The interview was off to a rocky start. Or at least the Zoom connection was.
While I was troubleshooting frozen screens and audio glitches, Kevin Kelly had already shifted into problem-solving mode. He suggested alternatives, tested possibilities and methodically worked through solutions.
Within minutes, the issue was resolved.
It was a fitting introduction to an engineer whose career has been defined by curiosity and a relentless pursuit of answers.
“A typical day ends in ‘why?’” said Kelly, research manager at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). “That’s about all that each day has in common.”
For more than 20 years, Kelly has been asking that question at WSU’s Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel, where he has grown from a student worker into one of the facility’s leaders.