How Embry-Riddle opened a world of possibilities for a former homeless veteran

There’s a theory that our names can influence our personality. Perhaps this is something that could be said to apply to Dellavonte Hune, whose name means “fighter of wrongs”. His father chose this unique name in the hope that his son would embody its traits.

When thinking about Hune’s life, it seems that this name might have done the trick, as he is somebody who has overcome many obstacles.

Hune, who graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science (2023) and a master’s degree in Business Administration (2024), talked to AeroTime to share his inspiring story.

In 2026, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University celebrates its 100th anniversary. The institution has campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, as well as a Worldwide campus offering online degrees and education at more than 110 sites around the globe. Through the decades, the private university, which focuses on aviation and aerospace programs, has been known for its commitment to the military and veterans.

Hune, a veteran himself, shared his setbacks and successes and how his studies at Embry-Riddle taught him how to overcome life’s obstacles. 

Not a traditional childhood

Hune’s story begins in Madison, Wisconsin, where, just a week after he was born, his father was sent to prison to serve a 12-year sentence. His mother also battled with substance abuse while bringing up Hune, his older sister and two younger brothers.

“I didn’t really have a traditional childhood story,” Hune said, adding that his focus on surviving took up the space of having big dreams. “I just focused on day-to-day survival.”

Dellavonte Hune during first grade. Photo: suppliedWithout a role model to look up to, Hune admitted that he could not find the drive to go to school. 

“My mom dropped out of school when she was 16,” he said. “My dad dropped out in middle school, so education wasn’t at the forefront of my brain.” 

Homeless but hopeful

When he turned 15, Hune became homeless and recalled that he spent much of his early high school years “sleeping in parks and out of cars.”

However, Hune was eventually fostered by his English teacher, giving him the foundation of a residence, albeit temporarily, for the remainder of his high school years.

Inspired by a friend’s mother who was a therapist, as well as his own experiences, Hune decided to study clinical psychology in college. 

“I wanted to do research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and children in war-torn countries,” he said.

As an all-American lacrosse player in high school, Hune secured a lacrosse scholarship to study psychology first in Boca Raton, Florida, and then in Illinois. However, without proper adult guidance on financial literacy, Hune fell into debt. Balancing academia with athletics proved difficult, and by his sophomore year, he had dropped out of college and returned to Wisconsin.

While Hune wasn’t certain about his career path, he knew he had to make a decisive choice about his future.

“I didn’t know what I was really passionate about, except for writing,” he recalled. “One day I just woke up, walked into a Marine Corps recruiter’s office, and said, ‘I don’t care what the job is, I just need to get out of Wisconsin as fast as possible.’

Six weeks later, Hune was on his way to boot camp.

Learning structure

The U.S. Marine Corps gave Hune the structure and discipline that he craved and needed. 

“I didn’t know anything about the military, but I was a tough guy and told myself, ‘if I’m going to join the military, it’s going to be the hardest branch that we have’.”

Dellavonte Hune, 2017 Marine Corps graduation The U.S. Marine Corps is often considered the toughest branch of the military, both physically and mentally, and it has the most rigorous boot camp, lasting 13 weeks.

For four and a half years, Hune served as a logistics sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps. During this time, he developed expertise in communications and problem solving as he led global operations and managed supply chains in various countries.

Finding the perfect undergraduate program with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Due to his military background, Hune decided to pursue further education in logistics. However, he found that while most colleges only offered the subject at master’s level and first required the completion of a bachelor’s degree, Embry-Riddle was different. 

“I chose Embry-Riddle because they had a really good undergraduate program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management,” he said. “I didn’t really know too much about aviation, other than smelling the jet fuel from the aircraft carrier as they fly out. But I just really liked how Embry-Riddle was comfortable working with active-duty members and veterans in general.”

Hune started the course during his final year with the US Marine Corps, noting that he appreciated how Embry-Riddle made studying possible for students who were also still active service members. 

“They had a classroom on the base where I was deployed,” Hune said. “There’s an option for online classes. They had a really good structure so that I could have time to submit assignments.”

After a few years with the U.S. Marine Corps, Hune found himself wanting to reconnect with his family. In 2021, he left the service and moved back to Wisconsin. 

“Once I got out of the service, I moved off the base, so I wasn’t in the classroom anymore,” he said, adding that he was able to complete the rest of the course online. This, he said, he loved because it gave him structure.

Giving credit to Embry-Riddle instructors

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University currently has two main residential campuses: Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona. It also has more than 110 locations worldwide, including in Asia and Europe, and online offerings for flexibility and accessibility. 

Hune said one of the best things about his experience studying at Embry-Riddle was the “reasonable and understanding” instructors. The fact that Embry-Riddle instructors are available in many locations across the country provided Hune with the ability to adjust his studies to suit his schedule. 

According to Hune, the instructors he met at Embry-Riddle were “some of the most fascinating people with the craziest stories and careers”.

While the instructors are renowned in their fields and have made extraordinary contributions to the industry, Hune said they still take the time to make learning a great experience for Embry-Riddle students.

Hune also appreciated the small class sizes and felt that he was able to gain a lot of one-on-one time with instructors when needed. Even when he had to take some courses and classes online due to his work schedule, Hune said that the instructors made him feel like he was physically on campus. 

For Hune, one instructor deserves special mention -Dr. Stacey Mumbower, assistant professor in Embry-Riddle’s Department of Decision Science and Analytics. 

“Out of all my degree programs at Embry-Riddle, she was hands down my favorite instructor,” he said. “She set up classes and the structure really well to make it really easy for students to learn something extra challenging.” 

Embry-Riddle: “falling in love” with aviation 

For Hune, one factor in his decision to take up a bachelor’s degree was the pressure to catch up to his peers, many of whom already had degrees.

His initial plan, he said, was to just gain a bachelor’s degree as quickly as possible and get it over and done with. However, while studying at Embry-Riddle, Hune said he found himself developing a passion for aviation, aerospace and learning, and began adding additional programs and classes to his schedule.

Delavonte Hune graduating from Embry-Riddle with an MBA in AviationHe said: “There was an associate program in Aviation Business Administration, which was interesting. Then I saw another program in Technical Management.”

“I had my first associate program in Aviation Business Administration in 2022 and then my second one was in Technical Management in 2023 and then I got my Bachelor’s in the spring of 2023. And then I started my MBA in aviation in August of 2023,” he continued. 

Hune is currently undertaking a Doctorate in Business Administration at a private local university and is expected to graduate in 2027.

Dreaming big for the first time

Growing up, Hune had never seen himself as an academic. But as he progressed through his courses at Embry-Riddle and started to excel, his mindset began to shift.

Dellavonte Hune during his MBA graduation at Embry-Riddle with his son

“It became more about the simple fact that I was not supposed to be here,” he explained. “I never thought I would reach this point, so I’m kind of doing all this in large part for the little me. He never thought I could make it into this world.” 

Hune may not have had the luxury of dreaming big as a child, but his time at Embry-Riddle opened doors to possibilities he had never envisioned. With no prior background in aviation, Hune managed to discover an entirely new future.

“One day, I’d love to be a program and data analyst for NASA or Boeing,” he said. “For now, I’m preparing – going to school, building skills and setting myself up to keep learning and growing until that opportunity comes.”

To learn more about degrees and opportunities at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, visit erau.edu/aerotime.The post How Embry-Riddle opened a world of possibilities for a former homeless veteran appeared first on AeroTime.

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