Topic: Aviation/Air Safety/Aerospace

Tanya Bulleigh is an affiliate professor in the Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She currently works as a ground controller at the Johnson Space Center for the government contractor KBR Careers. She also is a commercial airline pilot for United Airlines.

Her areas of specialization include both aviation and aerospace. Bulleigh was an instructor at Johnson Space Center on the space shuttle where she trained astronauts and mission control personnel in console operations including monitoring commands and data relay throughout the satellite network. She had responsibility for all aspects of the Shuttle Communications and Command and Telemetry relays for in-flight operations, monitoring, analysis, troubleshooting, and rule and procedural development.

Bulleigh previously flew for Trans States Airlines. She is a flight instructor, providing flight instruction for private, instrument and commercial and multi-engine students. She does some part time corporate flying. She has served as head coach of the precision flight team for MSU Denver which competes in the NIFA (National Intercollegiate Flying Association) organization against more than 80 other universities nationally. The flight team won the coveted Loening Trophy for the 2010-2011 season. The trophy is awarded to the nation’s best aviation program and flight team.

She is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for Spaceport Colorado and serves as the vice president on the board of directors for the Colorado General Aviation Alliance. Bulleigh has a doctoral degree in aviation and aerospace science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She earned her master’s degree in physics from the University of Houston and her Bachelor of Science degree in aviation management from Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Tyler Bachelder, M.S., is an associate professor in the Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science at Metropolitan State University. He specializes in technologically advanced aircraft, flight training, simulator and ground school instruction.

Bachelder worked as an affiliate instructor and production technical specialist at Jeppesen Sanderson in Englewood, Colorado from 2011-2016. As a production technical specialist, Bachelder worked in the Approach and Airport Charting Group where he managed the completion and delivery of time sensitive aeronautical data for airports around the globe, developed product specifications, and solved product and workflow problems. At MSU Denver, Bachelder works primarily as a technical faculty member, teaching ground school classes for students working towards a variety of certificates, ratings and flight simulator classes held in the World Indoor Airport lab. Recently, he has been focused on developing engaging and interactive online content to suit the learning styles of millennial and Gen Z students. Additionally, he is an active flight instructor with Aspen Flying Club at Centennial Airport.

He volunteers with Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles Rallies and Craig Flight flying events. He introduces future MSU Denver students (ages 8-17) to aviation with flights around Denver, and patients at Craig Hospital a similar introductory flight and exposure to all facets of aviation.

Bachelder received his master’s of science in aviation and a bachelor’s in flight education and commercial aviation from University of North Dakota. He is a FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) on aircraft with single engine and multi-engines and flight instruments, and a certified FAA advanced and instrument ground instructor.