Mathew Lewallen

About Mathew Lewallen

I’m an aviation operations leader with experience overseeing complex international flight operations, airspace negotiations, and aviation policy. My career has spanned multiple continents and conflict zones, with roles ranging from air traffic control crew supervisor to managing international altitude reservations across NATO, U.S, and partner nation airspaces. I’ve led global operations from Ramstein Air Base to the Middle East, ensuring mission success for presidential movements, humanitarian airlifts, and combat support missions.Throughout my career, I’ve developed and led airspace integration programs, authored training protocols used across three continents, and brokered international agreements that enabled NASA missions, major evacuations, and large-scale military withdrawals. My leadership helped prevent a mid-air collision between two fighter jets and a commercial airliner outside radar coverage (saving 330 lives and $374 million).I’ve been embedded with the U.S. Secret Service for presidential airspace security, negotiated multinational air corridors under crisis timelines, and built systems that streamlined cross-agency coordination across 39 partner nations. I’ve managed multimillion-dollar training and sustainment budgets, led technical evaluations of NextGen ATC systems, and trained teams in cutting-edge command-and-control operations.My academic foundation includes an ongoing Ph.D. in Aviation, a master’s degree in Aerospace Science, a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics, and multiple certifications in leadership, AI, and project management. My research focuses on integrating commercial space launches into traditional airspace, a critical issue as aerospace and aviation systems converge.In addition to policy and operational work, I bring a deep background in data analytics (Python, R, Tableau, ArcGIS), technical web development (TypeScript, React, Next.js), and interdisciplinary collaboration across government, military, academic, and industry stakeholders.Now that I have transitioned out of the military, I’m looking to apply my expertise in a leadership role that shapes the future of aviation, whether through strategic airspace planning, airport infrastructure, aerospace integration, or aviation safety. My goal is to develop collaborative, future-ready systems that foster economic growth, national security, and global connectivity.

Experience

1. Assistant Professor of Aeronautics

   Charleston Southern University

   Nov 2025 — Present · Charleston, SC, US

Education

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  Associate of Science - AS, Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General

• American Military University

  Master of Science - MS, Space Studies - Aerospace Science

• Liberty University

  Doctor of Science, Aviation

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General

• Community College of the Air Force

  Associate of Science - AS, Air Traffic Operations and Management