 "Photo: Chelsy Lueth")
Dennis Kuhlman grew up in Lakin, Kan. — a small town about 200 miles west of Wichita. His prowess as an engineer was clear. Passionate about cars and mechanics, Kuhlman progressed through high school with little interest in higher education. However, parental influence altered his plans as a teenager, and ultimately changing his life.
“My parents told me that when I got out of high school that I had to go to at least one year of college,” he said. “If they had not basically forced me to go to college, I probably would not have gone.”
K-State was Kuhlman’s school of choice and because of his interests, he chose to major in agricultural engineering.
At the time of his graduation from K-State, he said it was the “height of the Vietnam era.”
A mid-range draft board number forced Kuhlman into a holding pattern. Too high to avoid going to Vietnam, and too low to be immediately deployed, Kuhlman found himself unable to find a job. This problem led him to graduate school.
Deep into his research — after about 11 months into K-State’s graduate program — Kuhlman’s draft number was called. With tests running 24 hours a day, being forced to leave school would render his research useless.
Then, there came a fork in the road for Kuhlman; he had the option of delaying his deployment, or leaving immediately and leaving his research unfinished.
Kuhlman chose to enlist in the Navy in a 120-day delayed deployment program, which allowed him to finish all of his research without writing his thesis. At the time, Kuhlman said enlisting in the Navy might not have seemed like the greatest option for himself.
“I absolutely hate the ocean,” he said. “So from a personal perspective, that was probably not one of the smarter decisions I’ve made in my life. But it worked out just fine.”
Kuhlman entered a program dealing with anti-submarine warfare technology, which included aviation and engineering technology aspects. He embraced opportunities to advance his education while serving.
“Uncle Sam’s paying for it,” he said. “I don’t have a choice but to be there. So, take advantage of every opportunity that comes up.”
As a result, Kuhlman became a certified sonar and radar operator. He was certified to do carrier landings as a pilot and co-pilot. Kuhlman grew to be a seasoned pilot while making frequent use of a flight trainer. Even though he was in the midst of a “great time” in the Navy, Kuhlman and his wife mutually decided it was time for him to leave the Navy and finish his master’s degree.
After returning to Manhattan, Kuhlman finished his master’s. He worked several jobs and received his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State before he came across a position announcement for dean at K-State-Salina. Another fork in the road had arrived.
The Arrival
Kuhlman became dean in 1997. He was the second dean of the newly reborn college. Formerly called the Kansas College of Technology, the College of Technology and Aviation at the K-State-Salina campus had been part of K-State since a 1991 merger with the university. He immediately faced one of his biggest challenges as dean — shifting the culture of the university and acclimating faculty members to the K-State structure.
Kuhlman said making the transition and getting people to understand the processes and procedures was “a tremendous challenge.”
An Unseen Direction
As time passed, Kuhlman settled into his role as dean. Then, the largest domestic terrorist attack in the history of the United States created sizable issues for the college.
“9/11 severely impacted aviation and technology,” he said. Kuhlman said because of the “big hit” engineering technology took, many Silicon Valley companies in California went bankrupt right after after the terrorist attacks.
He said aviation and technology are K-State-Salina’s two main programs, so enrollment naturally follows some of those cycles.
The college’s status as the only remote institution of K-State puts it under a magnifying glass in terms of enrollment, Kuhlman said. The narrowness of programs also had an effect.
This issue has helped facilitate greater program offerings at Salina. A degree program in family studies and human services is in its second year, and the College of Education has begun offering certain master’s and Ph.D. programs in Salina as well.
“We are working together with main campus to really broaden so that we can more fully utilize what we have here,” he said.
Growth has not been limited to academic programs. The new Student Life Center opened Nov. 5 and forms the focal point of more changes that Kuhlman hopes to make.
The Cat Cannon, operated by students from K-State-Salina, has become a mainstay at K-State football games. Flight teams and the Women in Aviation program continue to perform at high-levels, Kuhlman said.
“I think our students are taking advantage of those opportunities, and our faculty are encouraging our students to be involved,” he said.
In 2004, Kuhlman and Tim Rogers of the Salina Airport Authority collaborated to help bring Steve Fossett and the GlobalFlyer mission to K-State-Salina. The mission, a nonstop solo flight around the world, involved K-State-Salina and the city of Salina, and was sponsored by Sir Richard Branson, chairman of the Virgin Group.
Four pilot students and eight students from the college’s aviation maintenance program were able to directly assist with Fossett’s flight, which went from Feb. 28 to March 3 in 2005. The GlobalFlyer is now housed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. It carries a special distinction, Kuhlman noted.
“It has the Powercat of K-State-Salina permanently affixed to the fuselage,” he said. “As far as I know it’s the only Powercat in the Smithsonian system. And I don’t think there’s a Jayhawk in the Smithsonian; at least, I haven’t found it.”
Brian Koester, K-State-Salina student body president and senior in professional pilot, said Kuhlman’s qualifications for being dean are perfect.
“From his engineering background to his aviation background, he is very adamant about working with the students and very helpful,” Koester said. “His vision for the campus has been phenomenal, he has been the driving force between the new Student Life Center. He’s been great for our campus.”
Past successes at navigating tough decisions provide confidence for faculty at K-State-Salina about the college’s future.
“Absolutely he is the right person,” said Kurt Barnhart, department head and professor of aviation. “He has a solid experience basis. He leads well, and he’s open to new ideas.”
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