The Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is among the top aerospace engineering programs in the nation and is ranked 5th by the U.S. News and World Report in aerospace graduate programs. A transformational gift to AAE was made by alumnus Ernest Gambaro and his wife Monica to endow and name the school's graduate program. The name Gambaro Graduate Program of Aeronautics and Astronautics was approved by Purdue's Board of Trustees on Dec. 7, 2018.<br><br>Propulsion involves the study of the basic operation and design of aerospace propulsion devices, including both air-breathing engines and rocket powerplants. The gas dynamics of internal flows, thermodynamics, and combustion processes associated with those devices are discussed in detail. Engine components such as inlets, pumps, and/or compressors, combustion chambers, turbines, and nozzles are investigated. Various air-breathing engines such as turbojets, turbofans, ramjets, turboprops, and scramjets are treated. Rocket propulsion systems, including solid rocket motors, liquid rocket engines, hybrid rockets, and nuclear, electric, and advanced nonchemical systems are also covered.