Aviation Training Center Staff

New Bedford Regional Airport (KEWB)

Margie has worked at the Aviation Training Center since September, 2008. She previously worked as a Social Worker for the Head Start Preschool Program. Prior to that she worked as a Marketing Information Administrator at the Commonwealth Electric Company (now NSTAR). She earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Emmanuel College.

Rachel grew up in Lebanon, CT and has had a passion for aviation for as long as she can remember. She began flight training out of Hartford/Brainard Airport in January of 2006 and received her private pilot certificate in August 2006. She attended Daniel Webster College in Nashua, NH and graduated in May 2010 with a Bachelors of Science in Aviation/Air Traffic Management. While in College, Rachel was a member and captain of the Division III NCAA Women’s Soccer Team. Rachel is also a huge Boston Bruins and Red Sox fan. Eventually, Rachel will become an Air Traffic Controller for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Bill Heerman has been with BSU Aviation  for 19 years. He oversees the day to day simulator/AATD operations located at the Aviation Training Center in New Bedford. Bill also teaches the CFII and Multi Engine ground course on campus.

Bill has spent his life as a Professional Engineer, but has always also wanted to fly. As early as age two (2) Bill can be seen in the old Boston based Record Evening American newspaper (06/25/51) holding an airplane and talking, yes talking, about flying. So it is safe to say that flying has been a lifelong passion at least. He holds Commercial Pilot Certificate, Airplane Instrument Rating and is a Certified Flight Instructor. He loves teaching and plans to fly until he can't fly any longer.

Mike has been flight instructing for BSU Aviation since February of 2009. He is a student at Roxbury Community College and will be attending Bridgewater State College in the Fall of 2009. Mike is an enlisted member of the United States Air Force since 2004. He is originally from Lake Charles, LA and came to the Boston area in 2005.

Patrick is originally from Gardner, MA.  He became a part of BSU aviation in the Fall of 2005 when he began his Private Pilot Training. While attending Bridgewater Patrick became a member of BSU's Chapter of Alpha Eta Rho (International Professional Aviation Fraternity) and was President of the Chapter for the 2008-2009 school year.  He graduated BSU in the Spring of 2009 with a Major in Aviation Science-Flight Concentration, Minor in Management.  He will be attending the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the Fall of 2009 to pursue a Masters in Business Administration.  Patrick aspires to become senior management for an airline and still find enough time to keep flying as a hobby.

Sarah grew up in Marietta, New York and began flying during the fall of 2008.  She got her Private Pilot Certificate in Ithaca, New York in 2009.  After flying for a year, she attended Daniel Webster College and graduated in December 2011 with a major in Aviation Flight Operations and a minor in Aviation Management.  Sarah has been working at BSU since January of 2012 and hopes to fly for Southwest Airlines in the future.

Sean Fitzgerald has loved aviation since he was about 3 years old.  His grandfather was an airline pilot which always seemed intriguing to him as a child.  In 2004 he enrolled at Bridgewater State College for Aviation Science with a concentration in Flight Training.  He completed most of his flight training with Delta Connection Academy.  In 2008 he graduated from BSC in the Aviation Science Program.  He flight instructed in Mansfield for 3 years at an FBO.  In 2011 he was hired by Cape Air as a pilot and flew all over New England and the Caribbean.  In 2012 he came back to BSU to work as a flight instructor.  He hopes to bring some of the airline and prior CFI experience to better his alma mater and the student body.

Eric Drugge began his career in aviation right here at Bridgewater State back in 1986.  After soloing at the Plymouth Airport in a Cessna 150 he was hooked.  Eric earned his Instructor's rating in 1989 and has been in and around aviation for over 25 years.  Life opportunities and a non-flying career took him south to Florida and South Carolina, but the simple enjoyment of teaching and a desire to live on the Cape has drawn him back here to Bridgewater to teach full time.  He is excited to be part of our team again!

James grew up in Branford, CT with dreams of ruling the world. Upon realizing the amount of paperwork that would be involved with worldwide rule he decided to become a pilot. Ever since James was young he dreamed of flying - often attending air shows and reading books about flying. He attended college for Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut, but then transferred to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2007 where he double majored in Aerospace Studies and Aeronautics with minors in Business Administration, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Air Traffic Control, and Flight.  James started instructing at Bridgewater Aviation in January 2012 and would like to become an Air Traffic Controller at Boston Logan.

Chris has spent his entire life around aviation, being a third generation pilot he could not escape the flying bug. Working in the aviation community, Chris has experience working as a lineman for General Aviation FBO’s to being a Customer Service Performance Supervisor for Delta Airlines. In 2009 Chris graduated from Daniel Webster College’s Aviation Flight Operations program with a Bachelor of Aviation Science degree and a minor in Business Management. In June 2012 Chris joined the Bridgewater State University team by becoming a Certified Flight Instructor for the institution. He is very passionate about aviation and loves sharing that passion with his students. Chris’ ultimate goal is to use his skill to benefit society whether it be carrying passengers for the airlines or for corporate travel.

Dave grew up in Eldersburg, MD and has dreamed of flying since he was a kid.  He pursued his dreams and attended Daniel Webster College in 2008.  He joined Bridgewater Aviation in 2012 and hopes to help others pursue their dreams of flying.  Dave is a diehard Baltimore sports fan. His ultimate goal is to one day fly for Southwest Airlines.