Cornelius Holness

Hello, my name is Cornelius Holness and I am from Enfield, North Carolina. I am a graduate of Elizabeth City State University with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  Thinking back on my earliest childhood memories, I knew I would one day make a career in this field of aviation. It is an interest that I truly believe will never die out, with there being so much to learn. 

While in high school, all activities, clubs and societies that were science, and aviation related activities intrigued me. By the end of my high school, I understood that aviation was and still is a growing industry and anything space or science related would be my greatest passion. As a member of the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing Education and Research (CERSER), I have had the opportunity to apply to internships and attend conferences that pertain to my career interest. CERSER will help me in the development of the technical skills I will need in order to pursue not only these internships but also my future career.


During the spring of 2015, I was assigned to a research, mentored by, Mr. Edward “Clay” Swindell. Our research was based on developing a working methodology for CERSER’s use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for future remote sensing and archeological purposes and to produce new data sets archaeologists could use in future studies. We flew a DJI Phantom Vision 2+(UAV) over an archaeological site in Bertie County, NC to examine the area and to take images of an old Native American village site. Through the pictures that were taken we generated a photo mosaic showing two anomalies of the land that could possibly be signs of an old Native American village site.
 
Summer of 2015, I was selected to intern at the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. This internship was a ten-week opportunity to work with a group of talented professionals from diverse backgrounds. The general purpose of the project was to develop a Laser Ranging System on a telescope at an observatory. This opportunity enhanced my professional skills immensely.  Effective communication was a major task during my internship. We maintained accurate records and developed weekly briefings of my research, safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects, as necessary. I learned the telescope’s operating software and gained basic familiarity with astronomy.


In the spring of 2016, I was assigned to a research mentored by, Mr. Edward “Clay” Swindell. Our research was to produce aerial imagery from which structural and elevation models could be generated. Historic St. Luke’s Church was the sight chosen for the research. The church represents Virginia’s oldest standing church built in the late 17th century.   We flew a DJI Phantom Vision 2+ over the area to produce a aerial image to further help archaeologist without disturbing the land.


The next phases I hope to embark on, will be obtaining a masters and furthering my education with a doctorate degree. My ultimate goal is to work for the Federal Aviation Administration.