Ivett A. Leyva became the head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University in September 2021. Previously, she was at the Air Force for 15 years. She was the program officer for Hypersonic Aerodynamics at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, AFRL and prior to that she was a researcher at the AFRL Rocket Lab working on liquid rocket instabilities. Her technical expertise is in hypersonic aerodynamics and liquid rocket engines. While at the Air Force Ivett also worked on the protection of basic and applied research. Ivett holds a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree from Caltech. Her Ph.D. was in Aeronautics.  Ivett has six patents and has authored numerous papers and two book chapters. She is a fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Air Force Research Laboratory, a National Associate of the National Research Council of the National Academies, and a recipient of a Civilian Achievement Medal and two meritorious Civilian Service Awards and Medals from the Air Force. Ivett has participated in six NRC reports and was a member of the ASEB for 6 years.

Vision Talk Location

• Scholar’s Event Network Theater (SEN), Georgia Tech Library and Zoom
• Watch Ivett A. Leyva's Vision Talk
  Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT

Mitchell L. R. Walker is the John W. Young Chair Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Georgia Institute of Technology College of Engineering.  As the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, he serves as the primary representative of the Dean’s Office on all matters affecting undergraduate and graduate academics.

Dr. Walker directs the High-Power Electric Propulsion Laboratory, and his primary research interests include experimental and theoretical studies of advanced plasma propulsion concepts for spacecraft.  He received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2004.  Dr. Walker’s research activities include Hall thrusters, gridded ion engines, diagnostics for plasma interrogation and thruster characterization, vacuum facility effects, helicon plasma sources, and plasma-material interactions.  He has authored more than 130 journal articles and conference papers in the fields of electric propulsion and plasma physics.  Dr. Walker is the director of the NASA Joint Advanced Propulsion Institute.

As a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Dr. Walker serves as Deputy Director for Space Rockets and Advanced Propulsion, as an Associate Editor of the AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, and on the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Physics and Astronomy and Space Sciences – Plasma Physics.  He is a member of the Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee and a member of the NASA Advisory Council – Technology, Innovation, and Engineering Committee.  Dr. Walker delivered expert witness testimony to the Space Subcommittee - House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., to help guide national investments in electric propulsion technology.  Among his man awards and honors, he is a recipient of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program Award, the AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award, the AIAA Sustained Service Award, and the Georgia Power Professor of Excellence Award.

Vision Talk Location

• Scholar’s Event Network Theater (SEN), Georgia Tech Library and Zoom
• Watch Mitchell L. R. Walker's Vision Talk
  Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT

Jesse Hoagg is the Donald and Gertrude Lester Professor and Department Chair of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on the development and application of control theory to diverse areas in science and aerospace engineering—ranging from multi-vehicle cooperative control to the study of human learning to new control methods for aerospace vehicles. He has authored 138 peer-reviewed publications. His research program has been supported by a variety of funding sources, including NSF, NASA, USDA, AFOSR, KSEF, Lord Corporation, and Ford Motor Company. His research has received 6 best-paper-in-session awards; he received the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Excellence in Research Award; and he is a 3-time recipient of Special Service Awards for research from the Department of the Air Force. His academic leadership positions include Director of Graduate Studies for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Kentucky Senator, University of Kentucky Graduate Council, and the Engineering Faculty Advisory Council. Prior to joining the University of Kentucky, he was employed by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company. He received the Ph.D. degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan in 2006. He also received an M.S. in mathematics and an M.S.E. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, and the B.S.E. degree from Duke University.

Vision Talk Location

• Scholar’s Event Network Theater (SEN), Georgia Tech Library and Zoom
• Watch Jesse B. Hoagg's Vision Talk
  Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT