The Ohio State University Center for Aviation Studies

Two of our aviation experts break down the air traffic control shortage, highlight training requirements and specify how Ohio State – and other universities – can help increase the employment pipeline in a piece for ➡️ theconversation.com

Lecturer Adam Beckman directs Ohio State’s aviation dispatch program, which has grown to produce about 10% of all dispatchers worldwide each year. In the classroom, he aims to promote “critical thinking and allow students to analyze the industry in real time.” Read more about his approach to enhancing the student experience on aviation.osu.edu.

Congratulations to the 28 Buckeyes who earned their Federal Aviation Administration Part 65 Aircraft Dispatcher Certification this spring! They’re now qualified to work in airline control centers, ensuring flights arrive safely and as scheduled.

Congratulations! 🎉 It was a pleasure to celebrate and send off our 2025 graduates during a brunch in ’s Austin E. Knowlton Executive Terminal and Aviation Learning Center. Professor Blake Stringer, Center for Aviation Studies director, provided a warm welcome, while Dean Ayanna Howard encouraged graduates to express gratitude to those supporting their journeys. In addition, Nick Mortensen from the Aviation Alumni Society shared insights and attendees enjoyed photo ops with Buckeye aircraft.

Professor Mat Coleman, chair of the Department of Geography, home unit of the air transportation major, greeted guests. Also joining the festivities was president of the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation, John Lindberg. In total, 60 students from aviation majors in the College of Engineering, and became this spring.

Our drone team recently descended on Heritage Elementary. Students – over 400 of them! – enjoyed flight demonstrations as part of an in-depth educational program. Check out the drone flying while panning the audience in the last photo...the students were so excited to see themselves on camera!

📸: Heritage Elementary

Drone pilot and lecturer Mark Bolin has a unique perspective on campus. Literally. Here, learn about what he views as “a couple of the coolest classes” at (hint: think drones!) and how the university’s aviation “program is geared to prepare the students for what is going to be the future of aviation”. https://aviation.osu.edu/news/2025/04/lecturer-spotlight-mark-bolin

Capstone students from The Ohio State University Aerospace Research Center utilized our VR flight simulator this semester in a project sponsored by . The team executed specific flight test maneuvers needed to validate the Honda model. A collaboration between aviation and aerospace, the project team is advised by Research Assistant Professor Matthew McCrink and the work is the culmination of Professor of Practice Brian Ritchie’s capstone course.

Behind the scenes: Take a closer look at the recent Buckeye spring break “field trip” to ! 👀 Snapshots and details submitted by Captain William Parker, Ohio State alumnus (‘85), who participated in the visit:

Ohio State students experienced a comprehensive tour of American Airlines operations in Fort Worth, Texas, March 11-12, 2025. The visit encompassed stops at key campus locations, including the leadership/support staff department, CR Smith Museum and Integrated Operations Center (IOC). The IOC is recognized as the nerve center for American’s global network. Lisa Oxentine, director of crew scheduling, hotel and limo, welcomed the students to the IOC. A visit to American’s Flight Academy followed, where Captain Alan Johnson, vice president of flight operations, greeted students. There, the group got to climb inside of a B-787 simulator. The next day’s activities focused on touring American’s Hub Control Center at DFW Airport.

Can you help us make a difference in the lives of Ohio State aviation students? Donations made on April 3 – Ohio State’s annual Day of Giving – will unlock a share of a $190,000 match. If you are kindly considering a donation, supporting us on that date increases your impact. Thank you! Our preferred donation fund is 302736 at https://giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/details/302736.

Lecturer Shannon McLoughlin Morrison, PhD shares advice for prospective aviation students in our spotlight series. Here’s a snippet:

🛩️ “Keep an open mind. Even if you start out in a completely different field than where you end up (like me!), you can look back and see how everything connects or how it can eventually connect. Everyone has their own journey to aviation, so enjoy trying different aspects of the field or try combining your aviation interest with another interest. You might be surprised where that takes you! I think the best attitude in life, and that helps with resilience, is being open to new opportunities.”

More: aviation.osu.edu

Buckeyes enjoyed a spring break “Dallas Career Trek” ✈️ The first stop was where students visited the team’s headquarters and network operations center, plus enjoyed a tour of operations at (they helped load a plane!). The next day included a networking lunch with , biking across the company’s Skyview campus and meeting alumnus Captain William Parker, ’85, ahead of his DFW to PHL flight.

Thank you to ’s Aaron Klein for organizing the opportunity and to Flight Education’s Howard Embry for providing on-site support!

This week, center Assistant Director Brian Strzempkowski presented virtually on to students. A complementary presentation by Director Karl Von Hagel focused on airport management. 📸: Classroom photos by Trevor Benjamin