As public and private sector leaders in Iowa launch the Ascentus Aerospace Hub initiative to attract aerospace investment and accelerate innovation, forces in industry, infrastructure, workforce development, and research are being combined to create an environment where aerospace and aviation companies can thrive and skilled graduates find reasons to stay in Iowa.

Here’s how Iowa is growing its aerospace and defense industry through talent, research and investment, with contributions from University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory.

Iowa NASA EPSCoR, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the Eastern Iowa Airport convened aerospace companies, university researchers, community college instructors, and economic development partners in Iowa City to discuss what it takes to build an aerospace cluster in Iowa.

The University of Iowa's Operator Performance Laboratory continues to be a go-to flight test center to support the evolution of human-machine teaming. OPL recently hosted collaborators from Lockheed Martin for a demonstration.

Sandboxx News highlighted the contributions of the University of Iowa Operator Performance Lab in the development of Lockheed Martin's Collaborate Combat Aircraft (CCA) technology.

Aero-TV interviewed Thomas "Mach" Schnell, University of Iowa engineering professor and director of the Operator Performance Lab, about technology being developed to help pilots see in degraded visual environments.

Operator Performance Lab Director Thomas "Mach" Schnell presented an overview of the research at OPL and broadly at the Iowa Technology Institute to the Iowa Board of Regents during its June meeting.

The partnership between the University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force has made the College of Engineering a destination for Test Pilot School officers seeking a PhD.

Tom “Mach” Schnell, University of Iowa professor of industrial and systems engineering and incoming director of the Iowa Technology Institute, is among six faculty members selected by the Iowa Board of Regents for extraordinary contributions and sustained record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

The University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) has announced awards for three students whose outstanding contributions led to flight test innovation.