CSE alumnus uses knowledge from University education in Navy flight training

Aerospace engineering classes and opportunities were key assets in his transition to a military aviation career

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/01/2025) — From childhood dreams to cutting-edge flight training with the U.S. Navy, University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering alumnus Jack van Dyke’s story reflects a dedication to both education and service. 

Originally from Minnesota, van Dyke chose the University of Minnesota for its proximity to home and a scholarship he received through the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program. 

“My dad worked for General Dynamics, so I was always around the technology and the incredible things that aerospace engineering creates,” van Dyke explained. “I was fascinated by documentaries on astronauts and the way the world of aerospace worked. It just seemed natural to me to want to study engineering—specifically aerospace.”

That is what led van Dyke to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering and mechanics. After graduating in 2022, he was commissioned into the United States Navy, where he started his flight training. 

“The aerospace engineering concepts of aerodynamics, systems, and data handling all prepared me to handle these advanced machines. It’s truly the greatest career out there, and I feel like everything I’ve done has set me up to succeed,” van Dyke shared. 

The in-depth knowledge and practical applications he gained in the classroom became key assets when transitioning into his military aviation career.

“My Senior Design project was a standout experience. We were working with Northrop Grumman on designing an interceptor missile to target drones,” said van Dyke. “Now, as I’m preparing to fly jets in the Navy, it’s surreal to think I was working on systems that could one day be used on the very aircraft I’ll be piloting.”

Read more about this story on the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanic’s website.