FSU InSPIRE Appoints Chase Foster to Lead Engineering and Development for Aerospace Facility
Florida State University (FSU) InSPIRE has secured the first key hire in its development of advanced manufacturing and aerospace facilities in Bay County. Chase Foster joins the team as Senior Research & Project Engineer for Aerospace. His position marks a pivotal moment as InSPIRE moves into research and design phase for high-speed aerospace facility.
Foster joins InSPIRE from General Dynamics Electric Boat, where he provided strategic oversight in the planning yard for SEAWOLF, OHIO, and VIRGINIA class submarines, and was the nuclear project engineering and planning manager (PEPM) for planning efforts on an SSN688 class EOH—a more than $1 billion overhaul project. While program manager for the Nautilus drydocking project, he managed proposals, negotiations, execution, and delivery, leading a team to successfully deliver early and under budget on a six-month $30 million project. He also brings deep knowledge of assembly and testing best practices while working on a first in its class, new ballistic missile nuclear submarine, the SSBN826 COLUMBIA.
“Chase is an accomplished leader with expertise in designing, building, and commissioning aero-propulsion projects, formerly playing a key role in the development of FSU’s Polysonic Wind Tunnel at the Florida Center for Advance Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP) as well as other aero-test facilities as part of the Aero-Propulsion Mechanics & Energy (AME) building,” said InSPIRE Founding Executive Director, Farrukh S. Alvi, PhD. “We know he will be a driving force in the design, procurement, building, testing, and commissioning of what we believe will be one of the nation’s foremost hubs for high-speed aerodynamics and advanced manufacturing in Bay County, Northwest Florida.”
FSU Vice President for Research, Stacey S. Patterson, added, “InSPIRE will fulfill a vital role in translating applied research and scientific breakthroughs into technological prototypes that can be tested, evaluated, and then sustainably produced, all in one key location. It will be nimble, unique, and truly transformative to the region with the capacity to serve partners with a continuum of leading-edge development. We couldn’t be happier to have Chase join us to lead the aerospace planning and development as we forge forward.”
INSPIRE will include operations within or near the Northwest Florida Beaches Airport and adjacent Venture Crossings Technology Park. The facilities constructed will be designed to accommodate both proprietary, confidential, secure, and open contract and grant work for the aerospace and defense industries.
“I’m thrilled to return to FSU and join InSPIRE as we build out the capabilities that best serve the needs of aerospace and defense companies today and into the future,” said Foster. “Our focus is on delivering an innovative, next generation wind tunnel and aerotesting facility that best serves the needs of our community, partners, and regional workforce. Our current conceptualizations include advanced testing and evaluation offices, collaboration spaces and a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility).”
Chase graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and received a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Florida State University. Chase worked in oil and gas for C&J Energy Services where he developed and successfully deployed a novel sand storage and distribution system for hydraulic fracturing, significantly reducing moving parts and thus maintenance requirements, receiving a patent.