معرفی
William Brown Rankin is an Adjunct Professor in the College of Aeronautics at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), where he teaches advanced courses in aviation management, airport operations, aviation security, and research projects. He also teaches at the University of Technology Panama (UTP) in Panama City and at the University of Phoenix (UOP) in the College of Business, delivering both online and on-ground instruction in strategic and operations management.
His educational background includes a doctoral degree, and he is certified as an Advanced Online Facilitator specializing in adult education. His research centers on Multi-Airport Logistics Systems (MLS), comparing cargo and passenger transport performance, with additional focus on terrorism impacts on aviation and runway incursions in the U.S. His scholarly output includes over 20 refereed journal publications, a book, two book chapters, and international presentations cited across five continents.
Dr. Rankin has served as an expert witness in multiple airport-related legal cases across the United States and was invited to chair the Second Annual Airports Facilities Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2019, where he led a workshop on airport preparedness for terrorist threats. He is an Executive Emeritus of the American Association of Airport Executives and actively contributes as a peer reviewer for academic and industry journals.
- Executive Emeritus, American Association of Airport Executives
- Expert Witness in airport litigation (e.g., cases involving City of Los Angeles, NYNJ Port Authority, Eastern Shipbuilding Group)
- Chair, Second Annual Airports Facilities Conference, Bangkok (2019)
- Ambassador for NASA, JPL, and Northcentral University
Dr. Rankin advises students on advanced research projects and thesis work at FIT and integrates real-world industry insights into his teaching through his extensive professional service. He has served on national and international accreditation boards and acts as a peer reviewer, ensuring his curriculum remains current. He also teaches AVM 5999 Thesis, indicating active student mentoring.
He is affiliated with multiple institutions: Florida Tech (College of Aeronautics), University of Technology Panama, and University of Phoenix (College of Business), functioning as a bridge between academic instruction and aviation industry practice.
