Charlie Berichi ’25 Ph.D. defines his life through three guiding chapters: learning, earning credentials and giving back. As an International Crime and Justice alumnus, Berichi has built a career that unites education, public safety and aviation with a mission to elevate aviation safety standards and a 100% safety record to support it.
As an FAU undergraduate, Berichi was focused on public service and federal law enforcement while cultivating a strong interest in aviation. Berichi graduated the police academy and began to intern with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Miami. He worked in narcotics, robbery and dangerous mail divisions, further strengthening his professional foundation. After earning his MPA at FAU, Berichi began flight training, which resulted in aviation becoming a central part of his long-term goals.
“I wanted to start something that was the best,” Berichi said. This desire led him to pursue a Ph.D. at the Green School.
Berichi’s graduation from FIU last August marked the culmination of nearly a decade dedicated to the first two chapters of his philosophy: “you learn it, you earn it and you return it.” During this time, he completed Army ROTC, graduated from U.S. Army Cadet Initial Entrance Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, taught as an adjunct professor and balanced part-time Ph.D. studies.
He credits FIU with supporting his academic journey and shaping his aspiration to become a tenured professor. That goal is deeply personal, inspired by his mother, an educator who passed away just months before he defended his dissertation. “I’m currently working on some very innovative aviation safety research and strategic policing research, and I hope one day the cumulative of that will prepare me to be a tenured professor,” Berichi said. “When I think about Mom looking down on me, I truly believe if I just keep doing what I’m doing, I make her proud. It makes me happy, and it gives me peace.”
While completing his doctoral degree and publishing research on how TSA's 2023 pay reform enhanced workforce performance, Berichi earned an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Flight Instructor Certificate and founded and taught at his aviation school, Berichi Aviation.
“It took nine years to complete my Ph.D. and grow a very successful aviation company,” he said. “Finding mentors and pushing through challenges made it possible.”
Now entering the third chapter, “return it," Berichi is giving back to his community. With Berichi Aviation headquartered at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, he has established three pilot-training scholarship programs for law enforcement officers with the Davie and North Palm Beach Police Departments.
For Dr. Berichi, the path from classroom to cockpit reflects a purposeful trajectory—one built on service, education and impact. It’s blue skies all the way for this alumnus who’s just begun to soar.
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