Mr. William E. Broadwater

William E. Broadwater

On Saturday, February 5, at 2:00 p.m., The Museum of Flight celebrates Black History Month with an annual program dedicated to the valor of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, this year featuring special guests William Broadwater and Ira O'Neal Jr.
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Growing up in Bryn Mawr, Pa.-â€"where he still livesâ€"-Bill Broadwater was an awestruck neighbor of pioneering black pilot C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson.Years later, Anderson was the chief flight instructor at the Tuskegee Institute, and Broadwater was one of his students.Upon earning his wings, Broadwater was assigned to fly B-25 medium bombers with the 477th Bombardment Group, but the war ended before the unit left the States, and Broadwater was discharged in 1946.He returned to school and eventually became an FAA air traffic controller-â€"one of the first African-Americans hired in this capacity.Broadwater spent 29 years working for the FAA, during which time he rose to the position of chief of the Airspace, Obstruction and Traffic Rules Division.

William Broadwater

William Broadwater is a retired FAA employee.Prior to working for the FAA, he was a Tuskegee Airmen, member of bomber squad.The group has a program known as the Tuskegee Airmen Youth in Aviation Program.The program takes 15-year olds and gets them interested in aviation.

Broadwater, a Marlton resident, said aviation is a field that has no limits because there is always something new.

,,With the Tuskegee Airmen part of our legacy is to motivate young minority kids to seek careers in aviation, particularly pilots,, He said.

William E. Broadwater was the third president of the Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated and a native of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.He was trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field during World War 11 and served with the 477th Medium Bomber Group.After the war he became an Air Traffic Controller.During his 29-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), he served as Chief of Airspace, Airports, Obstructions and Air Traffic Rules Division.His performance with FAA was reflected in the many awards that he received.

Mr. Broadwater now operates his own consulting firm, which specializes in technical services associated with airspace, regulations, air traffic control operations, aerospace education and aviation litigation.His clients include major airlines, the military services, city, county and state aviation authorities.His professional and community service include: Traffic Controller's Association, Civic Association, P-TA and Flying Club.

Biography of William Broadwater, USAF (Ret.)

Mr. William Broadwater began his formal career in aviation in March 1944 as a pilot trainee at Tuskegee, Alabama and as a member of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen.This group of Black airmen was part of a U.S. Government experiment to see if Blacks were capable of mastering highly technical skills required to fly military aircrafts, as well as, becoming an effective fighting force during WWII.Mr. Broadwater was discharged from active duty in March 1946.He returned to school and soon thereafter began establishing a long prestigious career with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).During this 29 year span, he has received numerous awards and citations.

After retiring from the FAA in 1980, Mr. Broadwater started his own consulting firm which specializes in technical matters dealing with obstructions in the airspace, aviation regulations, air traffic control operations and procedures, and aerospace education.His clientele include major airlines, city, county, and state aviation authorities, as well as, military services.One of his most famous clients includes the Donald Trump Organization in New York City.

Mr. William Broadwater was a military reservist until 1958 and has produced several papers and technical documents and studies involving aviation matters.He lectures and teaches aviation ground school when able.In addition to his impressive professional life, Mr. Broadwater has served diligently in other capacities.He was a founding member and local chapter, as well as, national president of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Mr. Broadwater enjoys flying, golfing, boating, cooking, music, photography, and just having fun.

William Broadwater William (Bill) is an active pilot and holds a commercial pilot licence with single and multi-engine land and instrument ratings with approximately 3000 hours as Pilot-In-Command.His formal aviation career began in March 1944 as a pilot trainee at Tuskegee, Alabama as a member of the now famous Tusgekee Airmen.This group of Black airmen were part of a U.S. Government experiment to see if Blacks were capable of mastering highly technical skills required to fly military aircraft as well as becoming an effective fighting force during World War II.Following his discharge in 1946 Bill became a CAA (now FAA) air traffic controller at LaGuardia Airport in New York.At time of retirement in 1980 he was the FAA's Chief of the Air Traffic Flight Services Division having served in many capacities including head of Airspace, Obstruction and Air Traffic Rules, Air Traffic Service Accident Investigation, ATC Evaluation Staff, Instructor, Crew Chief, Military Liaison Officer to the Air Defense Command.Assistant Executive Secretary, Executive Correspondence Branch Chief, and specialist in Air Traffic Operations and Procedures. Bill was an original member of the U.S. Government Senior Executive Service (SES) and reached the highest level of any Black in the history of FAA Air Traffic Service Management. After retirement from the FAA Bill started his own consulting firm in the U.S. partnering with overseas law, architect, engineering and aviation planning firms, which specialized in technical matters dealing with obstructions in the airspace, aviation regulations, air traffic control operations and procedures, aerospace education and aviation accident litigation.Among his many varied talents and achievements, Bill is a writer, owner of a casualty insurance brokerage, lectures, teaches ground school and serves as a check pilot when able.He enjoys a vast array of hobbies the most fun, aside from flying, is being a granddad.

William Broadwater, an original Tuskegee Airman, told the Midshipmen the story of how he became part of the historic Tuskegee Airmen, a path that began at the age of 10.He was attending Sunday school when a plane landed hard in a baseball field near the church.
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"I studied everything or every magazine I could find on aviation," said Broadwater."I could fly an airplane without ever having been in one."

Broadwater was among nearly 1,000 cadets who started training July 19, 1941.Known as the "Red-tails," the Tuskegee Airmen escort fighter wing never lost a U.S. bomber to enemy attack - a distinction no other unit shared.Their unparalleled performance is credited for motivating President Harry S. Truman to order the desegregation of U.S. armed forces in 1948.

For the Midshipmen, Broadwater's experience is a story in perseverance.After leaving the Army, Broadwater continued his aviation career.He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller, worked as an aviation consultant, and at age 80, still flies to this day.

"Mr. Broadwater teaches today's Midshipmen the importance of finding something you like and then working hard at it," Goldsberry said."The opportunities Mr. Broadwater had after his time as a military aviator were just as impressive as his flying career, if not more."

The Transportation Section Air and Space Committee's guest speaker for its fall meeting in November was William E. Broadwater, one of the renowned "Tuskegee Airmen" of World War II. Following the war, Broadwater went on to become head of the Airspace, Airports, Obstructions and Air Traffic Rules Division of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Bill Broadwater, a retired Federal Aviation Administration division chief who flew B-25 bombers during World War II.

NASA still has just a handful of black astronauts.