Sources: Charles Reagan, 785-532-6221, reagan@k-state.edu; Dennis Kuhlman, 785-826-2601, dkuhlman@k-state.edu; Ken Barnard, 785-826-2681, barnard@k-state.edu
Photo available. Contact media@k-state.edu, or 785-532-6415
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu
Monday, Nov. 12, 2007
REAGAN RECOGNIZED AS KANSAS AVIATION LEADER
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's Charles Reagan will join a select group of individuals whose aeronautical contributions helped make Kansas a world class leader in aviation.
That's how C. Edward Young, director of the Division of Aviation for the Kansas Department of Transportation, described the award to be presented to Reagan at 6:30 P.M. Nov. 17 at the Wright Brothers Annual Celebration of Flight at the Jabara Airport, Hangar One, in Wichita.
Reagan, associate to the president at K-State, professor of philosophy and an adjunct professor of aviation, will receive this year's Kansas Governor's Aviation Honor Award.
"Chuck Reagan has extensive aviation experience in the cockpit, in aviation management, aviation education and aviation safety and his impact on K-State is immeasurable," said K-State President Jon Wefald. "His leadership as chair of the Landon Lecture Series on Public Issues is well known. Many people do not realize he also supervises the Beach Museum of Art, McCain Auditorium, and the attorneys office. He manages $4.5 million in federal funds for academic programs at Fort Leavenworth on behalf of K-State. And he has been the safety officer of K-State's Flying Club for more than 30 years. In addition to all his administrative duties, he has continued his research work over the years and he certainly is one of our university's most eminent scholars."
His aviation experience spans four decades and includes thousands of safely-flown hours as a certified flight instructor, King Air and Citation Jet captain with four trans-Atlantic flights. He has civilian orientation flights in the F-4, F-15 and F16. Reagan serves on the National Business Aircraft Association Safety Committee because of his extensive experience in the training and transportation environments.
Ken Barnard, aviation faculty member at K-State at Salina, nominated Reagan for the award. He credits Reagan for the development of the aviation program at K-State and the purchase of K-State's aviation fleet, which now numbers more than 40 aircraft.
"Dr. Reagan was instrumental in finalizing a proposed Department of Defense grant to purchase $5 million new Beechcraft aircraft at a time when general aviation new aircraft orders were at an all time low point," Barnard said.
"His expertise in air transportation coupled with his 'executive to the president' position at Kansas State University provided the tipping point influence with then Sen. Bob Dole. Dr. Reagan's leadership in meeting the political requirements for awarding K-State the $7.7 million DOD equipment grant became a reality in 1991."
Reagan became principal investigator for the grant and took the position of interim aviation department head while Barnard administered the grant purchase details.
In a letter supporting Reagan's nomination for the award, Dennis Kuhlman, dean of K-State at Salina, which has the state's only FAA-approved aviation program, said, "Dr. Reagan is a tireless supporter of Kansas aviation, using his expertise, contacts and personal energies to create and promote opportunities that support Kansas aviation.
"The quality of the aviation program of Kansas State University is recognized as top-five status in the United States," Kuhlman said. "This recognition is due to the tireless efforts of Dr. Charles Reagan in his support, development and enhancement of Kansas State University and Kansas aviation."
Barnard said the improvements Reagan made put the program on a national level, but he wanted to capitalize on the industry movement to regional jets.
"His vision was to somehow obtain a jet for the program. Without grant aid or state funds available he personally took the initiative to raise private funds to lease a Citation Jet for Kansas State University," Barnard said.
"Dr. Reagan now manages the air transportation scheduling for the university as an extra duty. What makes this transportation operation unique in the nation is the right seat of the aircraft is held open for our professional pilot students."
K-State at Salina professional pilot students get experience flying the C90 and CE525 Jet. Students have the opportunity to fly about 30 hours in this capacity. K-State is one of only a few universities in the world providing this experience, Barnard said.
"And, it is all directly contributable to Dr. Reagan's untiring efforts," he added. "We have seen airline internships triple in the last 10 years, and the quality of graduates has manifested itself into priority hiring by several regional airlines. This unique transportation experience for K-State at Salina students has become the capstone course for our professional pilot program and has proven the best validation to our assessment and accreditation process."
A tenured professor in the philosophy department, Reagan is a biographer and expert on French philosopher Paul Ricoeur. Reagan was a longtime friend of Ricoeur's and has written extensively about the noted philosopher, who died in 2005. Reagan's work includes the biography, "Paul Ricoeur: His Life and His Work," published in 1996 by the University of Chicago Press.
A 1964 graduate of Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass., Reagan received a master's degree from the University of Kansas and, in 1967, became the first person to earn a doctorate in philosophy from KU. His dissertation was on Ricoeur's first work. Fluent in French, Reagan has been a student and a teacher in Paris, and served as a Fulbright visiting professor at the University of Toulouse in France. Reagan grew up in Wichita and graduated from Kapaun High School.