AUTHORS

Airline Quality Rating

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dr. Brent D. Bowen is Professor and Chair, Aviation Science, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, Saint Louis University. Bowen directs the office of Air Transportation Policy within the Department of Aviation Science and serves as Associate Director of Next Generation Safety Assessment for the National Center for Aviation Safety Research. Bowen attained his Doctorate in Higher Education and Aviation from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Oklahoma City University. His Federal Aviation Administration certifications include Airline Transport Pilot (Type-rated Douglas DC-3 SIC), Certified Flight Instructor (SEL, MEL, Instrument) with Gold Seal, Advanced-Instrument Ground Instructor, Aviation Safety Counselor, and Aerospace Education Counselor. Dr. Bowen's research on the development of the national Airline Quality Rating is regularly viewed by more than 75 million people each year and is annually featured on national newscasts including ABC's Good Morning America, The Cable News Network, USA Today, The Today Show, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, the network evening news shows, and in numerous other national and international media. Dr. Bowen has authored/co-authored numerous successful grant proposals totaling awards exceeding $25 million and has in excess of 300 publications, papers, and professional program appearances to his credit. His research interests focus on aviation applications of public productivity enhancement and marketing channels, specifically in the areas of service quality evaluation, benchmarking, safety and security. He is also well published in areas related to effective teaching, student recruitment and retention in collegiate aviation programs, and gender issues in aviation education. Dr. Bowen is an active industry consultant, pilot, and former fixed-base operator and scheduled air carrier operator. He has been an invited expert witness before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Operations and has served on multiple occasions as an invited speaker and panelist at the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Transportation Research Board and other Congressional and Executive panels. Dr. Bowen served on the National Research Council Steering Group on the Small Aircraft Transportation System and was named by the FAA Administrator to a National Academy of Science study group on airspace optimization as a component of the Next Generation Air Transportation System. Additionally, Dr. Bowen was appointed by FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to serve on a National Academy of Science panel to examine the need to cultivate a future generation of transportation leaders.

Dr. Bowen’s professional affiliations include the University Aviation Association (past Board Member), Aviation Accreditation Board International (Committee Chair), World Aerospace Education Organization (Past-President), International Air Transportation Research Society (Network Committee Member), Aerospace States Association (Governor’s Delegate), Alpha Eta Rho International Aviation Fraternity, and the Nebraska Academy of Sciences. Dr. Bowen has been recognized with awards of achievement and commendation from the American Marketing Association, the American Society of Public Administration, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Federal Aviation Administration, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the W. Frank Barton School of Business, the Travel and Transportation Research Association, University Aviation Association, World Aerospace Education Organization and others. Additionally, Dr. Bowen has authored/co-authored numerous successful grant proposals totaling awards exceeding $25 million.

Dr. Bowen's research has been published in the Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education and Research, the Collegiate Aviation Review, International Journal of Applied Aviation Studies, Journal of Air Transportation (Co-founder and Executive Editor), Advances in Marketing, Business Research Methods, Journal of Public Transportation, and Public Works Management and Policy, as well as other journals, proceedings, books, research monographs, and popular press.

Dr. Dean E. Headley is Associate Professor of Marketing and Chair of the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship in the W. Frank Barton School of Business and Faculty Associate of the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University.

He holds a Doctorate in Marketing and Statistics from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Business Administration Degree from Wichita State University, and a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Headley's research interests include methodology development for measurement of service quality, the connection between service quality and consumer behavior, consumer choice processes in service settings, and the effects of marketing activities on consumers and providers of services.

Dr. Bowen's and Dr. Headley's research on the development of the national Airline Quality Rating (AQR) is regularly viewed by tens of millions worldwide and has met with national and international acceptance and acknowledgment. The Airline Quality Rating is featured annually by ABC's Good Morning America, The Cable News Network, The Today Show, C-Span, USA Today, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal and network evening news, in Aviation Week and Space Technology, and in numerous other national and international media. Bowen and/or Headley have served as invited expert witnesses before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Operations and have served as invited speakers and panelists for such groups as the National Academy of Sciences/Transportation Research Board. Bowen has been an invited speaker and panelist at the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board and other Congressional and Executive panels. Dr. Bowen served on the National Research Council Steering Group on the Small Aircraft Transportation System and was named by the FAA Administrator to a National Academy of Science study group on airspace optimization. Additionally, Dr. Bowen was appointed to serve on a National Academy of Science panel to examine the need to cultivate a future generation of transportation leaders and participated in a discussion of the plan with then U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, Norman Y. Mineta. Their research has been recognized with awards from the American Marketing Association, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Travel and Transportation Research Association, and others.