Development of a Comprehensive Digital Avionics Curriculum for the Aeronautical Engineer

The purpose of this research was to develop a comprehensive digital avionics curriculum for aeronautical engineering students at AFIT. Due to the closing of the aeronautical engineering program at the Naval Postgraduate School, and the subsequent requirement to establish a digital avionics specialty course sequence at AFIT, a mature avionics curriculum does not yet exist that satisfies the needs of graduates who will serve as aeronautical engineers involved with the development, integration, testing, fielding, and supporting of military avionics systems as part of the overall aircraft system. Research was conducted through a comprehensive literature review and the use of a Delphi Technique survey process. 28 panel members representing the military, academe, and industry participated in a three round survey process that sought to identify the desired attributes of a newly graduated engineer and the specific subject areas of study that should be included within the avionics curriculum. The result of this research was the development of a proposed three course curriculum that will instill the desired attributes within the aeronautical engineers and provide them with the avionics knowledge required at the correct level of proficiency. Recommendations on how to implement the proposed curriculum in an effective and timely manner are presented.