April 14
North Shore Community College’s students, faculty, and staff might recognize a familiar face in this year’s Boston Marathon: Bradley Dill, adjunct faculty in the Aviation Science Professional Pilot program, has traded his wings for running shoes.
About three years ago, Dill started running as a way to cope with a schedule full of overnight flights to Europe.
“I started running for mental health reasons, but now, it's turned into something that I absolutely love. I'm not the stereotypical runner—I'm slow and at the back of the pack—but I love it,” he said. “Now I've run in more parts of the world than I can count.”
Dill will be running for the Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team, and he has raised over $16,000 to support The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a center founded by survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing that seeks to revolutionize trauma care.
This will be Dill’s first marathon, but support from his family, the Brigham Stepping Strong Marathon Team, and the community at large has motivated him to keep training and keep pushing himself.
“I said, ‘If I'm going to run a marathon, I might as well make it something big,’” he laughed.
A Passion for Aviation Education
Dill is a pilot for Delta Airlines, but for him, flying means more than just a paycheck. It’s a lifelong dedication to aviation.
"I’ve always wanted to fly airplanes. When I was eleven or twelve, I made a PowerPoint to convince my parents to get me a lesson,” he explained. His plea worked, and he earned his pilot’s license when he was 17. After studying aviation science at Bridgewater State University, he worked his way up from being a charter pilot to flying for Delta.
Not only is Dill passionate about flying, but he’s deeply committed to aviation safety and education. This commitment brought him to start teaching at the College in 2020, and now he gets to work with students who share his love of aviation.
With flight training, classroom instruction, and practical aviation experiences, NSCC’s Aviation Science Professional Pilot program prepares students to launch a career in aviation. Students graduate with their FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate and Instrument Rating.
Much like running a marathon, Dill says that a successful aviation career requires dedication and drive.
“Being a pilot is such a long road, with a lot of financial investment and a lot of time investment—you need that fuel. Working with these students, I love their passion, and I love their dedication to their goals.”
Learn more about NSCC’s Aviation Management and Aviation Science Professional Pilot programs.