Retired Rear Adm. Douglas "Woody" Beal 

Retired Rear Adm. Douglas "Woody" Beal received a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics engineering in 1986. Following graduation, he entered the Aviation Officer Candidate School and earned his gold wings in 1988. Beal subsequently served in the U.S. Navy as a fighter pilot, accumulating 3,844 military flight hours, participating in 55 combat sorties, and completing 472 carrier-arrested landings. In 2017, Beal was appointed vice commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet. Additionally, he has worked as a pilot for American Airlines, amassing more than 9,500 mishap-free miles. Purdue presented Beal with an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award in 2019.