Dr. David Bridges Commemorates MSU Aerospace's 90th Anniversary

Dr. David Bridges, Associate Professor & Chair of the Department of Engineering at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), was interviewed by Mississippi State University (MSU), for a commemorative video celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Department of Aerospace Engineering (ASE).    

Bridges has a significant connection to MSU as he earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees there in 1986 and 1987, respectively. After earning his doctoral degree in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1992, he returned to MSU, where he taught ASE for more than 19 years.   

During the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight in 2003, the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) began work on a book that highlighted several departmental histories, documenting 100 years of aerospace engineering education. The AIAA sought information from MSU ASE, and tapping his passion for history, Dr. Bridges contributed a historical overview of ASE at MSU, earning his unofficial title as the “resident historian” of the department. In 2004, his work was published in the AIAA’s "Aerospace Engineering Education During the First Century of Flight.”   

As MSU ASE prepares to mark its 90th anniversary this fall, Bridges contributed his insights into the department's evolution for the video, which will make its premiere at the anniversary celebration on Oct. 4. The video will be featured on both the MSU ASE website and the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory website, highlighting pivotal moments in the department's history.   

 "There is a long legacy of commitment and excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering,” Bridges said. “I hope I contributed to it during my time there."