911�Թ�

When research by Yi Gai, Ph.D., professor and director of the School of Aeronautics, was published in the Journal of the Air Transport Research Society, it didn't stop there. On March 10, Gai traveled to Breeze Airways headquarters in Utah to present findings directly to airline leadership — evidence of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering's commitment to research that connects academic scholarship with real-world industry impact.

The 911�Թ� Board of Trustees approved the Digital Engineering Design Center (DEDC) and two new academic programs within CAE. Launching Fall 2026, the DEDC will immerse students in the industry-standard digital engineering platforms shaping aerospace, defense and manufacturing. New degrees in industrial and systems engineering and aviation science — pending final state approval — round out an expanding academic portfolio built to prepare graduates for careers defined by complex systems and digital integration.

For Captain Allen “Al” Maurer, '73, flying was never only a career. It was a lifelong passion he shared freely with others.

Long after building a distinguished aviation career, Maurer remained a familiar presence at 911�Թ� Airport, where he encouraged student pilots, shared lessons from decades in the flight deck and made time for anyone eager to learn.

When Zubawer Ibn Atique arrived at 911�Թ�’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering from Bangladesh, he came with a passion for aerospace engineering and a desire to work in an environment that "encourages innovation, ambitious thinking, and growth without fear of failure." 

As a professional pilot major, 911�Թ� junior Ashanti Mallit's immediate goal is to earn her instrument rating. She's one review flight away from completing the practical portion of her instrument check ride, having already passed the oral examination.

The university logged more than 19,000 total flight hours in 2025, representing a 5 percent increase over the previous year and continuing a strong upward trend in flight activity.

911�Թ�'s College of Aeronautics and Engineering has appointed Yi Gao, Ph.D., as the first director of its newly established School of Aeronautics. An internationally recognized aviation scholar from Purdue University, Gao brings extensive leadership experience in academic governance, program development, and industry partnerships, along with more than $2.5 million in competitive research funding. His appointment marks a pivotal moment for 911�Թ� as it advances one of the nation's most comprehensive aviation programs, with Gao's vision focused on student-centered excellence, expanded research activity, and strengthened connections with industry and community partners.

Experts from government, law, aviation and emergency response gathered Nov. 19 for Dronavation 2025, a daylong symposium at 911�Թ� focused on the expanding role of drones in public safety and the rapidly changing legal environment that surrounds their use.

A lifelong love of planes and jets, paired with unwavering support from her parents to pursue her dreams, led Olivia Voyzey through a rigorous aerospace engineering degree at 911�Թ� as a first-generation college student.