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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Bernard King, 785-826-2683, kingb@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/kingbio.html

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

K-STATE AT SALINA'S BERNARD KING EARNS MASTER CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATUS FOR THE FOURTH TIME

SALINA -- Bernard King, associate professor of aviation at Kansas State University at Salina, has earned Master Certificated Flight Instructor accreditation for the fourth time from the National Association of Flight Instructors.

King has held the professional accreditation continuously since 2001. He is one of only 14 Kansas aviation educators who has earned the Master Instructor designation -- which is awarded only to the top instructors in the nation, according to the National Association of Flight Instructors.

In all, K-State at Salina has five faculty members who have earned this top designation. Along with King, they are Kurt Barnhart, professor and head of the department of aviation; Bill Gross, professor of aviation and chief pilot; Troy Brockway, associate professor of aviation; and Eric Shappee, associate professor of aviation.

"To have five Master Instructors on staff shows the quality and professional depth of the aviation faculty at K-State at Salina. It also shows that our students are being taught by the best," said Dennis Kuhlman, dean.

This national accreditation is recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration and is earned through a rigorous process of continuing professional activity and peer review. The accreditation must be renewed biennially and is awarded only to instructors who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth and service to the aviation community.

As part of the honor, King will be recognized at a breakfast sponsored by the National Association of Flight Instructors, a part of the Experimental Aircraft Association's 2008 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., and at the 2008 Sun 'N Fun in Lakeland, Fla.

King, who joined K-State at Salina in 1998, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1969. Although he initially served in the infantry, he became interested in aviation and went on to serve as an Army aviator for more than 20 years. Among his many military honors are a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple Hearts and two Army Commendation Medals.

After retiring from the Army in 1992, he worked as a flight instructor and government contractor before joining K-State at Salina. His work with students has been recognized with Academic Adviser of the Year awards for the 1999-2000 and 2002-2003 school years. In addition, he is a volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol, serving as commander of the Kansas Wing.

King also earned a master's degree in secondary education from Georgia State University, and a master's in computer resource and information management from Webster University. He also attended the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and the U.S. Air Force Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

The National Association of Flight Instructors provides support and recognition for America's aviation educators while helping them raise and maintain their level of professionalism. It is also committed to providing a safe and effective learning environment for student pilots. The association was founded in 1967 and affiliated with the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1995. More information about the association's Master Instructor program is available at http://www.nafimasters.org and http://www.nafinet.org