Benjamin Samples

Dr. Benjamin Samples is a highly credentialed FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and aviation educator based in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. With a career spanning over two decades, Dr. Samples has established himself as a leader in flight training, currently serving as a co-founder of Patch Aero and having previously held roles as a Chief Flight Instructor and Professor for university-level Part 141 programs. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and is a Gold Seal Flight Instructor with multi-engine and instrument ratings in both airplanes and helicopters (CFI/CFII/MEI/NVG-IP).

Beyond his civilian accomplishments, Dr. Samples brings a disciplined safety mindset from his service in the United States Army with the 19th Special Forces Group. His academic background, underscored by a PhD, informs his unique approach to aviation education, which emphasizes aircraft control, lifelong learning, and the psychological development of expertise. Throughout his thousands of hours in the cockpit and his work as a Check Airman, he has maintained a steadfast commitment to the highest regulatory standards, ensuring that pilots at Lantana Airport and throughout South Florida are evaluated with rigorous professional precision.