1980

• The Center for Aeronautical Research (later The Center for Aeromechanics Research) was founded by Ronald O. Stearman.

• Dr. Stelios Kyriakides joined the department faculty.

1981

• Dr. J. Parker Lamb assumed the chairmanship of the department.

• The Center for Space Research was established under the direction of Dr. Byron Tapley.

• NASA astronaut Paul S. Lockhart graduated with a Master’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He later served onboard two spaceflights, STS-111 and STS-113. Read more...

 1982

• Dr. Victor Szebehely was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.

1985

• Sigma Gamma Tau, the national aerospace engineering honor society, elected Dr. Wallace Fowler as its National President.

1986

• TICOM hosted the First World Conference on Computational Mechanics.

• Drs. Jeffrey Bennighof and Gregory Rodin joined the department faculty.

1987

• Dr. Byron Tapley was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.

• Dr. Mark Mear joined the department faculty.

1988

• Dr. J. Tinsley Oden was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.

• Dr. Richard Miksad assumed the chairmanship of the department.

• Dr. Hans Mark joined the department.

1989

• Dr. Philip Varghese joined the department faculty.