The Wind Tunnel University WTU Missions and Vision

Langley Research Center (LaRC) has recently inaugurated the Langley Wind Tunnel University (WTU) with the focus of sustaining and growing the competencies necessary to improve the Wind Tunnel Enterprise (WTE). The mission of the Langley WTU is: To self-sustain and grow competencies of the Wind Tunnel staff and to create a culture of excellence in wind tunnel technology and operations through research and shared teaching/training/mentoring and learning amongst the constituents of the Wind Tunnel Enterprise. The Langley WTU vision is to become a corporate university with just-in-time training and learning that assists in meeting WTE strategic goals and day-to-day goals by providing skill acquisition where necessary. This concept is substantially different than typical training that is not integrated with strategic and day-to-day work. The culture change required to achieve this type of training paradigm is large, nor is this something the WTE will accomplish quickly. When this vision of the corporate university is fulfilled, the WTE will have become a true learning organization.