Frank van Graas has been involved with satellite-based navigation research since 1984, in addition to many other positioning and timing technologies. He is a principal investigator with OHIO's Avionics Engineering Center, director of the Consortium of Ohio Universities on Navigation and Timekeeping (COUNT), a past president of the US Institute of Navigation (ION), and a fellow of the ION.

Joan E. Mace, AA ’73, BGS ’78 began her career in aviation in 1942 building Helldiver aircraft for the Navy during World War II. Pursuing her passion for flying, she became one of the first instructors for Ohio University’s flight instruction program in 1963. Twenty years later, she was named department chair, becoming the first woman to head the aviation department.

The Ohio University Airport was named in honor of Gordon K. Bush, a pioneer in Athens aviation, who served six terms as a member of the board of trustees of Ohio University (1930-1963), and was publisher of the Athens Messenger (1929-1965).