McNAIR
Aerospace
Center

Growing South Carolina's Knowledge-Based Workforce

Mission

The McNAIR Aerospace Center focuses on workforce development through manufacturing research and industry engagement. With a diverse team of research faculty from the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, student employees engage in industry-led projects, such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, automation, 3D printing, and DoD research. Our commitment to cutting-edge innovation and collaboration sets our students apart as leaders in the workforce of the future.

GROWING THE STATE'S
KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY

The McNAIR Aerospace Center is a leader in advanced composites research and skilled workforce development in the state of South Carolina. With world-class machinery, industry partnerships and acclaimed researchers in hi-rate manufacturing, the McNAIR center is actively growing the state’s knowledge-based economy while meeting the demands of an ever-changing technological landscape.

The center, established with donations from Anita Zucker, Darla Moore, and Marva Smalls and named for astronaut and SC native Ronald E. McNair, has limitless possibilities aiding students to successfully take jobs in South Carolina's growing manufacturing economy.

We hire students at all stages of the engineering education experience throughout the year. Submit your cover letter and resume on handshake to secure your internship at the McNAIR Center.

By the Numbers

7

STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO

100+

Graduates Each Year

20+

Faculty Investigators

$30 M

amount of research grants each year

36,000

square feet of State-of-the-Art Research Facility

500+

Employed in Knowledge-Based Economy

Core Research

The McNAIR Aerospace Center is focused on the development and supply of engineered materials for high technology industries. Our goal is to provide a foundation of research and development that will enable and enhance growth in the engineered materials field. Our advanced research and understanding of thermoplastic composites, materials behavior, and design is established with these four core research.

Advanced Composites

With dedicated research team and state of the art composite manufacturing equipment. USC is pioneering cutting-edge material development and manufacturing processes for next-generation applications. Our research drives efficiency durability, sustainability, and performance, shaping the future of the advanced manufacturing industry.

Advanced Air Mobility

Our interdiciplinary approach integrates advanced composite manufacturing, aerodynamic design, battery design and implementation and infrastructure. We collaborate with industry to develop sustainable, efficient, advanced-air-mobility, solutions that maeet urban and rural transportation needs.

Combustion

Combustion and Propulsion Group at USC is a coordinated effort among Professors Dryer, Won, and Farouk. The main objective is to grow a world-class application-dirven fundamental research endeavor, encompassing power generation, ground and air transportation, and chemical propulsion using fuels derived from both fossil and renewable energy resources.

Automation

To remain competitive while addressing workforce challenges, USC researchers explore cutting-edge automation technologies to drive efficiency and manufacturing productivity. Leveraging inter- disciplinary expertise and a foundation of aerospace knowledge, we develop workflows, optimize processes, and construct physical prototypes using robotics, AI, and IOT to tackle real-world challenges.

Partnerships

Partnerships are critical to our success. We engage with industry partners, universities and the S.C. Department of Commerce to create opportunities for investment and collaboration through manufacturing research.

Leadership

It's the talent and passion of our research experts, combined with the strength of our technology and industry partnerships, that truly make the McNAIR Center a research leader. The dedicated McNAIR Center team is here to serve the needs of our industry partners and research collaborators.

Principal Investigators

Subramani Sockalingam
ADVANCED COMPOSITES

Sourav Banerjee
MATERIAL STATE AWARENESS

Andrew Gross
MATERIAL PROPERTIES

Enrico Santi
ENERGY SYSTEMS

Nikos Vitzilaios
UNMANNED SYSTESMS

Bond Calloway
PROGRAM MANAGER

Sang Hee Won
COMBUSTION

Darun Barazanchy
COMPOSITES

Adel Nasiri
ENERGY SYSTEMS

Jay Gaillard
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

Wout DeBacker
COMPOSITES and SENSING

Abdel-Moez Bayoumi
PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS

Lang Yuan
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Tanvir Farouk
COMBUSTION

Director

Paul Ziehl
DIRECTOR

Board of Advisors

Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri
DEAN, MOLINAROLI COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING

VADM Paul Gaffney
SENIOR ASSISTANT TO THE DEAN

Todd McCaffrey
SC SECRETARY OF VETERAN’S AFFAIRS

Engineering Staff

Josh Widawsky
PROGRAM MANAGER

Jac Haskell Fought
MPES CHIEF ENGINEER

Thomas Hartmann
RESEARCH ENGINEER

Brandon Seay
COMPOSITE MANUFACTURING ENGINEER

Emily Savage
ADMINISTRATIVE ENGINEER

Danielle Gadow
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

Ronald Erwin McNair

“The road between South Carolina and space flight is not a very simple one, nor one filled with guarantees. In fact, the only guarantees to be found are those that reside in the unchallenged depths of one's own determination.”

— Ronald E. McNair (1950-1986)

Contact

The center supports knowledge-based economy through innovative aerospace research, interdisciplinary education, economic development, outreach and collaboration with the aerospace and allied industries and related government agencies. Research activities include areas such as composites, predictive maintenance, digital transformation, 3D printing, drones and unmanned vehicles, and combustion for aerospace applications.

1000 Catawba Street,
Columbia, SC 29201

803-467-4030

ziehl@cec.sc.edu