Aviation Safety Conference

The annual Safety Conference hosted by Kent State University's College of Aeronautics and Engineering connects students and aeronautics industry experts in an evening event of lecture, discussion, and Q&A. 

The 2026 Safety Conference will be held on Thursday, April 23, from 5-7 p.m. in the Aeronautics and Engineering Building room AEB 170.

This event is free and open to the public.

Schedule

5 p.m. - Hors d'oeuvres in the Timken Atrium

5:30 p.m. - Opening Remarks by John Skipper Hile, retired 737 Captain SWA, A&P IA

6 p.m. - Keynote Speaker: Dr. Susan Northrup, FAA Surgeon General

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Susan E. Northrup serves as the Federal Air Surgeon for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, leading the Office of Aerospace Medicine and overseeing all FAA medical programs for pilots and air traffic control specialists.

A retired U.S. Air Force colonel and private pilot, she is board certified in both aerospace and occupational medicine and has authored research on accident investigation, pilot sleep aids, and cabin air quality.

Dr. Northrup brings decades of expertise to the intersection of aviation safety and human performance — from FAA medical certification policy to aerospace research and accident investigation.