Department of Aerospace Studies

Lt Col Gary Priest, Department Head
Department of Aerospace Studies / AFROTC
DePuy Military Hall Room 100, Box 2236
605-688-6106

Faculty

Professors

Gary Priest

Assistant Professors

Mark Donahue, Ken Olson, Vanity Deleon Guerrero

Overview

The Department of Aerospace Studies prepares students for leadership roles as commissioned officers in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force.  The department is home to Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 780 at South Dakota State University,  which has a long and distinguished history of developing leaders who serve with distinction in the Air Force, Space Force, and civilian professions.  The AFROTC program is open to students in all majors and provides leadership education, professional development, and officership preparation while developing management, communication, and critical thinking skills applicable to a wide range of professional fields. Students who meet eligibility requirements and successfully compete for an enrollment allocation during their sophomore year may continue into advanced training leading to a commission.

Programs

Minors

• Aerospace Studies Minor  

Facilities and Services

The department’s administrative offices are located in Room 100, DePuy Military Hall at SDSU’s main campus in Brookings, South Dakota.

Student Support and Engagement Opportunities

AFROTC scholarships are available for qualified undergraduate students. These scholarships pay full tuition and fees at SDSU, $900 per year for textbooks, and a monthly stipend ranging from $300 to $500 per month. All students in the Professional Officer Course (POC) are under contract with AFROTC and qualify for a monthly stipend ranging from $450 to $500. Professional Officer Course cadets are also eligible to receive the Brigadier General Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA) which covers tuition and fees up to $18,000 per year, provided they have a passing fitness score and meet certain GPA requirements. All tuition scholarships and the CMLA may be converted into a housing scholarship.  Additionally, fifty-percent tuition credit for non-scholarship POC cadets is available to South Dakota residents through a program sponsored by the South Dakota Board of Regents. Contact the department for more information regarding any of these opportunities.

In addition to military and academic training, students have opportunities to travel, connect with veterans, and serve the local community.

• Officer Development - Opportunities at various Air Force and Space Force bases and locations throughout the United States and abroad.
• Paid summer internships at locations such as Air Force Research Labs and Lawrence Livermore Labs.
• Project Go - Scholarships to study critical languages through on-line and in-residence programs both in the US and abroad.
• Bataan Memorial March – Cadets travel to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to participate in a marathon-length ruck march to commemorate the 1942 Bataan Death March.
• Flyin’ Irish ROTC Basketball Tournament - Cadets take an annual trip to the University of Notre Dame and compete in a basketball tournament with other ROTC detachments from across the country.
• Color Guard - Cadets have the opportunity to learn about proper flag etiquette and provide color guards for athletic events, commencement ceremonies, and several other events in the area. 
• Veterans Vigil - Cadets guard the Brookings Veterans Memorial to honor America’s military members on Veterans Day.