Era III · 1926 – Present
The Aerospace Era
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Kennedy Space Center proximity. A talent pipeline of engineers, pilots, and researchers that has shaped global aerospace for a century.
From flight training to global aerospace leadership
While Daytona's beach was proving what cars could do, another story was unfolding in the air. Aviation was becoming the next frontier of engineering innovation. Daytona would become one of its most important homes.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was founded in 1926 in Cincinnati. As it grew, it found its permanent home in Daytona Beach. A location with ideal flying conditions, proximity to aerospace infrastructure, and a culture that already understood what it meant to push machines to their limits.
What Embry-Riddle built in Daytona over the following decades would reshape aerospace education and research worldwide. This isn't a regional school. It's one of the most respected aerospace universities on the planet.
Thousands of aerospace engineers, airline executives, NASA contributors, and defense leaders have passed through Daytona.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Founded 1926 · Daytona Beach, FL
Embry-Riddle isn't just a university. It's the world's largest and most respected institution focused on aviation, aerospace, and related engineering fields. Not regional. Global.
The university operates dedicated research labs covering propulsion, avionics, unmanned systems, space technology, cybersecurity, and human factors. Its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship turns student ideas into ventures with industry and government partners.
The talent pipeline flowing from Embry-Riddle into Daytona's economy is the most important asset in the region's innovation community. These aren't just graduates. They're trained aerospace engineers, pilots, data scientists, and systems thinkers.
1926
Year founded, nearly a century of aerospace education
#1
World's largest aviation/aerospace university
Global
Reach: alumni in NASA, Boeing, Lockheed, airlines worldwide
Research Focus Areas
Beyond the university
Embry-Riddle is the anchor, but aerospace extends across the entire region.
Daytona Beach International Airport
Integrated flight training operations, aviation maintenance facilities, and aerospace company presence right alongside commercial aviation.
Aerospace Suppliers
A network of companies feeding parts, systems, and services into space, aviation, and defense supply chains.
Aviation Maintenance & Training
One of the densest concentrations of flight training and maintenance operations in the southeastern United States.
Defense & Government Ties
Embry-Riddle's partnerships with DoD, FAA, and NASA create direct pathways between Daytona and national aerospace programs.
Engineering Services
Consulting, simulation, testing, and certification services that support the broader aviation and defense industry.
Workforce Pipeline
A continuous flow of trained engineers, pilots, mechanics, and researchers entering the regional and national workforce.
Connected to Kennedy Space Center
Florida's aerospace corridor runs from Kennedy Space Center through the Space Coast region. Daytona sits at its northern edge. Close enough to be part of the corridor, distinct enough to offer lower costs and different capabilities.
The region understands launch systems, testing, propulsion, and systems engineering. That knowledge base, combined with Embry-Riddle's talent pipeline and Daytona's motorsports engineering heritage, creates a unique innovation environment that no other city in Florida can replicate.
A century of aerospace talent, from Daytona to the world
The Aerospace Era gave the world a generation of engineers, pilots, and leaders who shaped modern aviation and space exploration. And it gave Daytona the institutional credibility that comes from a century of proven output. The same depth you see in Cambridge and the Research Triangle.
Next: The Fourth Era
Three eras of innovation heritage come together into what comes next: eVTOL, autonomous systems, advanced propulsion, and coastal resilience. Daytona Innovation is where it all converges.