Find your path to success with a diverse range of more than 120 degree, certificate, and continuing education programs.
Captain William “Bill” Klappert is a retired chief pilot and aviation director for a multinational corporation, Nielsen Media Research. Klappert’s aviation credentials include earning the title of Captain on six different large corporate jets, an Airline Transport Pilot license, and a FAA Certified Flight Instructor license.
Klappert has served as an aviation professor since 2013 at Bergen. As the aviation director, he instructs aviation courses including AVT-100, AVT-115, AVT-240, and PHY-114.
When asked why he decided to work at Bergen, Klappert cited his ability to continue his lifelong passion for aviation and to leverage his contacts in the aviation industry to provide opportunities for the Bergen Community College Aviation Program.
Klappert started the Aviation club at Bergen and serves as the club’s faculty advisor. “Achieving your goals in aviation is a complex process,” said Klappert. “My years of mentoring pilots and hiring the best candidates leads to student success.”
“Experiencing the first takeoff and landing for a student is tremendously rewarding,” said Klappert as he recounts his experience teaching aviation. He enjoys being able to see his aviation students succeed. Keeping in contact with his students, he likes to invite graduates back to his classroom. He said, “Many students return wearing their airline uniforms to share life experiences with current students.”
With a strong desire to contribute to the community, Klappert started Scout Explorer Post 747 with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. Members of the post attended trips to Newark Tower, United Airlines Hangar at Newark Liberty Airport, Flight Safety International at Teterboro, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Fleet Week at the Intrepid, and the Aviation Hall of Fame.
Klappert earned his bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University.
Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 13,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.
# # #