C.J. Charlton, a 1995 graduate of DSU's Aviation Program and a professional pilot who has accumulated more than 7.300 hours of flight time, has returned to his alma mater to become the Director of the DSU Aviation Program that propelled him into his flying career. — *In this photo:* C.J. Charlton, a 1995 graduate of DSU’s Aviation Program and a professional pilot who has accumulated more than 7.300 hours of flight time, has returned to his alma mater to become the Director of the DSU Aviation Program that propelled him into his flying career.

On Campus

DSU names alumnus C.J. Charlton as Aviation Program Director

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Delaware State University has named Chair of the University’s Aviation Advisory Council, CJ Charlton, its Aviation Program Director. A 1995 graduate of the University’s very same Aviation Program, Captain Charlton brings a wealth of flight and leadership experience flying for United Airlines. Currently, he flies the Airbus 319/320/321 and previously piloted Boeing 737, 757, 767 and 777 aircraft – accumulating more than 7,300 hours of flight time. He is also a retired Major from the North Carolina Air National Guard where he was a C-130 pilot, accumulating over 3,000 hours, 1,500 of which were in combat conditions. Captain Charlton will serve in the role while fulfilling his responsibilities as a Newark-based Captain with the airline.

Currently, Captain Charlton is the Chair of the University’s Aviation Advisory Council, responsible for leading, supporting and promoting the education of 163 aviation students. He is also the founder and Executive Director of the Black Aviation Endowment Fund (BAEF), a nonprofit that provides funding to individuals seeking to become professional aviators and supports the nine HBCU aviation programs and the 35-plus minority organizations that conduct aviation education and training programs. Captain Charlton, a teacher and mentor at heart, has served on selection panels for future pilot training candidates, recruited and mentored future officers, managed aircrews on deployments, and led various high-visibility military missions around the globe.

“Captain Charlton brings a wealth of aviation experience to this role and I look forward to working with him. I cannot think of anyone more passionate, qualified, and committed to our students and program,” said Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University. “We are extremely thankful to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Michael Hales for his commitment and leadership to DSU and wish him the best in his new endeavor.”

After seven years of leading and managing the Aviation Program’s growth and expansion, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Michael Hales ended his DSU tenure in mid-January 2024 after being named CEO of the United Aviate Academy (UAA) – a flight school wholly owned and operated by United Airlines in Goodyear, Arizona.

In Hales’ tenure at DSU, the Aviation Program tripled from 57 students to its current 163 and saw the University invest in 15 new aircraft and build a Helicopter Flight Training Program with the United States Army ROTC. He was instrumental in raising $4 million in donations in support of the Aviation Program, founded the annual HBCU Aviation Director’s Summit and obtained FAA self-examining authority for four of the six certification/ratings, saving more than $6,000 per student in Designated Pilot Examination fees.