Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) along with Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) President Sidney McPhee announced on Thursday that MTSU’s growing aerospace department will be moving from its current location at Murfreesboro Airport to a new state-of-the-art campus in Shelbyville.
Due to the rapidly expanding aerospace industry, preparations for the new MTSU Aerospace-Shelbyville campus have been in the works since April. The press release said the institution and the state have contributed $62.2 million for the move.
According to the press release, the temporary facilities will be ready by the end of the spring semester in 2024, and around 10 to 20 aircraft will be relocated to Shelbyville next spring. The groundbreaking for the new campus is scheduled for the summer or fall of 2024, with the eventual relocation to Shelbyville expected by the summer or fall of 2026.
Facilities for flight operations, aircraft, simulators, and fleet maintenance will be located on the new campus. It will also provide the maintenance management concentration with labs, classrooms, and tools.
Lee said spending money to enhance the MTSU aerospace department is wise.
“We’ve been advocating for this, and MTSU and Shelbyville have created an environment for this to work. This is money well spent. This is one of the leading aviation programs in the nation, and we need to invest in it,” Lee said.
McPhee said the university “marks a new beginning of a new age in aviation education, not only in Tennessee but in the United States. MTSU will build on its reputation as one of the nation’s preeminent aviation schools, providing educational opportunities for future pilots, as well as those who seek careers in the vast field of aviation services.”
Shelbyville Mayor Randy Carroll said he supports the move and expansion to Shelbyville.
“We look forward to the future and being a partner with MTSU by offering careers in aviation to the students of the Aerospace Program. MTSU Shelbyville is grateful to be part of their future. As we look toward progress, we applaud those that have been and will be a part of the MTSU Shelbyville Aerospace Campus,” Shelby said.
MTSU Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Smith, College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Greg Van Patten, alumnus and Airport Manager Paul Perry, and Aerospace Chair Chaminda Prelis also shared remarks, with Prelis calling the project “an unprecedented opportunity for the university, the city of Shelbyville, Bedford County and the state of Tennessee that will set us apart from other collegiate aviation institutions.”
Several partners, including the airlines Delta and Southwest, the aircraft manufacturers Diamond Aircraft Canada and Piper Aircraft, as well as supporters of scholarships, provided assistance to the Department of Aerospace.
Since its founding in 1942, MTSU Aerospace has grown to become one of the country’s most renowned aerospace programs. The program draws students from all across the United States and abroad, with over 1,000 students and a staff of knowledgeable faculty members and flying instructors. Aerospace graduates have important positions in businesses all over the world.
– – –
Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, The Arizona Sun Times, and The Tennessee Star. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Bill Lee” by Bill Lee.
