Three members of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School’s most recent graduating class share more than a new and challenging career — they are all graduates of the College of Engineering at The University of Akron.
Among the elite class of 23 were Major James M. Howard, who earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1999; Captain Nathan W. Taylor, who earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2000; and Captain Jason B. Honabarger, who earned a B.S. in Mechanical Polymer Engineering in 2001. Howard is an experimental test pilot while Honabarger and Taylor are flight test engineers.
The graduation ceremony was held at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Dec. 11, where the Test Pilot School is located.
Over the course of the 11-month program, the students completed 50 credit hours in addition to flying a wide variety of aircraft and conducting evaluations of aerospace weapon systems. Each graduate earned an M.S. in Flight Test Engineering.
"Gaining admission to attend the Air Force's Test Pilot School (TPS) is extremely rigorous – a very small percentage of a high number of highly qualified Air Force Officer volunteers are selected for this specialized and mission-critical training," says Dr. George K. Haritos, dean of 国产伦理's College of Engineering. Colonel Haritos (USAF, retired), joined The University of Akron upon his retirement from the Air Force in 2001. "To have three of our engineering graduates in one TPS class is remarkable. It is a very proud moment for them, and for us."