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The Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is honoring eight alumni for outstanding contributions to industry, for technical achievement, and public service.Ìý

The 2026 AeroBuffs Club Alumni Academy inductees are being recognized for work in business, civil, and military aerospace spheres.Ìý

“These honorees are both established leaders and rising stars across aerospace engineering science," said Hanspeter Schaub, professor and chair of Smead Aerospace. "We're excited to recognize these individuals for their achievements and what they've given to aerospace engineering and sciences. They represent the best of our field, solving big challenges and pushing the limits of what is possible in aerospace engineering sciences."

Honorees are being recognized in three categories:

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Commercial Enterprise

Over 40

Jonathan Fentzke (AeroEngr PhD’09) –ÌýA pioneering entrepreneur, Fentzke has founded three companies and mentored over 500 more, helping businesses develop. Fentzke is also named on six patents and has coauthored dozens of research publications.

Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Public Service

Over 40 Category

Andrew Adams (AeroEngr BS’91, MS’93) –ÌýA senior advisor at the Aerospace Corporation, Adams is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School with decades of experience in the military and private sector as an expert in national space systems and cybersecurity.

Erica Rodgers (AeroEngr BS’98, MS’00) –ÌýWith over 25 years of experience in spaceflight missions, research, and design, Rodgers has provided her expertise to multiple businesses, laboratories, and NASA. She now serves in a leading role at the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Center for National Security Initiatives.

Colonel James Voss (Ret.) (AeroEngr MS’74, Honorary PhD’00) –ÌýA veteran of five NASA Space Shuttle flights, Voss has spent more than 200 days in space. His career has taken him from U.S. Army Ranger School, to the astronaut program, business, and the world of education, including 15 years teaching classes at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ.

Excellence in Technical Achievement and Leadership

Over 40 Category

James W. Young III (AeroEngr BS’88, MS’89) –ÌýA pilot’s pilot, Young has over 14,000 hours of flight experience across 200 different aircraft types, including small Cessnas, the F-35 stealth fighter, and the Boeing 747. He has spent the last 26 years as president and chief test pilot of Mmo Aviation Services.

David Klaus (AeroEngr MS’91, PhD’94) –ÌýWith decades of experience in research and education, Klaus has made his mark. As creator of the Bioastronautics Focus Area within Smead Aerospace, Klaus has advised or taught over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students and been part of dozens of orbital payloads.

Bryant Loomis (AeroEngr MS’05, PhD’09) –ÌýA geodesy leader, Loomis serves as lab chief at the NASA Goddard Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory and has played key roles on an array of earth science missions, including the GRACE, GRACE-FO, and ICESat-2 satellites.

Under 40 Category

Dylan Boone (AeroEngr MS’11, PhD’13) –ÌýA navigation team chief at NASA JPL, Boone has played a major role in the Europa Clipper Mission for over 10 years and has also been part of orbit determination on the Cassini Saturn Probe and New Horizons Missions.

All the honorees will be officially recognized at the 2026 AeroBuffs Club alumni banquet and awards ceremony on April 3.ÌýÌý