AEM Seminar: TODAY, October 3rd - Paul F. Dye – NASA Flight Director, Aviator, Engineer, Writer
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Molly Schmitz
Oct 3, 2025, 9:01:33 AM (8 days ago) Oct 3
to AEM Seminar, AEM Regular Faculty
University of Minnesota
Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
Fall 2025 Seminar Series
Fall 2025 Seminar Series
Friday, October 3, 2025
209 Akerman Hall
2:30pm-4:30pm
AEM Seminar:
Shuttle, Houston – a Life in Aerospace Engineering
Abstract:
Paul Dye, former Lead Flight Director for the Space Shuttle program, will talk about his life in aerospace engineering, space flight operations, and experimental aviation. He will talk about how he reached the center seat of Mission Control after serving as a systems flight controller for his first decade at NASA, his missions docking with (and building) space stations, and how the lessons learned in thirty years of flying space shuttles can be applied in the world of aerospace engineering. He will also touch on his life building, maintaining, and flying experimental aircraft, and how his fifty years as a pilot served to enhance his ability leading air and space missions.
Bio:
As the longest-serving NASA Flight Director in history, Paul Dye was in a leadership position for 38 Space Shuttle missions, nine of which he served as the Lead Flight Director, responsible for development and training for the mission, as well as real time execution of all facets of the shuttle flight. Coordinating the work of thousands of mission planners, flight controllers, trainers, and astronauts, Dye spent twenty years in the center seat of Mission Control. These years were preceded by twelve years spent as a systems flight controller, and more years spent as an International Space Station Flight Director before his retirement in 2013. Paul Dye has over 50 years of aviation experience as an aerospace engineer, aircraft builder and pilot. His scope has ranged from restoring classic light aircraft to planning and leading
manned spaceflights. His love of flying machines dates back to early childhood, and he became involved with full-sized aircraft as a teenager, rebuilding J-3 Cubs in Minnesota. He earned his degree in Aeronautical Engineering with a specialization in aircraft design and flight testing from the University of Minnesota in 1982. He has flown over 140 different types of aircraft, many of them experimental, and many of those on their first flights. Dye is a licensed Commercial pilot rated for single and multi-engine, instrument, seaplanes, gliders, and several experimental jet aircraft. He is also a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic as well as an FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative for Experimental Aircraft. He has built five aircraft (an RV-3, RV-8, Dream Tundra, Subsonex, and an electric Xenos motor glider) and is working on his sixth (an F1 Rocket). He was awarded the SETP Spirit of Flight Award in 2025. For 33 years, he worked in increasingly responsible roles within the US (NASA) Manned Space Program, both as a technical expert in spacecraft systems and, eventually, as the overall lead of many missions to space. The winner of many prestigious awards including the Johnson Space Center Director’s Commendation, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and four NASA Exceptional Service Medals, Dye is the author of “Shuttle, Houston: My Life in the Center Seat of Mission Control”, his 2020 book covering the shuttle years from the perspective on MCC. He is well-known as a risk-management specialist and advises designers and builders – as well as pilots – on ways to build and operate aircraft with greater margins of safety. He is a Leadership Consultant and speaker available to corporations and groups who wish to better their organizations and people. Paul Dye is a Lifetime Member of the EAA, a Fellow of the Explorers Club, and was inducted
into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2024.
As the longest-serving NASA Flight Director in history, Paul Dye was in a leadership position for 38 Space Shuttle missions, nine of which he served as the Lead Flight Director, responsible for development and training for the mission, as well as real time execution of all facets of the shuttle flight. Coordinating the work of thousands of mission planners, flight controllers, trainers, and astronauts, Dye spent twenty years in the center seat of Mission Control. These years were preceded by twelve years spent as a systems flight controller, and more years spent as an International Space Station Flight Director before his retirement in 2013. Paul Dye has over 50 years of aviation experience as an aerospace engineer, aircraft builder and pilot. His scope has ranged from restoring classic light aircraft to planning and leading
manned spaceflights. His love of flying machines dates back to early childhood, and he became involved with full-sized aircraft as a teenager, rebuilding J-3 Cubs in Minnesota. He earned his degree in Aeronautical Engineering with a specialization in aircraft design and flight testing from the University of Minnesota in 1982. He has flown over 140 different types of aircraft, many of them experimental, and many of those on their first flights. Dye is a licensed Commercial pilot rated for single and multi-engine, instrument, seaplanes, gliders, and several experimental jet aircraft. He is also a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic as well as an FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative for Experimental Aircraft. He has built five aircraft (an RV-3, RV-8, Dream Tundra, Subsonex, and an electric Xenos motor glider) and is working on his sixth (an F1 Rocket). He was awarded the SETP Spirit of Flight Award in 2025. For 33 years, he worked in increasingly responsible roles within the US (NASA) Manned Space Program, both as a technical expert in spacecraft systems and, eventually, as the overall lead of many missions to space. The winner of many prestigious awards including the Johnson Space Center Director’s Commendation, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and four NASA Exceptional Service Medals, Dye is the author of “Shuttle, Houston: My Life in the Center Seat of Mission Control”, his 2020 book covering the shuttle years from the perspective on MCC. He is well-known as a risk-management specialist and advises designers and builders – as well as pilots – on ways to build and operate aircraft with greater margins of safety. He is a Leadership Consultant and speaker available to corporations and groups who wish to better their organizations and people. Paul Dye is a Lifetime Member of the EAA, a Fellow of the Explorers Club, and was inducted
into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2024.
*Refreshments to follow in 209 Akerman Hall
For more information regarding current or future seminars and speakers, or other AEM events, please visit https://cse.umn.edu/aem/aem-events-0
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Molly Schmitz (She/Her/Hers)
Principal Accountant, Purchasing & Payroll Specialist, Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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