About Walt Eversman

BS Aeronautical Engineering 1959, Purdue University
MS Engineering Mechanics 1961, Stanford University
PhD Aeronautics and Astronautics 1964, Stanford University

Walt began his career at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in 1959. While employed at Lockheed for five years he completed MS and PhD degrees. His academic career started in 1964 as an Associate Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Wichita State University. After ten years at WSU, he took a position as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand. In late 1978, he returned to the US as Chair of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at UMR. In 1985 he accepted appointment as Curators’ Professor of Aerospace Engineering, the position from which he retired in 2015. Since retirement, he has maintained a university research contract with Spirit AeroSystems, in Wichita.

Walt’s academic interests were in aircraft structural dynamics, aeroacoustics, aircraft stability and control, and aircraft design.. His research interests were primarily in   aeroelasticity and aeroacoustics. His major sponsors included NASA, McDonnell Douglas, Spirit AeroSystems, and AC Division of GM. His consultancies included Lear Jet, Boeing (Wichita), GE, Cessna, Raytheon, and AC Division of GM.

Walt is an AIAA Fellow and recipient of the 2008 AIAA Aeroacoustics Award. In addition to continuous interaction with bright and motivated students, his most satisfying academic experience was integration of the design/build/fly concept into the AE curriculum at UMR/MST.

Walt and his wife of 61 years, “Boo”, continue to reside in Rolla, with a summer address near Ludington, Michigan. They have launched a son and two daughters into successful careers and marriages, resulting in seven assorted grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Walt was a college swimmer and is now an avid bicyclist and ex-marathon runner. He sails a Lightning class boat and swims only when he falls off the boat. He enjoys remembering his proud accomplishments of hiking the Inca Trail and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, both at age 75.