Mathew Lewallen
Tenure Track Assistant Professor
Department(s)
Bachelor of Science (BS), Aeronautics: Professional Pilot, Bachelor of Science (BS), Aerospace Management, Bachelor of Technology (BT), Aeronautics: Aviation Maintenance Management, College of Science and MathematicsCredentials
2023 MS Space Studies (Aerospace Science), American Military University
2022 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Leadership Training, Kapaun AB Germany
2022 Combat Airspace Air Operation Center School, Hurlburt Field Florida
2022 Senior Enlisted Joint Education Course, Ramstein AB Germany
2021 EUCARF Technician Training, Ramstein AB Germany
2021 ATC Airspace Liaison Training, Al Dhafra AB UAE
2020 AS & BS Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2019 Manager, Training and Standardization, Shaw AFB South Carolina
2019 ATC Training Instructor Course, Shaw AFB South Carolina
2018 AS Air Traffic Operations and Management, Community College of the Air Force
2018 Manager, Compliance/Standards/Evaluation, Laughlin AFB Texas
2018 Airman Leadership School, Good Fellow AFB Texas
2017 Watch Supervisor Training Course, Laughlin AFB Texas
2017 Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS) Administrator, Keesler AFB Mississippi
2017 Airfield Operations Systems Specialist Course, Keesler AFB Mississippi
2017 Air Traffic Control Craftsman Course, Laughlin AFB Texas
2014 Air Traffic Control Apprentice School, Keesler AFB Mississippi
About Mathew Lewallen
Mathew Lewallen served as an Air Traffic Controller in the United States Air Force, holding multiple radar approach control and airspace liaison positions across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Atlantic. His career includes leadership in multinational airspace coordination, mission planning, and aviation safety operations supporting joint and allied missions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, a Master of Science in Space Studies (Aerospace Science), and is completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation at Liberty University. His current dissertation research is on latency and workload in integrated air and space traffic management. He joins Charleston Southern University with more than a decade of experience in air traffic control, aerospace operations, and research on the future of global airspace integration.
"To me, it's a requirement to meet each student exactly where they are and equip them to lead in a field that requires both technical skill and integrity. In aviation, the purpose is never abstract, it’s the difference between safe skies and chaotic skies. My role at CSU is to translate this reality into education, which means to teach students to see air traffic control, aerospace operations, and aviation management as callings that demand precision, discipline, and ethical leadership. My mission is to help them find their own purpose in this dynamic field, to think globally, act responsibly, and carry themselves with the standards that keep airspace safe for everyone."
Awards
2025 Meritorious Service Medal
2021 Air & Space Commendation Medal
2021 Air Force Commendation Medal
2020 Summa Cum Laude
2019 Air Force Commendation Medal
2017 Air Force Achievement Medal
Signature Experiences
Led international airspace operations for U.S., NATO, and allied forces across Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic, ensuring safe and efficient multinational flight coordination.
Managed 28 Ukraine emergency airlift corridors spanning 64,000 miles, reducing coordination timelines by 90% and saving over 620 flight hours.
Oversaw 1.6 million square miles of Middle Eastern airspace, supporting more than 8,700 combat and humanitarian sorties across 15 nations.
Planned and managed 560 Special Use Airspaces and 32 operational zones over Bagram Airfield during the Afghanistan withdrawal, enabling the safe retrograde of 3,500 personnel and $17.6 billion in equipment.
Prevented a mid-air collision outside radar coverage between two F-18s and an A330, saving 330 lives and $374 million in aircraft assets.
Directed 24-hour air traffic surveillance during a NATO summit in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service to secure presidential airspace.
Modernized air traffic training programs at Shaw AFB, increasing controller certification rates by 61% and maintaining full operational readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Developed and instructed a 40-hour international airspace management course for NATO and partner-nation teams, improving interoperability and safety standards.
Applied doctoral research in human factors and risk mitigation to support NASA climate research missions through international airspace coordination.
Recent Scholarly Work & Publications
Community Acceptance of “Over-People” Drone Flights, GlobalAir.com (Oct 2025). Policy analysis examining acoustic and visual perception challenges for small UAS operations under FAA Part 107.
Transforming Aerospace Operations by Integrating ATM, ETM, and STM, Global Airspace Radar (Oct 2025). Framework for unifying air and space traffic management through NASA SDI and FAA TraCSS integration.
Houses & People Have Already Been Hit by Space Debris and Planes Could Be Next, GlobalAir.com (Aug 2025). Investigative article on orbital reentry hazards, risk modeling, and FAA/ICAO policy implications for civil aviation.
FAA’s New Air Traffic Control Pathway: How CTO-P Fast-Tracks Careers, Global Air (Aug 2025). Review of the FAA’s Control Tower Operator Partnership Program and its role in alleviating controller shortages.
Integrating ATM and STM Is Revolutionizing Aerospace Safety, Global Airspace Radar (Aug 2025). Discussion on data fusion and real-time coordination tools bridging air and space traffic systems.
Sleepwalking into Risk: Managing Traffic Above 60,000 Feet, SpaceNews (Jul 2025). Strategic framework for high-altitude traffic management between aviation and commercial spaceflight operations.
No Man’s Airspace: Why Our Skies Aren’t Ready for the Space Boom, SpaceNews (Apr 2025). Analysis of policy gaps between sovereign airspace and outer space in emerging commercial flight regimes.
A Proposal for a New System for Air Traffic to Accommodate Spacecraft Launches, M.S. Capstone, American Military University (Aug 2023). Research proposing quantitative integration of spacecraft operations within the NAS.
NextGen Solutions to U.S. Airspace Congestion, Amazon Kindle Direct (Feb 2024). Examination of FAA NextGen technologies for improving national airspace efficiency and reducing congestion.