History.

The Aviation Institute was founded with support from Omaha’s civic and business leaders including Charles Durham, Walter Scott, and Mike Harper. Don Smithey, former Executive Director of the Omaha Airport Authority, spearheaded the effort by working with Otto Bauer and John Faar of UNO’s administration to establish the Institute in 1990. The Institute’s first Director, Bill Shea, established a foundation for the development of the undergraduate degree program and former Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, David Hinton, worked to integrate the Institute into the college and the Department of Public Administration.  The Institute now offers a Bachelor of Science in Aviation with concentrations in Air Transport Administration and Professional Flight as well as concentrations in Aviation and Transportation as part of the School of Public Administration’s MPA and PhD programs.  In 2007, Scott Tarry was named Director of the Institute.

The contributions of those who have made marked contributions to the Institute’s success are recognized each year.   The Durham Distinguished Lecture Series celebrates Charles Durham’s contribution each Fall. The William F. Shea Award recognizes Bill Shea’s contributions as the Institutes founding director.Don Smithey’s contributions are recognized each spring at the Institute’s Honors Convocation with the awarding of the Don Smithey Scholarship to one of the Institute’s top students.