“Dr. Gary Zank is an international rock star in the study of space science, and we’re looking forward to our partnership with him and UAH to advance the critical knowledge and scholarship in this field,” Drake said.

Already a UAH eminent scholar and distinguished professor, Zank was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences, which is one of the highest honors for a scientist.

“Becoming a leader in the field of space science is one of the strategic priorities for the university, and this endowment will go a long way toward helping us achieve that objective,” UAH president Robert Altenkirch said.

“We are grateful to Aerojet Rocketdyne for their support of our Department of Space Science – and our university as a whole – as we seek to grow our contributions to such a vital field of academic research.”

MASSIVE EXPANSION

Aerojet Rocketdyne has been expanding its presence in Huntsville in a major way. In April, the company announced plans to bring 800 jobs to Huntsville and to build a state-of-the-art factory where its next-generation AR1 rocket engine will be produced.

Earlier this year, Aerojet Rocketdyne announced that Huntsville would become home to its Defense Business Unit, along with its Defense Advance Program, known as the Rocket Shop.

In that announcement, Drake cited “the top-tier talent at the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Propulsion Research Center, the exceptional level of rocket engine expertise at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and at our teammate, Dynetics” as reasons behind the move.

Today’s announcement about the endowment was made in conjunction with UAH’s spring graduation ceremony, during which Drake delivered the commencement address.