Warren Pittorie ’15, ’18 M.S., ’22 Ph.D., is the 2025 Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Ad Astra Alumni Award winner.
The prestigious honor celebrates Florida Tech graduates from the past 10 years who are already making waves and who show incredible promise as the visionary leaders of tomorrow.
Pittorie, a former Florida Tech assistant professor and flight education chair, today serves as a Boeing 737 first officer with Avelo Airlines.
“The biggest reward with my current role so far has been being able to fly some of my former students, as well as Florida Tech faculty, staff and even fellow alumni.”
Although he is no longer a full-time faculty member, Pittorie is a part-time flight instructor with Florida Tech Aviation, and he comes back to campus as often as possible to volunteer with current and former aviation students and as a guest lecturer, he says.
He is also a Florida Tech Alumni Association board of directors executive member and a College of Aeronautics Advisory Board member.
As a student, Pittorie held several campus leaderships positions, including president of the Student Government Association, Interfraternity Council and his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega; an Office of Undergraduate Admission student ambassador; and a resident director for Roberts Hall and L3Harris Village.
“My long-term goal is to continue to gain valuable experience within the commercial aviation industry and to bring this experience back to Florida Tech in the form of time, talent and treasure,” he says.
Pittorie accepted his GOLD Award at the Alumni Awards Gala during Homecoming Week 2025.
“I’ve been to several Alumni Awards Galas, and I love the energy in the room,” he says. “Seeing faculty, staff, students and alumni mingling with each other under one roof, celebrating this big event, is awesome to witness.”
But sharing this honor with several people in the room made this year’s event particularly meaningful, he says.
“A lot of my current and former Florida Tech students attended, and they’re the reason I’m still connected to Florida Tech and the reason I received this award. The award is just about as much for me as it is for them.”
FLORIDA TECH CONNECTION: ’15 B.S. aeronautical science, flight; ’18 M.S. aviation human factors; ’22 Ph.D. aviation sciences
BEST CONCERT YOU’VE ATTENDED: Luke Combs in Atlanta
GUILTY PLEASURE SNACK: Pizza—it’s a snack, trust me!
FAVORITE AIRPORT: Nashville International Airport
WALK-OUT SONG: “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones
SOMEONE YOU WOULD SWAP JOBS WITH: One of my best friends, Lauren-Ann Graham ’20, ’23 M.S., who is an Orion mechanical test engineer with Lockheed Martin
This piece was featured in the winter 2026 edition of Florida Tech Magazine.
