Dr. Ömer Yıldız, who recently joined the Department of Aerospace Engineering, combines academic expertise with extensive industry experience. With over 30 years of leadership roles in the defense and transportation (aviation and railways) sectors, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his academic position. Most recently, he served as the Executive Vice President for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) at Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. for approximately seven years. Between 2007 and 2016, he held the roles of General Manager and Chairman of the Board at the Turkish State Railways and Metro Istanbul. Additionally, from 1997 to 2016, he served as Deputy General Manager for Metro Istanbul and affiliated companies under the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. During this period, he assumed leadership roles in various governmental authorities in Turkey and extended services under his management to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Pakistan, and Niger, among others. Before his professional career, Dr. Yıldız contributed to academia, holding various positions in both the United States and Turkey.
Dr. Yıldız earned his Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) in 1995, his M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1988, and his B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering from ITU's Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1982.
