On Monday, Dec. 15, the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University celebrated its 40th anniversary with a reception that brought together university leaders, NIAR staff and student technicians – as well as key industry and government partners.
NIAR was established in 1985 in an effort to bolster university research and development capabilities and the support the long-standing aviation ecosystem in Wichita. Over the course of the past 40 years, through the development of strategic partnerships, the institute grown from a yearly budget of $1-9 million in the 1990s to over $400 million in 2025.
The ceremony kicked off with a video tribute followed by remarks from John Tomblin, WSU executive VP for research and industry and defense programs and NIAR executive director and WSU President Rick Muma. Special guests included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Senator Jerry Moran, Congressman Ron Estes, EDA Regional Director Angela Belden Martinez, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, County Commissioner Ryan Baty and Greater Wichita Partnership President Jeff Fluhr.
“One of the most significant transformations over the past decade has been NIAR’s growing role in U.S. defense modernization,” said Tomblin. Thanks, in large part, to introductions facilitated by Senator Moran, we have become a national leader in digital engineering, creating full fidelity digital twins to help sustain and modernize aircraft where original design delays no longer exist.”
Moran has facilitated countless visits from aerospace industry and Department of War leaders to Wichita and NIAR.
“We’re on a mission to make sure that what we have here is known by others,” said Moran. “What we want to make certain is that people see the resources that we have to help them solve their problems, to meet their challenges and to see an opportunity to grow their business.”
Duffy praised the city of Wichita and NIAR for their dedication and commitment to driving the aviation industry toward new heights.
“There are world class talent and people in Wichita,” said Duffy. “If I look for where America is going to be five or ten years from now, I believe that where we are is going to run directly through your community. Continue to innovate, continue to create and continue to lead the way for the next generation in aviation.”
Muma emphasized NIAR’s impact on students and their opportunities for paid applied learning positions.
“More than 70 percents of our students stay here in Kansas to work when they graduate,” said Muma. “This is what NIAR does at the university. I’ve been to a lot of universities...you should know that what you’re seeing here doesn’t happen anywhere else across the country.”
As part of their visit to Wichita, Moran and Duffy also visited Boeing (formerly Spirit AeroSystems), NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS) and the Textron Aviation Career and Learning Center.
About NIAR
Because of NIAR’s R&D efforts, Wichita State University ranks 1st in the nation in aerospace R&D according to National Science Foundation data. In addition to local heavy hitters such as Airbus, Bombardier Learjet, Boeing and Textron Aviation, NIAR also works with the FAA, DoD and global organizations such as General Atomics, Gulfstream, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
NIAR provides research, design, testing, certification and training to the aviation, defense and manufacturing industries. NIAR boasts 2,000 employees, two million square feet, six locations across Wichita and facility in Huntsville, Alabama. NIAR’s core competencies include Industrial Modernization of Materials and Manufacturing, Digital Transformation, Sustainment Modernization, Test and Evaluation, System Automation, Digital Manufacturing, Engineering, Certification, Modification and Prototyping.
