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Auburn Aviation recruits top gun to oversee flight education

Auburn University’s School of Aviation welcomed David “Rock” Bottomlee to its program this summer as the new director of flight education.

Bottomlee is a retired Air Force colonel who has flown more than a hundred combat missions, conducted thousands of hours of flight instruction in fighter aircraft, served as dean of the Air War College and earned five degrees related to leadership and policy.

He’s lived in Auburn since graduating from the Department of Political Sciences’ doctoral program in Public Administration and Public Policy and said he’s “honored and blessed” to be a member of the Auburn Family.

“It seems like there couldn't have been a job better suited for the life and work experiences that I've had. I'm humbled to be offered it, and I'm blessed to be part of the team,” Bottomlee said. “Our team is focused on taking Auburn's aviation program soaring to new heights. Our vision is for our Professional Flight graduates to be the best pilots in the nation for all of our aviation partners.”

Bottomlee graduated as the number one aviation cadet from the U.S. Air Force Academy in his class, and by that time he’d already been teaching as a soaring instructor pilot and flying demonstrations at air shows.

His service career includes more than 100 combat missions in an F-16 Fighting Falcon jet and multiple command assignments, as well as awards for #1 Flight Commander in the Air Force, F-16 Instructor Pilot of the Year, and F-16 Top Gun of the Year.

When Bottomlee was promoted to colonel while serving as the director of flight operations in Afghanistan, the Air Force offered him the opportunity to earn a doctorate degree. He chose Auburn’s Public Administration and Public Policy program to further study organization culture and leadership development.

There, he continued to develop his “leadership by walking around” approach.

It’s a strategy used by the military and Fortune 500 companies alike, defined by calling people into conversation about their work and what changes need to be made. It’s been shown to empower each member of an organization to speak up if something’s wrong and bring issues forward more quickly than a formalized review process.

“An organization’s culture is like its personality; the everyday behaviors, shared values, and norms that guide how people make decisions,” Bottomlee said. “An outsider can often spot cultural norms quickly, but when you’re immersed in them, you don’t always recognize them yourself.

“As a new leader in the School of Aviation’s Professional Flight program, one of my goals is to better understand that culture so we can make positive changes without micromanaging. Each day I spend time walking around, talking with people, and asking questions. Our aim is to make our flying and aircraft maintenance processes more efficient and effective, while never compromising safety or compliance with Federal Aviation Administration standards.”

At the Auburn University Regional Airport, you’ll probably see Bottomlee in conversation with mechanics about what they’re working on in the hangar or talking to students about how their flight training is progressing.

That leadership style guided Bottomlee as his team reshaped the curriculum at the Air War College, where he advanced from faculty member to department chair of Leadership and Warfighting, then associate dean, and ultimately served as dean during his final four years before coming to Auburn University.

Whether working with military or civilian aviation students, Bottomlee said his role has always been to maximize the value of every flight lesson, ensuring graduates are prepared to succeed in any situation.

As director of flight education, Bottomlee’s job is to oversee all aspects of flight training and maintenance to support high standards of education and professional preparation.

The School of Aviation at the Auburn University Regional Airport features a full aircraft maintenance team and pipeline partnerships with multiple airlines, as well as faculty and staff with thousands of flight hours across general aviation, commercial airlines and every branch of the military.

Those top faculty, including Bottomlee, are all focused on preparing the next generation of pilots to soar.

“I love helping students achieve their dreams,” Bottomlee said. “Inspiring the next generation of pilots and leaders means not only building strong flying skills but also cultivating their professionalism and encouraging them to be better citizens in their communities. At Auburn, we believe in hard work, in education as a way of life and in serving others. Helping students live out those values is deeply important to me.”

Learn more about the School of Aviation.

Tags: Aviation Faculty