Faculty

Contact info and brief biography of our aviation faculty. 

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Shawn Dietrich

Director of Aviation

(509) 527-2323
shawn.dietrich@wallawalla.edu

Shawn earned his CFI in 1999, and graduated from Walla Walla University in 2001 with a B.S. in Aviation Technology. He joined WWU as faculty from 2005-2012. Surprisingly, unlike most Flight Instructors, he's learned to enjoy teaching lecture classes over flight instruction...especially upper division courses. He also enjoys developing relationships with students, watching them grow in knowledge and skill, and seeing them achieve their career goals. He's still excitedly waiting for the day one of his former students is the flight crew on an airline flight.

He's worked as a company flight instructor (or Training Captain), for 4 different Part 135 Operators (Air Carrier using smaller aircraft) training professional pilots. He's also trained professional pilots in several types of turboprops and jets for non-air carrier flight programs.

Interesting Tidbit: Shawn enjoys spending time with his family (2 daughters Emma & Lily, and wife Heather), they are his most valued hobby. They enjoy camping, boating, and traveling together.

Stan Holm

Aircraft Maintenance Manager

(509) 527-2323
stan.holm@wallawalla.edu

A&P/IA—Colorado Aero Tech—1976

Stan was most recently self-employed as the owner of Blue Ridge Aircraft Service in Walla Walla before joining the WWU aviation team. Prior to working at Blue Ridge Aircraft, he was employed by Computer Networking Service as a corporate pilot and mechanic. Prior to that, he was employed as shop foreman at Flightcraft in Seattle who was the Beechcraft dealer for the Northwest.

Interesting Tidbit: Stan grew up in the tropics, the son of missionary parents in Indonesia.  He has traveled extensively throughout his life, even being rewarded with a tour of duty in Vietnam, courtesy of the taxpayer.   

Darryl Penney 

Flight Training Manager

(509) 527-2723
Darryl.penney@wallawalla.edu

Doctor of Chiropractic -Palmer College of Chiropractic -1988

Darryl was most recently employed By Andrews University as Assistant Chief Flight Instructor for the past 10 years. He joins the WWU Aviation Team having held his Instructor certificate for 41 Years.
Interesting Tidbit: After so much time teaching Darryl thinks teaching people to fly is “NEW EVERY DAY”!