subsidiary of Delta. Located in Orlando, Florida, the Academy offers a pilot training program based on airline standards and procedures that takes a person with little to no flight time to becoming an airline pilot in less than 24 months. The Academy has more than 800 students from 89 countries and issued more pilot certificates than any other school in the world for the fourth consecutive year. In addition to training pilots for the Delta Connection system, the Academy trains pilots for 8 other international airlines with more than 97% of the graduates being placed as an airline First Officer.

Ms. Burrell, a certified commercial pilot, launched her career at the Academy in 1993 as Director of Marketing, and advanced quickly by providing the vision and growth strategy for the organization. In 1995, Ms. Burrell was promoted to Vice President of Marketing for the Academy. In this capacity, she led the business development programs that would result in the Academy training pilots not only for the Delta Connection system, but also eight other international airlines. During this same period, she also created the Flying Services Division, which caters to customers who want to earn a pilot's license but their goal is not to fly for the airlines, such as a business executive. Being innovative by nature, most recently, she created new markets for the Academy with the development of relationships with two and four year collegiate institutions. In January of 1999, she was promoted to President.

Prior to joining Delta Connection Academy, Ms. Burrell worked for PPG Industries, Inc. as Manager of Marketing in their Automotive Coatings and Resins Division. Ms. Burrell has a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. and currently resides in Orlando, Fla. Ms. Burrell is also very active in the aviation community. Ms. Burrell is a member of the University Aviation Association, is Vice-Chairman of the National Advisory Council, and is on the Board of Trustees. In addition, she is on the Board of the Council on Aviation Accreditation. Ms. Burrell is also on the Board of Advisors for Oklahoma University and on the Board of Advisors for Metropolitan State College at Denver. She is also on the Regional Board of Advisors for the Orlando Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of AOPA, Women in Aviation, and the Lake Mary and Sanford Chamber of Commerce.

Being active in the aviation community, she is often asked to speak on growing your business and pilot training. In 2001, she was part of the host speaker series for the University Aviation Association and Women in Aviation. Ms. Burrell also played an instrumental role in implementing a Florida state-wide initiative to join flight training providers with the Department of Transportation and the Continuing Florida Aviation System Planning Process (CFASPP) to improve communication, enhance safety, and provide a mechanism for training providers to share with the State the tools they need for future growth.

Equal to her passion for aircraft, Ms. Burrell is active in the motorcycle community. She is a member of the American Motorcyclist Association and spends her free time on her Ducati 996 motorcycle teaching many of her new student pilots not only how to fly… but to ride. She has written various motorcycle safety tips that have been published and has been featured by the news media for her contributions to both the aviation and motorcycle industry. Her vacation time is spent at track days (Sebring, Roebling Road, Mid-Ohio, and Road Atlanta) in the pursuit of constantly improving her skills, having fun, and making new friends.