Student in Biological Systems Engineering is Piloting Blackhawk Helicopter in Support of Nebraska Flood Recovery

Biological Systems Engineering student pilots Blackhawk helicopter in support of Nebraska flood recovery
Biological Systems Engineering student pilots Blackhawk helicopter in support of Nebraska flood recovery

Galen Kreifels, a Mechanized Systems Management student, has been hard at work helping Nebraska in flood recovery. He has been piloting a Blackhawk helicopter, and hauling 1.5-ton sandbags, in support of missions to reinforce river levees and protect the City of Lincoln water well field near the Platte River. Galen is a senior in the department, and also a helicopter pilot for the Nebraska National Guard. Galen has a passion for aviation, which became apparent when he was awarded a UCARE project and joined the NU-AIRE unmanned aircraft laboratory to research and develop a UAV enabled water quality sampling system. His UCARE research project has gone global, by gaining the attention and interest of water quality scientists in New Zealand. Galen will be graduating in May and plans to relocate to Blair, Nebraska, where he will continue the pursuit of his aviation career, with a strong academic underpinning from his MSYM degree program. Salute to Galen for his service in helping Nebraska recover from the recent extreme flooding and best wishes upon graduation in May.


Photo courtesy of the Nebraska National Guard.