Faculty Spotlight: Stefan Kleinke

Kleinke, an assistant professor for Embry-Riddle — Worldwide, is one of the university’s many faculty members who pass along broad skills to students throughout the world.

“I like to take in the big picture and be able to think quickly on my feet,” said Kleinke, who currently teaches Advanced Aerodynamics for the College of Aeronautics. “I can relate to students as a pilot, and as a mechanic. Along with knowing how to fly an aircraft, it is good to know what makes it fly.”

I like to fly, teach different things and stay current with my various qualifications. Being diverse in the different aspects of aviation and aeronautics presents many opportunities for learning and employment.

Kleinke foresees the need to combine other technology-based skills with aviation and aeronautics. For example, Kleinke is an avid photographer and cinematographer and cites manned and unmanned aerial photography and videography as one such growing field.

“Along with the commercial industry growing rapidly, there will be overlapping markets between aviation and other technologies,” Kleinke said. “There is a growing need for integration between aircraft and fields such as photography and videography, sensor technology, and computer systems and web design.”

A native of Germany, Kleinke grew up in East Germany near an air force base and credits his love of aviation to the different types of aircraft he observed.

“My mother recalls when I was little and we went to a big bicycle race,” Kleinke said. “I was far more interested in the military helicopter flying around than the race.”

Kleinke, a 15-year military veteran, began his aviation career with the German Air Force and Navy. He served as a pilot and instructor on Tornado fighter jets and T-38 jet aircraft and achieved 3,000 total flying hours in the services. Kleinke was selected as flight examiner for the multinational Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program.

Kleinke’s civilian qualifications include Airline Transport Pilot licenses, Commercial Pilot in helicopter and sea plane, and certifications as an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic and Aircraft Electrical Technician. He is an FAA Certified Flight and Advanced Ground Instructor with Instrument qualification. Additionally, Kleinke is part of the FAA Airmen Certification Database. This listing recognizes pilots who have met or exceeded educational, licensing, and medical standards established by the FAA.

Although Kleinke has finished his military service and doesn’t spend as much time in a cockpit these days, he is involved in another type of “active duty.”

Kleinke’s wife, Christy, is a combat medic for the United States Air Force. While she is away at training, he is busy taking care of their two young sons, Luke and Alec, at his home in Georgia.

The flexible scheduling and advanced online learning suited for Worldwide students also allows Kleinke to fly, teach, and learn, all while fulfilling his most important job, being a father.

“With technology such as EagleVision and much of the correspondence and learning being online, I can speak to someone in Singapore like they are in the same room,” he said.