This creates a need for control systems that can prevent overheating. “The challenge is that there is not just one heat source; there are many, and it is not always easy to get this heat out of the aircraft,” Koeln said. In addition to the Office of Naval Research award, Koeln has received support for his control systems research from Northrop Grumman Corp., which hired three of his students as interns this past summer. Koeln also sponsored two UTDesign Senior Capstone Program projects to develop small-scale thermal management systems, which he uses in his lab. Koeln said he developed an interest in aerospace engineering as an undergraduate and student researcher at Utah State University.