Rob McKinney says he chose Purdue for its top-ranked aviation program. And that decision — along with having the Purdue degree on his resume — has opened countless doors.
“The quality of a Purdue education is world renowned and never questioned,” he says. “While there are many places to learn to fly, the depth and breadth of a Purdue degree has equipped me to better serve every organization of which I have been a part. The opportunity to partner with my alma mater to provide a pathway from university to industry for future graduates is an enormous sense of pride for me.”
McKinney cites Professor Charlie Holliman — who was his instructor for several courses and his academic advisor — as his favorite professor. “Even when I was stressed out and acting like a teenager, Charlie always had a smile on his face,” McKinney says. “He always made me feel like everything was going to be okay.”
Now, as the president of Mokulele Airlines, McKinney finds ways to give back to the University.
“For several years, I was able to come to campus and give talks to current students,” he says. “I find it very fulfilling to give advice and perspective on my experience in this industry.”
McKinney says an extremely important goal for him is to develop a partnership with Purdue to provide a pathway and pipeline from University to industry.