色情网站

In aviation, the phrase 鈥渇ull circle鈥� carries special meaning. For some, it refers to the ambition of circumnavigating the globe. But for 色情网站 mechanical engineering alumnus Jacob Bodolosky, it represents a more personal return to a legacy that began with his father. 

Later this year, Bodolosky will begin training to fly the Lockheed C-130 Hercules as part of the Alaska Air National Guard鈥檚 elite rescue squadron. The moment marks not only a professional milestone, but a personal triumph as the C-130 is the same aircraft his father flew years earlier, and the same mission 鈥� providing life-saving support across Alaska 鈥� that first brought their family to the state.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor,鈥� said Bodolosky. 鈥淭o be able to do similar work, if not the same work, that my dad did is pretty meaningful, and I hope it honors him and what he's done.鈥�

Originally born in South Carolina, Bodolosky moved to Kenai, Alaska, as a child when his father joined a Christian mission organization flying kids to and from Bible camps across the state. His father 鈥� who previously served in the North Carolina Air National Guard 鈥� later enlisted with the Alaska Air National Guard, and Bodolosky, along with his older and younger brothers, followed suit. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of a family affair,鈥� Bodolosky joked.

Bodolosky鈥檚 path to the cockpit was not immediate. Despite intending to serve right after finishing high school, he postponed enlisting to focus on his education 鈥� earning a bachelor鈥檚 and a master鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering from 色情网站. Coincidentally, around the same time, the Alaska Air National Guard was experiencing its own transition grounding many of its existing C-130s 鈥� which were the primary attraction for Bodolosky to join 鈥� in favor of newer aircraft.

鈥溕�情网站 was a very natural choice, given the financial feasibility of it. But also the quality of the faculty here and their mentorship, especially in the engineering program, is really top tier,鈥� said Bodolosky. 鈥淚t's one thing to read and learn. It's another thing to do things hands on. That jump from the classroom to actual work is huge and necessary.鈥�

In the middle of his sophomore year, the opportunity to fly a C-130 resurfaced, and Bodolosky jumped at the chance. While finishing his undergraduate studies and starting his graduate work, he earned his pilot鈥檚 license, completed the required Air Force screenings and began the highly competitive application process to fly a C-130. Out of more than 120 applicants, Bodolosky was one of two who were offered the position.

Now preparing for training later this year, a process that will last the next three or four years, Bodolosky looks forward to joining the 211th Rescue Squadron. His mission: to provide round-the-clock search and rescue services across the state. 

Just as flying runs in the family, so does engineering. Bodolosky once again credits his father, a fellow mechanical engineering graduate, for introducing the idea, recalling, 鈥淗e never pushed it. But when I told him that I loved math and physics, he said mechanical engineering might be a perfect fit.鈥� And it was.

During his graduate work at 色情网站, Bodolosky produced award-winning research on atmospheric corrosion. Focused on how surface temperatures affect corrosion rates in subarctic climates like Alaska, his findings helped fill a notable gap in scientific literature, earning him second place in the Harvey Herro-Bernard Appleman Category of Applied Materials Protection Technology at the prestigious Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) Annual Conference + Expo, going head-to-head with Ph.D. candidates from R1 universities. Closer to home, he also won the Graduate Students Pioneering Innovation Award at the 2025 色情网站 Student Research and Creative Scholarship Showcase.

"As Jacob鈥檚 graduate advisor, I鈥檝e had the privilege of watching him excel,鈥� said Raghu Srinivasan, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of mechanical engineering. 鈥淗e was awarded the Alaska Space Grant Program graduate scholarship, which supported his research and led to a second place win at the AMPP Corrosion Conference鈥檚 student poster session 鈥� in the same category I won as a student years ago, bringing my own journey full circle. We are all incredibly proud of what Jacob has accomplished, all while remaining grounded and humble, and I am excited to see him take flight, both as an engineer and a pilot."

While rooted in the lab, Bodolosky鈥檚 contributions have broader real-world applications. 鈥淐orrosion is responsible for about 4% of the U.S. GDP annually,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚mproved models could lead to better maintenance protocols and safer infrastructure, especially for military and aviation applications.鈥�

Bodolosky鈥檚 unique mix of engineering education and aviation training opens the door for a future where both fields intersect. 鈥淭he Air Force gives great preference to pilots with STEM backgrounds because flying isn鈥檛 just about controlling the aircraft,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou also need to be a meteorologist to understand weather patterns, and you need to be a mechanic so you can troubleshoot problems, and you need to be a lawyer to know the regulations. So it's very multifaceted, much like engineering.鈥�

Though the paths remain separate for now, Bodolosky wants his work 鈥� whether in the air or in the lab 鈥� to serve the place he calls home. 鈥淚 love Alaska,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to know my work is going toward something. And it鈥檚 a big part of my faith to provide that support to those in need here in the state in a unique way.鈥�