Raspet Flight Research Lab

Get to know the people behind the research.

In the latest installment of Mississippi State University’s Our People series, shares his path to Raspet and the work he’s doing to advance aerospace research and flight testing.

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Shawn McNutt For Shawn McNutt, service has taken many forms. Throughout his 20-year career in the U.S. Army, McNutt served as an Armor Officer with three combat deployments, beginning with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He retired from the Army in 2021 after his role as assistant professor of military science for MS...

The aircraft get the attention, but the people make the mission possible.

Summer at Raspet has meant long days in the hangar, aircraft preparation, systems integration, and flight operations that keep research moving forward. Every successful mission begins long before takeoff—with the expertise, collaboration, and dedication of our team.

Here's to a summer spent doing what we do best. ✈️

Sunrise flight ops > sunrise alarm clocks. 🌅✈️

The mission doesn’t stop when the schedule gets inconvenient, and neither do we. Proud of the team for another early morning getting the job done.

Staying sharp - so we’re prepared when it matters most. ✈️

Big win for one of our own 👏

We're proud to see Raspet undergraduate research assistant Evan Garrison recognized for this achievement!

Moments like this highlight the impact of undergraduate research at Mississippi State University and the incredible students that help us drive innovation forward.

Let's all give Evan a round of applause! 🥳

Mississippi State is celebrating the university’s newest Harry S. Truman Scholarship winner. Evan Garrison of Webb City, Missouri, is receiving up to $30,000 in graduate-study expenses as part of the highly coveted national award honoring the nation’s 33rd president.

Big ideas. Real research. Early impact.

Three Raspet undergraduate research assistants presented their work at the Mississippi State Undergraduate Research Symposium—showcasing the hands-on innovation happening inside our lab every day.

This is what building the future of uncrewed systems looks like. Great work, Andrea, Prabin, and Brijes!

On the ground at Camp Shelby this week, the Raspet team is delivering ASSUREd Safe - UAS First Responder Training to military and law enforcement partners—where capability meets real-world application.

Flight Operations Technicians Peter McKinley and Charley Zera, alongside Program Manager Tanner Roberson, are leading a hands-on curriculum that blends classroom instruction with live flight operations.

From navigating regulations and mission planning to executing NIST lanes and search and rescue scenarios with the Skydio X10, this training equips first responders with the tools—and confidence—to expand their operational capabilities when it matters most.

A new addition to the fleet.

The TALON UAS expands Raspet’s ability to support applied research across mission areas like disaster response, infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, and cargo operations.

Proud to continue our collaboration with COLSA to advance uncrewed systems and real-world capability.

https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2026/04/msus-raspet-flight-lab-receives-uas-donation-advance-uncrewed-systems