UA Professors Provide Budget Update to Senate Committee

The Senate Appropriations Committee invited the University of Arizona and Raytheon to the State Capitol to provide an update on the state’s investment in UA’s hypersonic wind tunnel lab. Last year the state provided $3.5 million to upgrade the wind tunnels as part of the New Economy Initiative (NEI).

UA’s aerospace and mechanical engineering professors Alex Craig and Jesse Little began their presentation by thanking legislators for their support and explaining how state dollars have been utilized to leverage additional federal investment. Professor Little stated that UA’s tunnels are among the largest tunnels located within a U.S. university, which allows UA to focus on applied research and solve the problems that are most relevant to the defense industry.

Ralph Klestadt, the chief engineer of all hypersonic programs at Raytheon, explained how the upgraded facility has allowed Raytheon to do more testing in Arizona. He also explained how the lab has created opportunities for students to receive hands-on training which results in Raytheon gaining access to a more prepared workforce.

Legislators thanked the university for their commitment to the hypersonic program and to ensuring Arizona’s students are adequately prepared for the workforce of tomorrow.