C. Douglas Ebersole 

C. Douglas Ebersole graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics in 1982. He had a distinguished 35-year career with the U.S. Air Force, holding key civilian leadership positions. Notably, he served as chief director of engineering on the F-22 Program, director of engineering for the F-35 Joint Program Office, and director of the Aerospace Systems Directorate. Ebersole's final role was executive director of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, overseeing its $4.4 billion science and technology program. Purdue honored him with an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award in 2014 and induction into its Cooperative Education Hall of Fame in 2016.