Faces of Technology
Training Tomorrow ’ s
Pilots
Fiddniel Guilarte knew he wanted a career that combined his passions for technology and people , but it wasn ’ t until his second year of college at the University of South Florida ( USF ) that he started down the right path .
“ I switched from studying electrical engineering to management information systems so I could really focus on understanding the many facets of information technology to be a more effective project manager ,” said Guilarte .
With a USF degree in-hand , Guilarte attended flight school and piloted airplanes through the mountains in the Midwest . Later , he joined Textron Systems serving as a contractor for the U . S . military and had the opportunity to serve as an unmanned aerial vehicle instructor . Guilarte led flight training and reconnaissance missions around the world – an experience which would come in handy after Textron ’ s strategic acquisition and formation of TRU Simulation + Training ’ s East Coast training facility in Lutz , Florida .
“ I knew simulation was going to be the forefront of aviation ,” said Guilarte , who was promoted to project manager at the Tampa-area location .
Today , he maintains project oversight over the development of TRU ’ s Training Center Services Division ’ s full-motion and fixed-base simulation devices . In addition to simulation training , TRU offers one-of-a-kind , FAA-approved distancelearning courseware . The company is a leader in simulation and maintains a vast client list consisting of companies such as Boeing and FedEx .
“ The simulation industry is about to boom ,” he explained . “ You ’ re removing costly mistakes during aircraft training . You can safely simulate emergencies and maneuvers that cannot be easily duplicated in a real aircraft , reduce costs and risks associated with in-aircraft training , limit liability insurance and so on . This industry is growing dramatically .”
Fiddniel Guilarte
Project Manager
TRU Simulation + Training Inc ., a Textron Company www . trusimulation . com
Education : B . S . in Management Information Systems , University of South Florida
M . S . in Human Resources – Training and Development , Pennsylvania State University
Company : TRU Simulation + Training Inc ., a Textron Inc . company , delivers innovative , total aviation training solutions to commercial and military markets while providing superior technical support and customer service . Headquartered in Goose Creek , South Carolina , the company is known for its high-fidelity training devices , pilot and maintenance training , military mission training , and aviation training services and support .
Guilarte ’ s hybrid role includes the global expansion of TRU ’ s footprint worldwide . He frequently lends expertise in simulation and training , and manages the development of the company ’ s new and expanding training centers , including the recent 30,000-square-foot expansion of its Lutz facility .
“ Tampa is growing . There are a lot more investments in the Tampa Bay area ; there will be a lot more businesses coming here and taking advantage of the bay and downtown . It ’ s ripe for the taking and I think it will very shortly be a technologydriven economy .” florida . HIGH . TECH 2017 9