MAE alums honored for exceptional achievements

By Elizabeth Egan 

Gordon received the Distinguished Career Award, recognizing an outstanding MAE alum 20 years or more after completing their bachelor’s degree.

Gordon’s 45-year (and counting) aerospace career spans significant contributions to industry, the United States Air Force, and tireless volunteer work in aerospace advocacy and engagement.

In his civilian career, Gordon held key positions at four local companies. He worked at Falcon R&D, where his work involved studies and modeling for advanced military aircraft and weapons systems. He then went to Sierra Research, where he served as a lead engineer for development and flight test of the Automatic Flight Inspection System (AFIS) in the C-29A aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. He later went on to hold business development positions at Calspan and the Moog Space and Defense Group, where he focused on strategic systems and hypersonics.

Gordon’s military service culminated in command of the 328 Airlift Squadron. He was a deployed commander during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, followed by Vice Commander then Commander of the 914th Airlift Wing. His earlier service included deployment for Desert Shield/Storm, where he was able to support the C-294 in the field and fly numerous combat-support missions in the C-130. Gordon also held positions at the Air University, the Air Force Studies and Analyses Agency and U.S. Strategic Command.

Still deeply involved in aerospace advocacy, Gordon has held positions in and continues to serve the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Niagara Frontier Section, the Aero Club of Buffalo, the Niagara Frontier Aviation and Space Hall of Fame and the Niagara Aerospace Museum.

Over the course of his career, Gordon received many awards, including the AIAA Sustained Service Award in 2023 and 21 different military decorations. He is also an associate fellow of AIAA.

Gordon earned a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from UB in 1993 and 1980, respectively, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Air Force Air War College.

Cheetham has received the 2025 Career Achievement Award, recognizing an outstanding MAE alum up to 20 years after earning their bachelor’s degree.

In 2011, Cheetham founded Advanced Space LLC, where he has developed numerous technologies that enable space flight to the moon and beyond.

Under Cheetham’s leadership, Advanced Space successfully developed, and is currently operating, the first privately owned commercial satellite to operate on the moon, known as CAPSTONE.

The satellite became an integral part of NASA’s Artemis program and is a demonstrator for several technologies, including assessment of the planned orbit for NASA’s Luna Gateway space station and the CAPS navigation system. CAPSTONE successfully completed its initial mission to provide valuable data and insight for future lunar operations.

He is also passionate about supporting future generations of engineers. Cheetham holds a position as the chairman of the Future Space Leaders Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors for the International Astronautical Federation, Bridge Entrepreneurs Network and on the Board of Advisors for Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). As a student, Cheetham founded the UB chapter of SEDS that remains active on campus today.

Over the course of his career Cheetham has received numerous awards, including the 2022 AIAA Small Satellite Mission of the Year Award for his work with CAPSTONE and the 2019 AIAA Rochy Mountain Young Professional Engineer of the Year Award. Cheetham also owns a patent in leveraging multi-body methods to develop fuel efficient transfer orbits.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering at UB, Cheetham went on to earn his master’s and PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Gordon and Cheetham will be presented with the awards at a formal awards presentation in May.