Flexjet's Ricci established two endowments at Embry‑Riddle

Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci, his wife Pamela (pictured center left and right), and their family have endowed two faculty chairs at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University focused on innovation in aviation, aerospace, or space.

The two gifts enable Embry-Riddle to address the industry’s most important innovation challenges.

The gifts will also attract top faculty talent and drive student innovation at Embry‑Riddle.

Ricci said, “We want to encourage bold thinking about the growth and advancement of aviation.”

He added, “In creating these two chairs — the Ricci Family and the Flexjet Chair for Aviation, Aerospace or Space Innovation — we are supporting the kind of educators who will instill an ethos of problem-solving in their students, which inevitably will lead to innovation.”

Pamela Ricci added, “What better way to elevate the caliber of faculty for Embry‑Riddle students and create a better future for our children’s children than creating these endowed chairs?”

Last year, Kenn Ricci joined the university’s board of trustees.

Board of Trustees Chairman Mori Hosseini said, “The establishment of the Ricci Family Chair for Innovation and the Flexjet Chair for Innovation ensures that Embry‑Riddle will continue to inspire and equip future generations of leaders in our field.”

He added, “The commitment of Trustee Ricci and Pamela Ricci will fuel innovation and excellence, advancing our mission and the entire industry for decades to come.”

This is the second institution to benefit from a Ricci-funded endowed chair.

In 2007, Ricci endowed a chair at University Hospitals’ Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland to support cystic fibrosis research.

In addition to fractional operator Flexjet, the group includes jet card seller Sentinet Jet and on-demand charter broker FXAir.