December 4, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Donna Oracion, 624-7404

 

O’BRIEN AND HERRERA TO SPEAK AT ENMU-ROSWELL

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

    

            More than 100 graduates are expected to participate in Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell’s Forty-Fourth Commencement Convocation on Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Physical Education Center on campus. Members of the ENMU Board of Regents and Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU President, will attend the ceremony. Several local area bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates from ENMU in Portales will also participate, in addition to a group of New Mexico Youth ChalleNGe  Academy cadets receiving Certificates of Occupational Training. Youth ChalleNGe cadets will also serve as the Color Guard and the ENMU-Roswell Community Band will provide the music. The featured speakers will be William O’Brien, National Resource Specialist for Airworthiness with the Federal Aviation Administration, and Hope Herrera, a 2004 graduate of ENMU-Roswell and an ENMU candidate for graduation who will be receiving a bachelor’s degree in University Studies.

 

William “Bill” O’Brien has completed 29 years of government service and this will be his last presentation prior to his retirement. He started his career with the FAA in February 1980 as an airworthiness inspector at the Dulles FSDO. He currently serves as the AFS-300 National Resource Specialist for General and Sport Aviation Airworthiness. He holds a FAA mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings with Inspection Authorization (IA) and a Commercial Pilot certificate with Instrument and Gold Star Flight Instructor ratings. In 1992, O’Brien received his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from George Mason University.

 

Since 1986, O’Brien has published 23 Advisory Circulars (AC’s), numerous FAA Orders, Notices, and Airworthiness Handbook bulletins, all of which had a major impact on safety. In 2002 and 2003, he wrote and directed two CD-ROMs training programs for the FAA’s Runway Safety Office. O’Brien is also an accomplished author. He has published over 165 maintenance articles in FAA Aviation News industry trade magazine. He is the only FAA employee that writes a monthly column for Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) magazine.  His “FAA Feedback” column is designed to clarify new or existing FAA rules/policy for the maintenance community.

 

In 1984, O’Brien was presented with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Award of Merit for his service to Sport Aviation for his assistance to local EAA chapters in the Northern Virginia and Maryland Areas. In 1985, as course manager he completely revised the FAA’s Academy General Aviation Inspector’s Indoctrination course. For his effort, he received a FAA Superior Accomplishment Award.

 

In 1988, O’Brien identified one of the major causes of Amateur-Built fatal accidents as improper flight-testing procedures. He wrote an Advisory Circular for Flight Testing Amateur-Built Aircraft which was later adopted by Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and Germany. For his efforts, O’Brien was awarded the EAA President’s Award in 1992.

 

In 1991, O’Brien created the Back to Basics II safety program that for the first time included maintenance training as part of the FAA Safety Program’s agenda. In 1992, O’Brien wrote the AC that created the Aviation Maintenance Awards program. He also created and published the very popular Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award, Advisory Circular in 1993. This AC provides recognition to mechanics that had 50 years time in service. In 2001, O’Brien was presented with the Award of Merit from the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association for his contributions to enhance professionalism in the maintenance profession by petitioning the American Council on Education to recommend awarding 67 lower division college credits for the FAA Mechanic Certificate.

 

Hope Herrera is the daughter of Steve and Sheila Lopez. She has a two year old son named Javyn, with fiancé Jacob Morales.  Herrera attended Roswell High School, where she was an honor roll student and involved in various school activities. While in high school, Herrera participated in the Upward Bound Program for three years through ENMU-Roswell. She received awards for outstanding achievement in Spanish, English, and Science. She graduated high school in 2002 and was the first in her family to graduate with honors. She continued her education at ENMU-Roswell, where she also worked as a work study for the Food Service Department for three years. During this time, Herrera was a student volunteer and spoke at Dexter Elementary School and ENMU-Roswell’s Fall Bash on behalf of the campus.

 

Herrera received her Associate’s degree in University Studies in December of 2004. She was able to continue her college career at Eastern New Mexico University, while staying in Roswell. The bachelor’s program offered a convenience that allowed Herrera to work and go to school full-time and be with her family, rather than traveling. She is currently employed at Double Eagle Med-Vet Supply, where she plans to continue working after graduation. Herrera son, Javyn, is also a proud student of the ENMU-Roswell Child Development Center.  Javyn will graduate in May and move up to the “big kids” classroom. Hope is receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in University Studies, with an emphasis in Psychology and Language Arts. She is the first in her family to receive her bachelor’s degree, although her mother is not very far behind her.  Herrera plans to continue her education and pursue a Master of Arts Degree in Professional Development through Amberton University in the spring.

 

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