Skip Bailey Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Retired)

Skip Bailey is the Assistant Director for Flight Training, Chief Ground Instructor, and Flight Team Head Coach for the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute. His duties include instruction of all pilot certification courses, mentoring and supervision of flight students and managing the contract flight instructors. He has taught Human Factors in Aviation, Advanced Air Transport Operations, Private Pilot Theory, Instrument Theory and Advanced Aircraft Systems. Additionally, he is tasked with continuing to improve the safety, quality, competence, and professionalism of UNO flight students.

Skip has a bachelor’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in criminal justice from Indiana University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina.

Prior to working at UNO, Skip was a pilot in the United States Air Force. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in May of 2016 after over 25 years of service with more than 5,200 flight hours in the KC-135, EC-135, KC-10, and E-4B.

Skip, his wife Sherry and their three kids, Nick, Beth and Tori have been stationed in Arizona, South Carolina, Texas, New Jersey, Ohio, and Nebraska.

Skip has traveled to 38 countries on every continent except Antarctica.  He flew 5 Secretaries of Defense all over the world and spent 4 years as the Commander of ROTC Detachment 630 at Kent State University in Ohio as part of his many jobs in the Air Force. 

Skip was deployed 5 times for various operations including Operation Southern Watch, Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and a year in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he was the Deputy Commander at Shindand Air Base.

During his career, Skip earned many awards including the Bronze Star, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 2 Air Medals, 5 Aerial Achievement Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Skip is currently a member of the Papillion-LaVista School Board and is currently in his 5^th year.  He has served as the Vice President and President during his two terms.