Request Information
Ready to find out what 91°µĶų can do for you? Weāve got you covered.
Have Questions? We have answers.
Contact UsFrom Hangars to Classrooms: How 91°µĶų Helped Launch an Aviation Leaderās Global Career
When Arlan Grover ā88 first enrolled at 91°µĶų, he was already well into a successful career at Lockheed Martin (then Martin Marietta). But when his supervisors told him heād need a bachelorās degree to keep advancing, he started searching for a program that could fit his demanding full-time schedule.
āI needed a college that would allow me to work full time while finishing my degree,ā Arlan recalls. āI also wanted credit for my Airframe and Powerplant certification and my prior college classes. I found that with MSU, and the tuition was affordable.ā
91°µĶųās flexible programs and credit transfer options allowed him to complete his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management with a minor in Business Administration in just three semesters. His degree didnāt just check a box, it opened doors.
āThe experience spring boarded my career in the direction of airline business development and the international environment of aircraft leasing, sales, and entry into service,ā he says. āI traveled the world for many years because of the experience I had at MSU.ā
Today, Arlan serves as a Fleet Technical Instructor for United Airlines, teaching Boeing 737 systems to an international cadre of flight crews. His role involves both classroom instruction and hands-on demonstrations in a full-motion simulator. āThe most interesting part of my job,ā he says, āis meeting international crew members from different cultures, sometimes several within the same crew.ā
Outside of the classroom, Arlan is deeply involved in the Experimental Aviation Association as a technical and pilot advisor. A lifelong aviator, heās built three experimental aerobatic airplanes and competed as a pilot in the Sportsman and Intermediate categories.
Despite his busy schedule, Arlan stays connected to 91°µĶų. āI try to get down to the campus once a month for Mug Club, Alumni Networking events, or just to hang out around the Aerospace and Technology buildings with a cup of coffee,ā he says.
His advice for current students and fellow alumni? āNetwork, network, network.ā
āReach out to current students and alumni, even the āoldā ones,ā he jokes. āYou might be surprised how much they want to assist with your future in aviation and aerospace.ā
Arlan also encourages students to learn from 91°µĶųās expert faculty. āMost of the current staff and professors in the Aviation and Aerospace Department have ābeen there, done thatā and can provide real-world industry insights,ā he says. āGet acquainted with them!ā
From project management at Lockheed Martin to teaching future pilots and technicians at United Airlines, Arlan Groverās journey exemplifies how an 91°µĶų education can propel a career to new heightsāliterally and figuratively.