With his full gray beard, Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University student Joseph O’Brien is used to getting second looks when he walks into the classroom.

“Probably the biggest challenge going back to school was the age difference,” said O’Brien, who commutes to the Daytona Beach Campus from St. Augustine. “It caused a lot of anxiety, because I’ve never been one who likes the spotlight.”

At age 41, O’Brien, who will graduate in May with his master’s degree in Human Factors, may have taken longer than most Embry‑Riddle students to find a career path that he’s passionate about. But he said he was able to find the right fit, thanks to faculty advising him and providing a variety of research opportunities.

“When you are 40 and back in school, you are there because you want to be there,” he said. “So being older has also been a benefit. I feel I have a different relationship with my professors now, potentially due to my life experiences.”

One of the highlights of O’Brien’s tenure has been working as part of a team on a  at the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety that is aimed at understanding, evaluating and reinforcing positive human performance on the flight deck in commercial aviation.

“I really enjoy the research process — to me, it’s almost like a treasure hunt,” O’Brien said. “I think it goes back to my natural curiosity and always wanting to learn more.”

A Mind Made to Understand Human Factors

Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, O’Brien started at the University of Kansas after graduating from high school, but he only lasted a semester there.

“I didn’t feel like I was ready for college, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he said.

After moving back to his dad’s house in St. Augustine, he spent the next few years working and taking classes on and off at community college. An internship at Walt Disney World led to O’Brien working full-time at the park for nine years. In 2017, he worked on completing his associate’s degree at St. Johns River State College. And in the fall of 2019, he decided to apply to study full-time at Embry‑Riddle.

With a lifelong interest in space, he started in Aerospace Engineering at Embry‑Riddle, but he switched majors after taking a Human Factors class.

“Not even a week into the class, I realized this is how my brain works,” he said.

O’Brien earned his B.S. in Human Factors Psychology with a minor in Space Studies in 2024. He was named Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher by the Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology Department.

“Joseph is a deep thinker, analyzing problems from many directions and looking for new perspectives that provide insight into problems,” said Dr. Shawn Doherty, a professor in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology and the program coordinator for the Master of Science in Human Factors. “He always goes that extra step beyond.”

O’Brien said he likes looking at processes and how they can be improved.

He published two papers — one related to ethics and the other to incremental research in aviation — with Dr. Stephen Rice, a professor in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. Rice said O’Brien’s maturity complemented his other strengths.

“Joey is professional, easy to get along with and incredibly hard working,” said Rice.

Looking ahead, O’Brien said he may eventually pursue his doctorate, but first he wants to gain work experience in the aerospace industry. He is particularly interested in working on Human Factors research related to aviation safety and space.

“It’s been a journey,” said O’Brien. “But I cannot express enough gratitude to my professors for their unwavering support, guidance and encouragement.”