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History of UTSI
UTSI was born in the aftermath of World War II and in the midst of the Cold
War. The seeds that ultimately led to UTSI began in the 1930s. Victorious in
World War I, the United States had assumed an attitude of arrogant superiority.
It believed itself to be impregnable and the leader of the world in all fields
of science. This was shown to not be true. German aeronautical superiority
resulted in German fielding of the first jet propelled aircraft and ballistic
missiles. Had the German manufacturing capability been equivalent to that of the
United States, the outcome of World War II would no doubt have been different.
 President
Harry Truman vowed in 1951 that, "Never again will the United States ride the
coattails of other countries in the progress and development of the aeronautical
art."
In the wake of World War II and in the following decades, the military
greatly expanded its research capabilities, creating laboratories across the
country, including the construction of airplane and missile airframe and
propulsion systems wind tunnels and laboratories at Tullahoma, Tennessee.
Construction of this facility, which was to be known as Arnold Engineering
Development Center, began in 1950.
 It
was immediately recognized that there would be difficulties in attracting
scientific personnel to conduct advanced R&D, or to analyze and evaluate the
results of testing in wind tunnels and engine test facilities. Numerous efforts
were conducted while AEDC was under construction to develop a viable concept for
an education and research institute that would exist in a collaborative
relationship with AEDC. In 1952, an Institute of Flight Sciences was strongly
recommended to foster graduate programs, lecture and symposia programs, and
student research in the aeronautical sciences.
 General
Jimmy Doolitte, Secretary of the Air Force Quarles, Donald Douglas of Douglas
Aircraft Company, along with NACA, MIT, and Cal Tech scientists supported the
concept as sound and in the national interest. However, no consensus could be
developed as to how to proceed and the concept was abandoned in 1959. In 1956,
however, the Air Force decided it could not wait any longer and made contractual
arrangements with the University of Tennessee to establish an AEDC graduate
study program for center employees, using office and classroom space provided by
the Air Force. Dr. Joel F. Bailey was the initial director of the UT effort,
followed by Dr. Robert L. Young.
The year 1958 sent a new shock wave throughout the world when the Soviet
Union orbited the Sputnik satellite. In the aftermath of this event, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration was formed. NASA initially
considered absorbing AEDC, but ultimately decided to leave it with the Air
Force. However, the need for space education was severely felt at AEDC, just as
throughout the rest of the military and at NASA.
 Very
few academic institutions offered engineering or refresher courses in space
technology at that time. Dr. B.H. Goethert seized upon this national need and
proposed to the Air Force and the State of Tennessee that a “Tennessee Aerospace
Institute” be located near AEDC. As a result of Dr. Goethert’s proposal, the
University of Tennessee Space Institute was finally established in 1964.
UTSI is an institution unlike any in the United States, perhaps even the
entire world. It plays a unique role of vital importance to the US Air Force,
and is thus a critical element in the preservation of freedoms and security that
Americans have long come to enjoy. It was founded in the wake of two
technological revolutions – the development of the airplane and the development
of the rocket. In the years since 1964, UTSI’s faculty, students, and alumni
have played critical roles in the furthering of American technological
superiority in aeronautics and space arenas.
About
UTSI
The University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) is a graduate education
and research institution located in Middle Tennessee adjacent to the U. S. Air
Force Arnold Engineering Development Center. UTSI was established in 1964 as
part of The University of Tennessee and has become an internationally recognized
institution for graduate study and research in engineering, physics,
mathematics, and aviation systems and has made remarkable contributions at the
local, state, national, and global levels.
In accordance with its mission, UTSI supports the Arnold Engineering
Development Center (AEDC) in maintaining "state of the art" expertise in both
technical and managerial ranks. About 500 AEDC employees have earned graduate
degrees at the Institute, including 40 doctorates. In addition, thousands have
participated in the continuing education programs offered by UTSI. The faculty
and students have worked on a variety of research and technology development
projects with AEDC personnel. It has been acknowledged often by the leadership
at AEDC that the educational support of UTSI is critical to AEDC in fulfilling
its national mission for the Department of Defense, NASA, and the aerospace
industry.
Almost 1500 graduate degrees -- including more than 180 doctorates -- have
been awarded through UTSI, a large number of them to Tennesseans. For years,
UTSI has served Tennessee industry by offering an off campus master of science
(MS) degree program in Engineering Management (Industrial Engineering) at
industrial locations. In addition, UTSI serves the cause of national defense by
offering a MS degree program in Aviation Systems at naval bases in Maryland and
California, primarily to navy test pilots. We have many distinguished alumni,
several of whom have achieved national fame as astronauts, company presidents,
chief scientists, engineering managers and renowned scholars and scientists.
Many of our alumni occupy high-level positions in industry, government, and
universities not only in the United States but in other countries as well.
UTSI faculty, students, and research staff have made important research
contributions in the areas of airplane missile aerodynamics, jet engines,
computational fluid dynamics, space propulsion, and laser processing of
materials. In addition, flight mechanics research is carried out with
well-equipped research aircraft.
The Center for Laser Applications has achieved the status of an accomplished
center of excellence funded by the state of Tennessee with additional research
funding from various agencies of the federal government and industry. It is a
world-class research facility with educational and research opportunities for
graduate students. The areas of research on laser applications are diverse and
span such topics as laser ignited combustion, laser interactions with plasmas,
laser materials processing, and electric propulsion.
UTSI has an economic impact of a small industry of about 175 jobs. With a
budget in the neighborhood of 11.5 million dollars and a payroll of about seven
million dollars, the cumulative economic rollover effect on the local economy is
more than 35 million dollars. UTSI has contributed significantly to the economic
well being of high tech industry in Tennessee and the nation through its
technology transfer activities.
UTSI has one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Located on the
"Woods Reservoir" adjacent to the U. S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development
Center, the campus is truely unique in its setting. Although this setting is
remote, UTSI's location in middle Tennessee provides easy access to Nashville,
Chattanooga and Huntsville metropolitan areas. Tullahoma and Manchester are the
nearest cities at a distance of 8 and 13 miles respectively. Tullahoma is home
to over fifty industries including the aerospace corporations of Micro craft and
Jacobs Sverdrup. Out door activities in the area are numerous: hunting, fishing
(Tims Ford and Normandy Lake), hiking, camping, and golfing (Bear Trace designed
by Jack Nicklaus). And for those seeking more metropolitan activities UTSI is
located only 13 miles from Interstate I-24.
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