Position marks a pivotal moment as the Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education moves into research and design phase for high-speed aerospace facility
Florida State University InSPIRE has secured the first key hire in its development of advanced manufacturing and aerospace facilities in Bay County. Chase Foster joins the team as Senior Research & Project Engineer for Aerospace.
Foster joins InSPIRE from General Dynamics Electric Boat, where he provided strategic oversight in the planning yard for Seawolf, Ohio, and Virginia class submarines, and was the nuclear project engineering and planning manager for planning efforts on an SSN-688 class engineered overhaul — a project with a budget of more than $1 billion. While program manager for the Nautilus drydocking project, he managed proposals, negotiations, execution and delivery, leading a team to successfully deliver early and under budget on a six-month $30 million project. He also brings deep knowledge of assembly and testing best practices while working on a first in its class, new ballistic missile nuclear submarine, the SSBN-826 Columbia.
“Chase is an accomplished leader with expertise in designing, building and commissioning aero-propulsion projects, formerly playing a key role in the development of FSU’s Polysonic Wind Tunnel at the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion as well as other aero-test facilities as part of the Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics, and Energy Center,” said InSPIRE Interim Executive Director Farrukh S. Alvi. “We know he will be a driving force in the design, procurement, building, testing and commissioning of what we believe will be one of the nation’s foremost hubs for high-speed aerodynamics and advanced manufacturing in Bay County and Northwest Florida.”
InSPIRE, or the Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education, is dedicated to building strategic partnerships that bridge the gap between academia and industry, particularly in the fields of high-speed aerodynamics, advanced manufacturing, and technology. The initiative is supported by FSU and by Triumph Gulf Coast, the nonprofit corporation that oversees most of the funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damages to the state from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“InSPIRE will fulfill a vital role in translating applied research and scientific breakthroughs into technological prototypes that can be tested, evaluated, and then sustainably produced, all in one key location,” said FSU Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “It will be nimble, unique and truly transformative to the region with the capacity to serve partners with a continuum of leading-edge development. We couldn’t be happier to have Chase join us to lead the aerospace planning and development as we forge forward.”
InSPIRE will include operations within or near the Northwest Florida Beaches Airport and adjacent Venture Crossings Technology Park. The facilities constructed will be designed to accommodate both proprietary, confidential, secure and open contract and grant work for the aerospace and defense industries.
Foster graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and received a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Florida State University.
“I’m thrilled to return to FSU and join InSPIRE as we build out the capabilities that best serve the needs of aerospace and defense companies today and into the future,” Foster said. “Our focus is on delivering an innovative, next generation wind tunnel and aerotesting facility that best serves the needs of our community, partners, and regional workforce. Our current conceptualizations include advanced testing and evaluation offices, collaboration spaces and a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility).”
Foster previously worked in oil and gas for C&J Energy Services where he developed and successfully deployed a novel sand storage and distribution system for hydraulic fracturing, significantly reducing moving parts and thus maintenance requirements, receiving a patent.
About InSPIRE
The Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research and Education launched with an initial grant from Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. Triumph will provide $98.4 million, and Florida State University will invest another $65 million over the next 10 years. InSPIRE provides the foundation for FSU to better serve the needs required to fuel the innovation economy and will serve as a beacon to attract investment and opportunity to the region. The InSPIRE initiative includes not only applied research, advanced manufacturing and aerospace testing and prototyping facilities but also funds to increase the number of engineering graduates through FSU Panama City. InSPIRE is also dedicated to STEM outreach and development of K-college students and teachers to build the workforce talent needed to serve the high-speed aerodynamics and advanced manufacturing industry with high-paying job creation.
About Triumph Gulf Coast Inc.
Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that oversees most of the funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damages to the state from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Triumph is required to administer the funds to projects in the eight counties that were disproportionately affected by the oil spill — Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, and Wakulla.