About Michael Aguilar

In 1992, a near-tragedy changed Michael Aguilar’s life. A drunk driver veered off the road into his neighborhood yard, narrowly missing his 5-year-old son and striking a young friend, who was seriously injured. The incident left a lasting impression and sparked a question that would shape Aguilar’s career: how do you help people truly understand impairment before it’s too late?

In 1996, Aguilar founded Innocorp, Ltd., and introduced the first Fatal Vision® alcohol-impairment simulation goggles. Designed to replicate the physical effects of intoxication, the goggles gave educators and safety professionals a way to move beyond lectures and statistics to experiential learning. Early demand was strong, and Aguilar initially built units by hand to meet growing interest.

Today, educators, public health organizations, law enforcement agencies, the U.S. military, and prevention programs worldwide use Innocorp’s products. The company has expanded its portfolio to address alcohol, drugs, distracted driving, and other risk behaviors through hands-on training tools and educational systems.

Aguilar is also the author of The Engagement Factor, which explores how experiential learning drives awareness and behavior change in prevention and outreach. His work emphasizes how direct experience can influence awareness, decision-making, and long-term outcomes.

He earned a B.S. in Computer Science from Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly UMR) and an MBA from St. Ambrose University. He later completed his Ph.D. in Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where his research focused on the adoption of prevention and outreach innovations, particularly the role of experiential engagement in influencing behavior.

He continues to work at the intersection of innovation, public safety, and behavior change, focusing on how people learn, engage, and ultimately make better decisions.