A University of Louisiana Monroe aviation student has gained national exposure after being featured on the cover of the Fall 2024 edition of AviNation, a magazine that exists to attract, educate, and empower youth in aviation. Kamden Moore, a junior in the ULM Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Management program, wrote the cover story entitled “Limitless: Seeing What Hasn’t Been Seen” about his experience interning at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the summer of 2024.
Moore says the opportunity to write about his experience for AviNation came after he was suggested by ULM Assistant Professor of Aviation Dr. Darrion Flunder-Jenkins, who is also the Director of the ULM Precision Ag & UAS Research Center. Additionally, Moore’s LinkedIn post about his internship experience garnered over 2,000 impressions, which eventually led to a representative from AviNation contacting him about the opportunity to appear in the magazine.
In the feature story, Moore details his experience as an intern at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is known as one of the busiest airports in the world, servicing over 100 million passengers annually. The experience was nothing short of transformative. “I had never seen an airport from the inside, and being out on the airfield was surreal,” Moore said. During his internship, he helped lead the team in the creation of a new drone operations program, formulating critical checklists that are now included in the airport's standard operating procedures.
“This internship has been a significant stepping stone in my career,” Moore noted. “I gained invaluable skills in team communication and management while forging lasting connections in the aviation industry.”
Dr. Flunder-Jenkins says that Moore has been excited about the prospects of a future in aviation since his freshman year. “His pursuit of knowledge involving drone operations has been extensive, encompassing both in-class and extracurricular activities. His unwavering commitment to his work and determination to achieve greatness have propelled him well ahead of his peers,” said Flunder-Jenkins.
Flunder-Jenkins says the drone industry is on the rise, with an expected market value of $54.6 billion by 2030. “Organizations in various sectors, including agricultural, healthcare, delivery services, construction, insurance, and law enforcement, are integrating drones into their daily operations, indicating that this distinctive degree represents the future,” said Flunder-Jenkins. “Our students are attaining success before their senior year of college, with many securing positions as drone pilots for prominent firms, managing their own fleets of drones, and establishing their own drone enterprises,” he added.
“This opportunity meant so much to me and showed me how much was possible,” said Moore, adding that he is one of only five people in his extended family who have attended college. “Being on the cover is such a tremendous honor, for which I'm extremely grateful. I'm proving to myself and my family that anyone can make a change in the world, and I have no hopes of stopping after this coverage,” Moore stated.
You can read Moore’s story in the digital edition of AviNation here: https://www.avinationusa.com/issue/2024-fall-issue/
About AviNation
According to their website, AviNation exists to attract, educate, and empower youth in aviation, AviNation magazine strives to give readers insight into the future of aviation by focusing on aviation students, programs, events, and innovative approaches to the promotion and continued growth of the aviation industry. Learn more at https://www.avinationusa.com
