Peter Gall

Dr. Gall began his professional career at NASA Langley Research Center after completing his MS in Aerospace Engineering at Penn State. He worked for six years at NASA Langley as an aerospace engineer, flight test engineer and research pilot.

Following NASA he went to work for American Airlines as an airline pilot, racking up 16,000 hours serving as a Captain and First Officer on several aircraft including the McDonnell Douglas MD80, Boeing 737, 757 and 767 and the Airbus A319, A320 and A321. In 2004, in the wake of 911, he left the airline industry to return to his first love, inspiring students interested in aerospace engineering. He completed his PhD at WVU in 2010 at the age of 50 and has been actively teaching since, accepting a permanent position as Assistant Teaching Professor in 2015.

Along with flying, he has designed and built his own aircraft, certified by the FAA as “experimental
acrobatic”. He has been active with the EAA and the Young Eagles program for many years.
He has received many awards over the years, most recently the “Outstanding Teacher Award”, the “Distinguished Doctorate Fellowship” award and the “Governors Cup” award from West Virginia governor Earl Ray Tomblin two years in a row for mentoring aspiring high school students in the state of West Virginia.

Curriculum Vitae____________________________ ____Pete Gall
1007 Lucas Drive 549 Engineering Sciences Bldg
Morgantown, WV 26506 P. O. Box 6106
Morgantown, WV 26505
pete.gall@mail.wvu.edu
Education
1976-1981 B. S. Mechanical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
GPA 3.23/4.00

1982-1984 M. S. Aerospace Engineering
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Major GPA 3.84/4.00, Overall GPA 3.75/4.00

1983-1986 M. S. Computer Science (not completed)
George Washington University
JIAFS (Joint Institute for the Advancement of Flight Sciences)
Completed 21 credits of course requirements
Overall GPA 3.75/4.00

2006-2010 PhD Aerospace Engineering
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Major GPA 4.00/4.00, Overall GPA 3.84/4.00

Employment History

1983-1987: NASA Langley Research Center, Aerospace Engineer
Aeronautical Systems Office, Aeronautics Directorate

I recoded the ASP program. I completed a conceptual design of a Mach 2.7 supersonic transport. My work was published as NASA TM-88888.

Low Speed Aerodynamics Branch

Conducted extensive in flight research on the GA(W) airfoil fitted to a Beech T-34 Mentor
Conducted extensive in flight research on the Mohawk OV-10 fitted with an engine nacelle designed for extensive laminar flow
Conducted extensive in flight research on the Gates-Lear 28/29 aircraft to investigate wing/winglet laminar flow
Conducted extensive in flight research developing hot wire anemometers for determining the state of the boundary layer in supersonic flow on the T-38
Conducted extensive in flight research investigating liquid crystals for in flight flow visualization on the Beech T-34
Conducted extensive in flight research investigating liquid crystals for in flight flow visualization on the OV-1
Conducted extensive in flight research investigating liquid crystals for in flight flow visualization on the Lear 28/29
Conducted extensive in flight research investigating supersonic laminar flow boundary layer behavior on the Convair F-106
Published numerous papers and presented numerous papers on the inflight research
Received several Special Achievement Award and Group Achievement Awards

1988-2005: American Airlines., Flight Deck Officer

Qualified on McDonnell-Douglas DC-9, MD-80, Boeing 737-200 and 737-300. First officer qualified on Airbus A-319, A-320, and A-321 and British Aerospace BAC 1/11 turbojet aircraft. I have about 16,000 hours flight time.

2005-2006: Pennsylvania State University, Faculty Instructor.

I taught engineering mechanics courses in statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials. Also taught thermodynamics and engineering CAD(Autocad).

2006-2010: West Virginia University, PhD candidate and instructor

Throughout my studies I taught Flight Vehicle design course in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

2010-2016: West Virginia University and West Virginia Research Corporation, Visiting Scholar and Instructor

I conduct research in aerodynamic flow control and teach several undergraduate engineering courses including Flight Vehicle Design, Fluid Mechanics, VSTOL Aerodynamics and Introduction to Aerospace Engineering.

2016 to present: West Virginia University, Assistant Teaching Professor

I advise graduate students and teach several undergraduate engineering courses. These courses include Flight Vehicle Design, Experimental Aerodynamics, VSTOL Aerodynamics, Introduction to Aerospace Engineering and Thermal/Fluids Lab

Special Achievements and Memberships

Designed and build a high performance aerobatic aircraft. It was licensed by the FAA as an experimental aircraft model number PDG-1 and was registered as N14PG. The aircraft was flown at airshows and in aerobatic competitions.
Received West Virginia University Statler College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award for 2013-2014.
Author and co-author of 12 NASA Technical Reports and NASA Technical Memorandums
Author and/or co-author of 3 AIAA Technical Papers, 2 AIAA Journal of Aircraft Publications and author of several “EAA Sport Aviation” articles concerning the safety and design of light aircraft
Inventor and holder of U.S. Patent No. 4,774,835, October 4, 1988, Entitled “Method for Laminar Turbulent Boundary Layer Transition Measurement Visualization in Flight”
Received 3 NASA Special Achievement Awards
Received 2 NASA Langley Group Achievement Certificates of Recognition
Receiver of NASA Outstanding Performance Award
Captain Type Rated in Boeing B737, McDonald Douglas MD-80/DC-9
Received West Virginia University Distinguished Doctorate Fellowship Award.
Member of American Society of Engineering Educators
Member of AOPA Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Member of Experimental Aircraft Association
Member Phi Kappa Phi Fraternity
Received West Virginia University Statler College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award for 2017-2018
Received West Virginia University Statler College of Engineering Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award for 2017-2018