Veteran’s Representative

CDR Ernie Taylor,
USN (Ret)

Ernest hails from Miami, Fl. He parlayed a flying lesson he received for his 16th birthday into a dual career as a pilot, first for the Navy and then Delta Air Lines. Earning his private pilot’s license as he graduated from high school, Ernie attended Miami-Dade Community College receiving an Associate of Arts degree and then his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dillard University, New Orleans, LA where he graduated cum laude.

Upon graduation he entered Aviation Officer’s candidate school in Pensacola, FL and was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy. He attended pilot flight training and received his Navy “Wings of Gold”. What began as a four-year stint turned into a 23-year Naval Career. Commander Taylor has flown various naval aircraft including the P-3C Orion, S-3BViking, E-2C Hawkeye, and the SH-3 Sea King helicopter. Diverse assignments have included deployments to the Western Pacific/Indian Ocean region, Mediterranean Sea, Sicily, Iceland, and other locations around the world. As a manager and leader he has lead Navy and civilian personnel and managed multi-million dollar budgets in operational squadrons and at Headquarters commands in San Diego, CA and Washington D.C.

Before retiring from the Navy, Commander Taylor returned home to Miami as Commanding Officer, Navy Recruiting District, Miami. He was responsible for all Navy Officer and Enlisted recruiting programs in Central and South Florida including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Ernie’s boyhood dream to become a commercial airline pilot came true when he joined Northwest Airlines and then Delta Air Lines. With over 16,000 hours of flying time, he has flown the Boeing 727, Airbus 319/320 and Boeing 757/767 and served as Captain on the McDonnell Douglas 88/90 while conducting scheduled passenger operations in both domestic and international theaters. Additionally, he was a member of the airline’s pilot recruiting and hiring team. Residing in Miami, FL, Ernie was based in Detroit, MI flying the Airbus 319/320/321 as Captain, until his retirement from Delta Air Lines after 21years of safe and uneventful flying. Returning to the flight deck once again, he is currently flying the Phenom 300 jet for JetSuite Air, an on-demand charter company.

Ernie is a life member and a current Board of Directors member of the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA). He is also a former Chairman of the Board of Directors, and life member of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). His military awards include the Navy Meritorious Service Award (3), Navy Commendation Award (2), Humanitarian Service, National Defense, and Expert Pistol Marksmanship.

Ernie and his wife Bert spend their time between Miami and Detroit supporting NNOA and OBAP and traveling the world at their leisure.