Bob Walton, an associate professor in the Department of Decision Sciences at the College of Business, has been at the forefront of establishing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide Campus as an unparalleled leader in online education.
During his 17-year career at Embry-Riddle, Dr. Walton has taught nearly 100 courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, educating some 1,300 students. He currently specializes in the teaching of Logistics and Supply Chain Management — disciplines critical to aerospace manufacturing and the rapid transport of air cargo, including medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and other time-sensitive goods. His teaching equips students to manage these intricate and high-value supply chains now and in the future.
Dr. Walton joined Embry-Riddle in 2007 as director of academics for the university’s learning center at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He later became associate dean of Academic Support, supervising six full-time faculty members and more than 100 adjunct professors. Before returning to his faculty role in 2018, Dr. Walton served for five years as the executive director of Campus Operations International, where he was in charge of all overseas military campuses and Embry-Riddle Europe.
Dr. Walton holds a Master of Aeronautical Sciences and a Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Embry-Riddle; a Master of Business Administration from Sacred Heart University Luxembourg; and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Northcentral University.
Dr. Walton’s research has covered a wide range of vital areas in aviation, aerospace and logistics, including air cargo supply chains, additive manufacturing and human factors. He has authored books on air cargo operations, the aerospace industry, statistics, research methodology and aviation psychology.
Previous aviation psychology and human factors research by Dr. Walton has examined gender-related differences in perception on the flight deck and how these may cause workplace stress, anxiety or depression. His latest research explores the use of spacecraft for the ultrafast delivery of cargo on Earth and the application of manufacturing processes for future space operations, such as supporting human space outposts.
Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus has repeatedly recognized Dr. Walton for his research and teaching excellence. Recent accolades from the College of Business include Faculty of the Year honors and a Service Award in 2019, a Research Award in 2020 and a Teaching Award in 2024. He has developed online courses on Advanced Professional Logistics, Production Management and Trends and Current Problems in Air Transportation.
With his mostly adult students spread across the globe, Walton strives to incorporate creativity, diverse educational approaches and new technology into his courses. He infuses his online classes with a personal touch through videos, discussion boards and grading feedback, and encourages his students to share their invaluable work experience with their peers.
Having lived in Europe for nearly three decades, Dr. Walton has been instrumental in advancing Embry-Riddle’s study abroad programs, including establishing the first program hosted by the Worldwide Campus.
In 2022 and 2023, he led programs in Germany and the Czech Republic that included Worldwide students, as well as students from the Daytona Beach Campus in Florida and the Asia Campus in Singapore. These programs were augmented by field visits to the Prague Airport and various production facilities, offering students an inside look at how operations are managed in international settings.
The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) recently honored Dr. Walton with its International Teaching Award for Best Practices in International Higher Education, recognizing his hard work fostering study-abroad opportunities for remote students. Dr. Walton believes such trips are necessary because they give students a better understanding of other cultures and a more expansive worldview, which is essential as they enter a complex and global industry.
The Worldwide Campus’ leadership in online education is evident from its consistently high rankings, including from U.S. News & World Report, according to Dr. Walton. Worldwide faculty leverage innovative technology and best teaching practices to develop the most effective online course delivery methods. As a delegate to the Board of Trustees for the Worldwide Campus, Dr. Walton says he aims to serve as a bridge to the Trustees, so that the Worldwide Campus can “stay ahead of the competition and continue to invest in new technology to ensure that we remain the leader in online learning.”
