Wichita State renames engineering and testing lab for Sen. Jerry Moran

Wichita State University will rename a laboratory in honor of Sen. Jerry Moran.

The 20,000-square-foot facility on WSU’s Innovation Campus will be renamed the Jerry Moran Center for Advanced Virtual Engineering and Testing. A dedication ceremony is planned for this fall.

“The building’s renaming is a tribute to Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran’s commitment to provide vital resources and connections that help Wichita State offer impactful student experiences to drive prosperity for the city, region and state,” the university announced in a news release.

The building houses Crash Dynamics, Building Block, Virtual Engineering and Flight Test laboratories, which are part of the National Institute for Aviation Research. The facilities support virtual and physical testing for aviation and the greater transportation industry.

“The Senator’s commitment to strengthen Wichita State and our nation’s defense programs has raised awareness of the technology and talent available at Wichita State and led to new partnerships focused on improving the efficiency of our military fleet,” said John Tomblin, WSU senior vice president for industry and defense programs, in a statement.

University officials said that those technologies include machine learning applications for fleet readiness, next-generation high-temperature materials for long-range precision fires and advanced technologies for aircraft sustainment and repair.

“By dedicating this building to Jerry Moran, we honor an individual who has been a partner, collaborator and advocate for Wichita State University and embodies our mission to be an education, economic and cultural driver for our region,” WSU president Jay Golden said in a statement.