Cockpit to the Classroom: Cody Wienk’s Full-Circle Journey to UNO

For Cody Wienk, joining the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute brings together two interests that have shaped his life: flying and teaching.

Now in his first year teaching full time at UNO, Wienk brings a background that spans aviation, high school science education and more than two decades with the National Park Service.

“Starting here is a bit of a full-circle moment for me,” Wienk said.

Wienk grew up around aviation in northwestern South Dakota, where his father worked primarily as an agricultural pilot and managed a small airport. Summers meant helping his brother mow the airport grounds and taking on other responsibilities, but they also provided an early introduction to flying.

He recorded his first logbook entry at age 12 and soloed in an Aeronca Champ shortly after his 16th birthday. While studying biology and earning a high school teaching certificate at South Dakota State University, he also earned his private pilot certificate, instrument rating and multiengine rating.

After graduation, Wienk taught high school science for a year in a small South Dakota town. Connections he made as an undergraduate then led to an opportunity to attend graduate school while working with the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station. He earned a Master of Science in Renewable Natural Resources Studies from the University of Arizona, beginning a professional path that would take him away from flying and into fire ecology.

Wienk went on to spend just over 23 years with the National Park Service, working as a fire ecologist within its Wildland Fire Program. His responsibilities included fire management planning, fuels management, vegetation monitoring and applied research across multiple park units and regions.

He also supported prescribed fire operations and wildfire suppression, spending 10 years in leadership roles on Type I and Type II Incident Management Teams and eight years with the National Park Service Wildland Fire Honor Guard.

One of his most memorable assignments took him to Australia in early 2020, where he spent a month assisting with wildfire suppression during the country’s devastating 2019–2020 bushfire season.

That same year also marked his return to aviation.

After more than 20 years away from the cockpit, Wienk decided to take a flight to see whether he still enjoyed it. His first “re-discovery” flight was with Pat Ryan at Millard Airport.

“I enjoyed it and decided to keep going,” Wienk said.

After completing additional flights and a flight review, he joined the Skyhawk Flying Club. There, he worked with the club’s instructors to earn his commercial pilot certificate before returning to Ryan to earn his flight instructor certificate.

His renewed interest in flying also created opportunities within the National Park Service. Wienk earned a Department of the Interior Pilot Qualification Card and expanded his experience through a single-engine seaplane rating, backcountry tailwheel training with Tac Aero and emergency maneuvers training at CP Aviation in California.

When changes in the federal government prompted him to explore a new career in 2025, Wienk returned to education. He completed continuing education courses, renewed his high school teaching certificate and spent much of the following year substitute teaching in Sarpy County school districts. He also officiated high school and club volleyball and provided flight instruction before the opportunity arose to join UNO’s Aviation Institute.

Outside the classroom, Wienk enjoys swimming with the Omaha Masters Swim Club, biking, officiating volleyball and traveling with his wife, Heather.

His role at UNO marks the next chapter in a career shaped by education, public service and a return to his aviation roots.

“That chapter is still being written,” Wienk said.