Lance Sherry

Lance Sherry is a Professor in the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research at George Mason University’s College of Engineering and Computing. He serves as Director of the Center for Air Transportation Systems Research (CATSR), where he leads cutting-edge research in air transportation systems, data analytics, and autonomous systems.

Education:

• PhD, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Arizona State University
• MS, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Arizona State University
• BS, Electrical Engineering, Brown University

His research focuses on the modeling and simulation of complex adaptive systems in aviation, including air traffic control, airport operations, and unmanned aerial vehicles. He has pioneered work in human-computer interaction, operator training, and big data applications in aviation safety. His recent publications reflect strong trends in predictive analytics, environmental sustainability in aviation, and decision support systems for complex operational challenges.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• U.S. Patent and Provisional Patent for probabilistic alerting of aircraft unstable approaches using big data
• Multiple 1st and 2nd place awards in IEEE SIEDS, PITCH-IT, and Capstone competitions
• Best paper award at ICRAT Conference (2016)
• Senior design teams consistently recognized for innovation in systems engineering

Lance Sherry has advised numerous PhD students, many of whom have gone on to prominent roles in aviation, government, and tech. He has secured research funding from organizations such as the Decision Science Research Institute, Crown Consulting Inc., and LMI. His leadership extends to professional service, including chairing the IEEE ICNS Conference and serving on NSF merit panels and AIAA technical committees. He is also actively involved in promoting drone technology education and urban air mobility research.

Laboratories and Teams:
He leads the Center for Air Transportation Systems Research (CATSR), which conducts interdisciplinary research in aviation systems, big data analytics, and human factors. The center supports undergraduate and graduate student teams in national design competitions and collaborates with FAA, NASA, and industry partners.