Timothy Takahashi

Timothy Takahashi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), where he contributes to graduate engineering education and advanced aerospace research. He previously served as Professor of Practice at Arizona State University for 13 years and has held engineering and legal roles at NASA, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical & Aerospace Sciences and a J.D. in Law, both from Santa Clara University and the University of Rochester, respectively. His dual expertise enables a unique integration of engineering and regulatory perspectives in his work.

Dr. Takahashi's research focuses on aircraft performance, aerodynamic design, flying qualities, and the regulatory challenges of unmanned aircraft systems. He has developed methodologies for conceptual aircraft design, performance optimization, and safety analysis, with applications in both military and commercial aviation. His work often bridges engineering and legal frameworks, particularly in drone regulation and certification standards.

His publications include two-volume books on Aircraft Performance & Sizing and nearly 200 archival conference papers. A recent trend in his research involves historical reassessments of classic aircraft (e.g., Bell X-1, Avro CF-105) using modern analytical tools, alongside studies on supersonic transport, transonic aerodynamics, and flight safety.

• Bronze Award for Best Written Paper, Royal Aeronautical Society, 2023
• Associate Fellow, AIAA
• Member, Phi Beta Kappa
• Member, Tau Beta Pi

He has advised numerous graduate students on thesis projects in aircraft design, performance modeling, and multidisciplinary optimization. His work has been supported by collaborations with industry and government agencies. He is actively involved in the AIAA Aircraft Design and History Technical Committees and has contributed to the development of educational curricula in aerospace engineering.