‘He is an institution’: Students and colleagues remember longtime aerospace engineering instructor Calvin Walker

Contact: Chris Whitaker

STARKVILLE, Miss. —Mississippi State’s Bagley College of Engineering is mourning Calvin Walker, a longtime instructor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, who died Sunday, Sept. 27. He was 61.

“For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him, Calvin brought warmth, kindness, humor and generosity to our community,” said Department Head Rani Sullivan. “His absence will be deeply felt.”

Walker was best known for investing fully in his students and colleagues. After his time as a senior flight test engineer at MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, he became a full-time instructor in 2015 and served as faculty advisor to Team Xipiter, MSU’s student unmanned aircraft design team.

“To many in Xipiter, especially the executives, Calvin was a mentor and even a friend,” said Evan Morris, MSU senior and president of Xipiter. “His door was always open to students, and he would freely listen to whatever problems we brought to his door. The loss of his guidance is a loss for the entire department.”

Austin Hoff, a graduate student and former avionics lead for Xipiter, said Walker’s encouragement kept him going, even in the toughest of times.

“I was struggling academically to the point where failing even a single course could have delayed my graduation by multiple semesters,” Hoff said. “Rather than allowing me to face that challenge alone, he helped me develop an academic plan and guided me through the steps necessary to move forward. His support and mentorship had a profound impact on my education and, ultimately, on my ability to graduate with my bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. I dedicated that accomplishment to him because I would not have reached that point without his guidance and belief in me.”

Growing up, Walker always loved airplanes. After receiving a pamphlet from MSU’s aerospace engineering program, he decided he wanted to design the next airplane. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from MSU in 1988 and 2006, respectively.

He later passed that passion on to his students, including Rachel McFalls-Brown, a former U.S. Air Force flight test engineer who is now a senior flight test engineer at Joby Aviation and a member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers board of directors.

“Calvin Walker is so much more than just a professor. He is an institution,” she said. “He was the first flight tester I ever met and my first experience to SFTE. Calvin always knew how to connect with students, and we couldn’t get enough. I took every single class he offered. … It is a great loss for us all.”

Walker taught four core aerospace engineering courses and developed three specialized courses in advanced performance, unmanned aircraft and flight test engineering.

Sullivan said he expanded the curriculum and gave students more opportunities to explore specialized areas of aerospace engineering.

He was a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and belonged to three other organizations, including the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International.

Walker’s impact on students went far beyond the classroom.

“He was a teacher who cared about you, believed in you and took the time to help you succeed,” Sullivan said in a message to students. “He made a lasting impression on the students he taught, and his kindness and presence were an important part of our community.”

Dean Dave Ford said Walker earned something few faculty members do.

“As a faculty member, it’s not easy to be both well-liked and highly respected,” he said. “Mr. Walker was both, due to his combination of technical knowledge and genuine desire to help people succeed. His passing is a major loss for the college.”

Colleagues also remembered him as a friend.

“Good friends are rare and hard to find,” said Machaunda Bush, aerospace engineering program coordinator. “Calvin was an incredible colleague, a brilliant mentor to our students and an exceptional listener. His deep knowledge and absolute passion for aerospace and aviation were truly inspiring. More than anything, he loved sharing that wisdom and supporting our students. I will miss him dearly.”

Students may leave flowers, cards and other mementos at Walker’s office, 315 Walker Hall.

A reception in Walker’s memory will be held at 2 p.m. Friday [Oct. 2] in 123 Walker Hall. Two counselors will be available to meet with students.

Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. Saturday [Oct. 3] at Lee-Sykes Funeral Home in Columbus.

The Department of Aerospace Engineering is online at www.ae.msstate.edu and can be found on LinkedIn.

The Bagley College of Engineering is online at www.bagley.msstate.edu and can be found on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube at @msuengineering.

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