Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

05/29/2026

The new Hire Purdue connects alumni with students through job opportunities, mentorship and advocacy.

The Purdue Center for Career Opportunities launched this initiative to support the next generation of Purdue graduates. When alumni open doors, they help Boilermakers launch careers with confidence and continue the tradition of supporting one another across generations.

Together, we can Hire Purdue.

Learn more here: https://buff.ly/a42PUGF

05/28/2026

West Lafayette is the best college town in Indiana.

WalletHub/Business Insider examined 30-plus metrics including affordability, social environment, and academic and economic opportunity to find that Purdue’s hometown is the best place to live out of all college towns in our state.

West Lafayette also ranks fourth among all U.S. small cities that are home to a college or university.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/zvfr40s

05/27/2026

AAE Alumna Emily Spreen isn't just shaping the future of spaceflight – she's doing it from two incredible roles.

Discovering her passion in high school, she went on to earn her BS, MS and Ph.D. from the Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. As soon as she got to Purdue, she felt like she belonged. Along the way, she interned at many of NASA's centers all while building lifelong friendships with fellow Boilermakers who shared her drive.

Now an aerospace engineer, she is living her dream supporting NASA's human spaceflight initiatives, including lunar orbit research, mission development, and landing and recovery operations.

Read more about Emily's journey here: https://buff.ly/34bk19Z

05/24/2026

Do Indy 500 drivers have what it takes to be space-faring astronauts? Professor and head of AAE Bill Crossley thinks so: "They're in a highly competitive sport, they're very focused individuals, and it takes a lot of training and dedication to do that. And that's what it takes to be a NASA astronaut."

See more about Purdue's involvement in the Indy 500 and beyond on FOX 59's Race to the 500:

Dan Spehler and Beairshelle Edme are live from the Oval on the firs...

05/23/2026

Not only is Purdue Pete's mascot head made on Purdue campus, by Purdue students, but it's also made with aerospace-grade materials.

Our colleagues in the Polytechnic Institute combine student intuition with materials used in spacecraft to make a lightweight head that keeps its wearer cool and safe. The team works in Purdue's Raisbeck Advanced Composites Laboratory, which is also a space for AAE research projects.

Read more: https://buff.ly/b9tGHoD

05/22/2026

Make a splash for the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics by June 30!🌊
$10+ gift = Boilermaker sunglasses
$75+ gift = Beach towel and sunglasses
Soak up the sun in style! 🏖️ Make your gift today at https://buff.ly/Jj9Y1WY.

05/22/2026

Purdue University celebrated more than 10,000 graduates during its Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies for its second consecutive year. Among them, graduates from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics join a global network of Purdue alumni.

Congratulations to all the students on this remarkable achievement as they prepare to take their next giant leap in aerospace and beyond.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/CNSwG1p

05/21/2026

A longstanding AAE tradition takes flight each commencement, a rite of passage for graduates whose origins remain a mystery.

As graduates from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics are recognized, a flurry of paper airplanes fills Elliott Hall of Music. Some are carefully engineered while others are folded moments before takeoff.

Read more about this tradition here: https://buff.ly/OCviCek

05/19/2026

We thank Dave McGrath (BSAAE ‘83, MSAAE ’84) for 25 years of service on our Industrial Advisory Council! AAE department head Bill Crossley presented him with a glass-etched gift, nicknamed the "IAC Cube," in recognition for his support of our program.

Dave is an AIAA Fellow and worked at Northrop Grumman, most recently as Senior Fellow in Propulsion Systems and Controls, until his recent retirement. He is the author or co-author of more than 50 papers in the AIAA and JANNAF literature. He wrote on topics ranging from combustion and plume phenomena of solid rockets — to system and flight discussions of programs like Orion ACM, Mars Ascent, and Europa Lander missions.

The IAC serves as a link between AAE and industry and government. Members meet twice a year to discuss issues related to the mission and the vision of the School. See our member list at: https://buff.ly/BH6DSbR

05/18/2026

AAE alumnus Tim Cahill has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Purdue University, recognizing his leadership and impact across aerospace and defense.

Purdue AAE graduate and Air Force ROTC Hall of Fame inductee, Cahill earned his BS and MS before launching a career in aerospace leadership.

He now serves as president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, leading a $14.4B enterprise advancing global security.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/VidX7XM