Vaughn in the News

How is the FAA solving the air traffic controller shortage? News 4 New York reporter Greg Cergol visited Vaughn College’s simulation labs on 6/9/26 to find out. The segment follows graduates Bill Visconti and Brandon Jean-Pierre — two of nine students in the first class to complete Vaughn’s Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (Enhanced AT-CTI) — as they prepare to report to real air traffic control towers around the country.

Under the new federal initiative, colleges like Vaughn can now provide the enhanced air traffic control training that was previously available only at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City — a limitation that capped the number of controller candidates nationwide. With roughly 11,000 controllers currently on the job and federal officials estimating 3,000 more are needed, Vaughn’s graduates represent the first wave of a new training pipeline.

What is the fastest way to become an air traffic controller in New York? PIX11 News reporter Greg Mocker found the answer at Vaughn College, where the first class of students has graduated from the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (Enhanced AT-CTI) — a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved program that places graduates directly into FAA facilities for controller training, bypassing the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. The segment which aired on 6/9/26 takes viewers inside Vaughn’s air traffic control tower simulator where students train on the same scenarios taught at the FAA Academy. Graduate Bill Visconti, President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo and air traffic control instructor Roy Kennis, a former LaGuardia Tower controller, explain how the program shortens the path to certification by roughly a year and helps address the nationwide controller shortage.

Can air traffic controllers train somewhere other than the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City? At Vaughn College, the answer is now yes. CBS News New York investigative reporter Tim McNicholas — who first reported on the plan a year ago — returned to campus on 6/9/26 to find that all nine trainees in Vaughn’s inaugural Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (Enhanced AT-CTI) class completed the program and are heading to FAA air traffic control towers across the country, with some expecting to start within weeks. The segment features graduate Yanni Agrotis of Melville, who spent months training on Vaughn’s campus simulators, and Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, who explains how on-campus training expands the number of seats the federal government has to train controllers — adding roughly 100 new controllers nationally when combined with the other Enhanced AT-CTI schools. Vaughn plans to grow its program this fall.

ABC7 Eyewitness News highlighted Vaughn College’s Memorial Day event on 5/25/26 which honored the historic contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen. The ceremony featured a special video address from 99-year-old retired Brigadier General Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse, who shared an inspiring message of perseverance with attendees.

Through dedicated fundraising for the local Tuskegee Airmen chapter, Vaughn College continues to support this vital legacy while providing scholarships to empower and inspire the next generation of diverse aviation professionals.

We were honored to welcome Vincent Mickens from Private Air Media to campus to host an on-site episode of his podcast, “All Things Aviation and Aerospace.”

The podcast featured a powerful conversation with Vaughn College President and CEO Dr. Sharon DeVivo, along with several faculty members and students, highlighting the innovation, opportunity and real-world impact happening right here at Vaughn.

President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo is joined by Steve Delson on iHeart Radio’s “CEOs You Should Know” podcast series. They talk about Sharon’s journey to Vaughn College, her leadership philosophy and everything about the College, from programs to student outcomes and the industries it serves. You won’t want to miss this one!

The air traffic-control workforce is facing critical shortages—and Vaughn College in Queens is on the front-lines. In this FOX5 news segment that aired on November 15, 2025, we go inside Vaughn’s air traffic control training program and speak with students about filling this vital gap.

With the nation facing a growing shortage of air traffic controllers, Vaughn is in a position to help by training the next generation through its enhanced partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration allowing students to complete their academy training on-campus. CBS2 speaks with President Sharon B. DeVivo to go inside the issue during a segment that aired on November 7, 2025.

As CBS2 News Correspondent Tim McNicholas reports on 7/22/25, Vaughn College will soon train some new FAA air traffic control hires on campus. The goal of that new program is to fight a nationwide air traffic controller shortage and get more controllers on the job faster. The team at Vaughn said they’ll launch that new program this fall. They say they’re starting small, with about 9-15 trainees.

FOX5’s Antwan Lewis reports on 7/23/25 about Vaughn’s partnership with the FAA to offer enhanced Air Traffic Control training to assist with solving the controller shortage. “The first four to five weeks will be purely academics. It’s all the ins and outs of the FAA, how it operates, how the training process works, and how different types of airplanes perform. And then we go into the actual simulations where they apply all the academic work.” explained adjunct professor and retired air traffic controller, Steve Fanno. Watch the segment to learn more!

As reported by John Muller from PIX11 on 7/22/25, Vaughn College has an enhanced partnership with the FAA to help solve the critical air traffic controller shortage. An estimated 71,000 controllers will be needed over the next 10 years worldwide. It’s a great career move for those with the right stuff. “I don’t crack under pressure. The stress just keeps me motivated and keeps me going,” said senior Akacia Robinson. Watch the full segment for more!

Congress members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Tom Suozzi visited Vaughn on 7/25/25 to show their support for the College’s partnership with the FAA to launch an enhanced air traffic control program. “This is the type of job we should be encouraging in our country and we need these jobs right now. Right now we need 4 ,000 air traffic controllers in the United States of America.” said Representative Suozzi during the press conference at Vaughn.

Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Tom Suozzi visited Vaughn College on 7/25/25 to celebrate its new air traffic controller program which allows students to finish the final leg of their training on campus in Queens instead of relocating to Oklahoma City in a nationwide effort to make our skies safer. Watch the full segment on CBS2 to learn more.

Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Tom Suozzi visited Vaughn College on 7/25/25 to show their support for Vaughn’s new partnership with the FAA to train more air traffic controllers with an enhanced program. “Because our children deserve to live in a city that invests in their future and provides the support and opportunities they need to succeed.” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. Watch the full NY1 segment.

Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon DeVivo speaks to the air traffic controller staffing shortage and how the College is training air traffic controllers in NYC to help fill the gap. Vaughn was one of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) original Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) partner institutions, and in April was approved to offer the Enhanced AT-CTI so students can bypass the FAA Academy training in Oklahoma City. Check out NBC’s segment that aired on 5/14/25.

Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon DeVivo was featured on this NY1 segment that aired on 5/8/25 addressing the air traffic controller shortage and how the College is one of five institutions approved to provide FAA Academy training on campus to help push more qualified air traffic controllers into control towers.

The FAA announced Wednesday, 4/9/25 that Vaughn College is the fifth institution to join the Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative which allows air traffic control graduates to be placed directly into FAA facilities or apply for positions in Federal Contract Towers after passing all training requirements on campus. This is a huge step towards expanding the pipeline to address the nationwide controller shortage.

PIX11 correspondent Jay Dow traveled to Vaughn to explore how the College is preparing the next generation of air traffic controllers, pilots, engineers, aviation maintenance technicians, managers and more, to meet the demand and challenges in the aviation industry today. View the segment that aired on 3/5/25.

Local high school robotics teams came together at Vaughn College to test their robots in preparation for the VEX Robotics World Championship Competition in May. William Zeng, the president of Vaughn’s VCAT Robotics Club explains the goal of this year’s game. FOX5 News covers the story on 1/4/25.

The holiday travel season is in full force, and staffing shortages (including air traffic controllers) are causing flight delays. The FAA is reducing some constraints on training requirements, but it still takes a lot of diligence and studying to become an air traffic controller. Check out this news segment from 11/26/24 featuring Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, president and chief executive officer of Vaughn College and her take on the situation.

The FAA has launched an initiative to address the air traffic controller shortage in New York by allowing colleges such as Vaughn College to train new hires directly on their campuses. This program aims to expedite the training process by enabling students to bypass the traditional 16-week training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, allowing them to complete their training locally while still meeting the FAA’s rigorous standards​. Watch the segment that aired on CBS2 NY on 5/21/24.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects there will be nearly 17,000 job openings for airline and commercial pilots this year. The FAA said that New York’s main air traffic control center is staffed at just 54%, highlighting the need for the aviation training that Vaughn provides for aircraft mechanics, pilots, engineers and air traffic controllers. Watch the segment that aired on CBS2 NY on 3/8/24.

Vaughn College has served as a launching pad for aviation professionals for over 90 years. Now it announced that over 70% of its student population are people of color – adding much-needed diversity to the field of aviation, which has historically been dominated by white men. Check out the full segment on News12 that aired 10/13/23.

More than 60 high schools in the tri-state area competed in one of the country’s largest qualifier competitions held at Vaughn College on 2/4/24 to determine who will proceed to the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas.

Check out this montage of the latest news coverage Vaughn College has received over the last year surrounding the air traffic controller and pilot shortage, and how Vaughn is helping to address the problem.

Vaughn College is training the next generation of pilots and air traffic controllers amidst a rising shortage in the aviation industry, one that President Dr. Sharon DeVivo said she hasn’t seen in her 27 years at the College. Check out ABC7’s coverage.

As demand soars for aviation professionals, NY1 showcases how Vaughn College is preparing the next generation of airline pilots, air traffic controllers, aeronautical engineers, airline and airport managers and aviation maintenance professionals.

The air traffic control and flight programs at Vaughn College are highlighted by CBS News, noting how they could help answer the aviation industry staffing shortages.

Scripps News showcases Vaughn College’s air traffic control students who are training to fulfill some of the largest staffing shortages that the New York area has ever seen. The FAA plans to hire 15,000 controllers over the next decade.

Vaughn’s President, Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, was featured on ABC7NY’s Tiempo with host Joe Torres on 9/24/23 where she shared valuable insights about how Vaughn’s mission to empower the next generation of aerospace and engineering leaders, especially Latino leaders, is succeeding.

Vaughn trains its air traffic control students to be prepared for all possible scenarios. This was evident by the calm and collected demeanor a Vaughn alumna and air traffic controller maintained as she helped steer a plane to safety last week. Check out the feed from LaGuardia’s control tower that aired on 4/4/24 on ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir, Gio Benitez reporting. Great job Jackie!