Howard graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962 and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force at that time. He became a pilot and has amassed over 20,000 hours of accident, incident, and violation-free flight time. He is a Vietnam veteran with 340 hours of combat flight time and a retired Lt./Colonel. He has taught as a ground school, simulator, and flight instructor for Trans World Airlines during his 32-year career. He holds an Air Transport Pilot Rating; Multi-Engine Land, B-727, L-1011, B-747; Commercial Privileges L-382; and Flight Engineer Turbojet Powered Rating. He was an FAA designated check airman for TWA. Howard is a strong advocate of Catholic Education. He has two children and five grandchildren, all in the Kansas City area. He enjoys reading, kayaking, fishing, skiing and volunteering at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Howard is thrilled to be at the leading edge of a program that can be a model of Aviation Education at the Secondary level.