Speaker

Mike Leasure

Michael Leasure has been involved in the aviation community for over 44 years. His interest in aviation began at an early age. He first published an original design model aircraft in 1984 while attending Purdue University as a Freshman in Aviation Technology. Over the subsequent years, he achieved many more milestones in his aviation career, including a private pilot's license with experience in aerobatics, complex aircraft, and tailwheel operations. He also earned an airframe and powerplant license with inspection authorization. The last decade of his aviation activities have been devoted primarily to unmanned aircraft design, construction, pilotage, and development. He has over 15 years’ experience in field deployment of unmanned agricultural aircraft (remote sensing) where he has served as operator, observer, and technician. He is currently an associate professor at Purdue University in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology teaching 2 courses in unmanned aerial systems. He also serves as the unmanned aerial facilitator at the BECK agricultural center in West Lafayette. His ongoing efforts include supporting research, teaching, developing, and flying fixed wing and multirotor autonomous aircraft.