| When Brian Knaup goes to work,
he reaches for the sky. In June, he became developmental
test flight dynamics leader for the U.S. Air Force's KC-46
aerial refueling and transport aircraft. "I lead the planning
effort for testing to begin in the summer of 2014, when the
first aircraft rolls onto the flightline," he says.
Knaup has been flying high ever
since earning his mechanical engineering degree in
2004.
"I commissioned into the Air Force and was
stationed at Edwards Air Force Base," he recalls. "I was the
lead subsystems engineer for F-22 flight tests. In
2007, I transitioned from the active duty Air Force to
government civilian, but stayed in the same position. In 2007
and 2008, I was the lead engineer for F-22 icy
runway testing in Alaska."
His work included developing innovative new
test processes, and making presentations throughout the world
with
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another test pilot about their
processes. As he moved into program management, Knaup
picked up an Indiana University MBA and a master's degree in
mechanical engineering from UCLA.
"Rose-Hulman provided me with the technical
background to do the work I'm currently doing, but it takes
more than just knowing the right equations to use then doing
engineering analysis," Knaup says. "The teaching engrained a
problem-solving process that effectively finds solutions
for all problems."
He has no doubt that the
excellent educational experience will continue to be the
standard on campus. "Maybe just as important is for
Rose-Hulman to increase its outreach into high schools, to get
more kids interested in science, math, and engineering, and
pursuing careers in those areas."
Knaup developed strong timemanagement skills
at Rose-Hulman that
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 he says "have
really been
essential in both
work and the
other aspects of
my life." That
includes time
spent with wife
Beverly (Kocher), a 2004 mechanical
engineering alumna and former Air Force test pilot, and
their two daughters.
These days the couple dedicates much of its
time volunteering and doing fundraising for the Lupus
Foundation of America and the Walk for Lupus Now. "Bev
was diagnosed with systemic lupuserythematosus in 2007, and over
the last five years, she has led Team Knaup raise more
than $50,000," he says proudly. "The team and Bev have been in
the top three in fundraising in the Los Angeles area each
of the last three years."
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