Tanner Chase receives Aviation Week Network 20 Twenties award

Tanner Chase, a senior majoring in computer engineering and a concurrent master’s student at Utah State University, has been named a class of 2026 recipient of the 20 Twenties award from Aviation Week Network.​     ​

The national program highlights 20 students each year whose technical achievements and leadership show strong potential to influence the future of aviation, aerospace and defense.

“The idea behind the 20 Twenties program is that Aviation Week Network is trying to identify individuals in their early twenties that they feel could potentially change the course of the aviation or aerospace defense sectors,” Chase said.

Chase said the honor reflects the collaborative nature of research and engineering work rather than a solo accomplishment.

“This recognition doesn’t feel like necessarily an individual recognition, even though it is,” Chase said. “There are a lot of people who have gotten me to the place that I am today and helped with the work that I do and moving that forward, especially my team.”​     ​

Since arriving in Logan, Chase has been involved in high-level research at the Space Dynamics Laboratory, where student engineers contribute directly to active aerospace projects.

“Some work that I’m doing at Space Dynamics Laboratory is where I work on novel techniques for advanced flight control,” Chase said.

He joined the SDL early in his college career after gaining industry experience.​     ​

“I started as a freshman, started right after I moved to Logan from the Kansas City area, where I just finished an internship with Oracle,” Chase said. “I knew they were out here. I submitted a couple of applications and was fortunate enough to be brought on and have been with them ever since.”

According to Tom Bernhardt, a program manager at SDL, Chase quickly demonstrated the technical ability to handle assignments typically reserved for more experienced engineers.

“We would give him some pretty complex tasks on par with engineers that have been with the company for three to four years or even longer, and he was very successful at completing those tasks,” Bernhardt said. “He’s only the second person that I’ve seen hired at SDL right out of high school.”

Bernhardt said Chase’s approach to engineering is defined by curiosity, discipline and collaboration.

“You have to be very curious and really dig down to the details,” Bernhardt said. “He works hard, and he’s a pleasure to be around. Everybody loves working with Tanner, and everybody wants Tanner on their team.”

The recognition also brings national attention to Utah State and its research partnerships, Bernhardt said.

“It’s great for the Space Dynamics Laboratory, but really, it’s also reflective of Utah State University,” Bernhardt said. “Even though we’re a small college up in Logan, Utah, it does show that we can compete across the nation.”

Chase said his interest in engineering continues to drive his academic and professional goals.

“Engineering is just really cool,” Chase said. “The work that I’m doing at SDL can really have an impact, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors.”

After graduation in May, Chase will remain at the SDL in a full-time role.

“We continue to expect him to do great things for us,” Bernhardt said.

Chase said he remains focused on growth and innovation as he looks ahead.

“Right now, I think I just want to kind of keep learning, keep building these cool systems, these important systems, and keep innovating,” Chase said.