Dr. Michael L. Heil is an independent aerospace and defense consultant with over 40 years’ experience in aerospace research, development, test, acquisition, and higher education. From 2007 to 2016, he served as President and CEO of the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI), a 60 person, $17M annual budget non-profit aerospace research and educational institute. In this position, he successfully led partnerships with the NASA Glenn Research Center, the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the State of Ohio, Ohio’s research universities, and industry to grow Ohio’s aerospace economy through research and technology development, education and training, and engagement with global networks for innovation and advocacy.
Prior to joining OAI, Michael served as Director, Center for Space Studies and Research at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He retired from Air Force active duty in 2005 at the rank of Colonel after serving as Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate with responsibilities for propulsion and power research at Wright-Patterson and Edwards Air Force Bases. He oversaw facilities valued at more than $2.1 billion, while leading the efforts of more than 1,000 scientists, engineers and staff. His responsibilities included ensuring the directorate’s $300 million annual budget produced cutting edge technology results for the Air Force and the nation.
A distinguished engineering graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy, class of 1975, Michael was commissioned and immediately pursued his master’s degree in flight structures at Columbia University on a Guggenheim Fellowship. He received a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1986. He served as an engineer in the F-15 program office and program manager in the C-17 and Advanced Cruise Missile program offices. Michael held the positions of Deputy Director of the Astronautics Laboratory, Commander of the Phillips Laboratory and Arnold Engineering Development Center, Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology, and Special Assistant to the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. He has served in two Air Force acquisition centers, four defense laboratories, a test center, a major command staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the faculties of the Air Force Academy and Air Force Institute of Technology. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado and a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
