LT Ian Liggett (ME, 2003) paid a visit to the Aerospace Engineering Dept on Friday Nov 13 and visited two aerospace classes. LT Liggett is a former student of Prof Dale Chimenti, having studied engineering dynamics and Astrodynamics with him. Ian spent the first couple years after winning his ISU degree in flight training with the US Navy. LT Liggett is now a fully qualified FA-18E/F Super Hornet pilot with several combat deployments to the Western Pacific and North Arabian Sea and 311 carrier landings in his logbook. Most recently, he has been on station performing close air support missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF). Ian graciously visited two of Dr Chimenti’s AerE 351 sections and captivated the students with vivid recent stories of life at sea and his unique experiences flying one of the world’s most advanced strike fighter aircraft. LT Liggett also fielded many questions from the students on training, Navy life in general, and his experiences in the cockpit.
After a short wrap-up stint at Strike Fighter Squadron TWO-TWO (VFA-22) based at Naval Air Station Lemoore (50 miles south of Fresno, CA), LT Liggett will assume new duties as an operational test pilot with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE (VX-9), relocating to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA. Here, Ian and his fellow test pilots will assist the Navy in the development and production of new software, hardware, and weapons systems for Navy strike fighter aircraft, allowing the aircrews currently flying missions in OEF and future conflicts to more effectively achieve our nation’s goals. Iowa State Engineering can be proud of highly accomplished graduates such as LT Ian Liggett.