A Cal Poly College of Engineering research facility has been named for U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano.

The college recently unveiled and dedicated the Hon. Grace F. Napolitano Wind Tunnel Complex and two named wind tunnels in Building 13, according to a news release on Cal Poly’s website.  The honor recognized Napolitano’s support of the aerospace engineering department and the college.

The 38^th District congresswoman helped get the school $5 million in federal funding in the past six years, including the subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels and other aerospace labs and equipment, according to the news release.  Napolitano also supported Cal Poly’s partnership with the U.S. Air Force, which provided the wind tunnels and other laboratory equipment on a long-term loan for academic and research projects. 

“Concepts come to life through experimentation,” said Greg Jelic, president of the student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. “We are able to see concepts firsthand through these wind tunnels.”

Michael Ortiz, the university’s president, said the wind tunnels help give Cal Poly students a way to put what they learn in the classroom to practical use in the real world once they are on the job. 

“We believe we are key to the economic revitalization of California,” Ortiz said.

Ali Ahmadi, the department chair, said the new wind tunnels replaced 40-year-old equipment and were made to aid the aerospace engineering department’s academic and research needs.