Koos Maddock

Koos Maddock’s fascination with space exploration led him to pursue aerospace engineering. To immerse himself in the field and gain valuable experience, Maddock chose to attend the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, where he was a student in Barrett, the Honors College and participated in an array of programs and extracurricular activities.

Many of these activities involved serving communities around the world, which he believes makes the engineering field more fulfilling. Maddock participated in ASU’s Engineering Projects in Community Service, or EPICS, chapter, where he developed a wind tunnel to enhance engineering education, and in Engineers Without Borders, where he contributed to a project that created recycling technology for plastic waste in Ethiopia.

“Traveling to Ethiopia to implement the system, collaborate with local stakeholders and see our work make a real impact was an incredible experience,” he says. “It reinforced my passion for engineering solutions with global impact.”

Much of Maddock’s work helping others through engineering was due to his involvement in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program, or GCSP. Grand Challenges Scholars aim to tackle one of the 14 Grand Challenges of Engineering from the National Academy of Engineering while focusing on one of five themes, from which Maddock chose sustainability.

“My GCSP experiences pushed me to think beyond technical problem-solving and consider the societal and environmental impact of engineering solutions,” he says.

Maddock credits much of his success to Werner Dahm, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the Fulton Schools. He says Dahm’s knowledge of aerospace engineering helped him refine his skills and deepen his understanding of the field.

After graduation, Maddock will return to ASU to receive his master’s degree in aerospace engineering through the Accelerated Master’s degree program. Over the course of his career, he aspires to develop sustainable propulsion technology for aircraft to reduce the field’s environmental impact.

“I want to be part of advancing technologies like hydrogen-powered aircraft, electric propulsion and space-based solar power,” Maddock says. “Achieving cleaner, more efficient aerospace systems would be a major step toward a sustainable future in aviation and space exploration.”

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2025 class here.