Air University professor to speak about WWII jet race at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Published Feb. 10, 2011 By Rob Bardua National Museum of the U.S. Air Force DAYTON, Ohio -- Dr. S. Mike Pavelec will present "The Jet Race and the Second World War" on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. During his presentation, Pavelec will discuss three competing programs to develop jet aircraft technology during World War II. The Germans, British and Americans all put substantial effort into high-tech weapons systems, with the Germans being the most successful by mid-war. However, the jets were not the panacea the Germans had hoped for and the war ended before they were decisive. The Allies triumphed with massive amounts of "good enough" aviation technology and progressed with jet technology after the war. Pavelec earned his Ph.D. in military history from The Ohio State University in 2004. His first academic position was as an assistant professor of history at Hawaii Pacific University, where after a year he became the program chair for diplomatic and military studies. He left Hawaii in 2007 and taught for the next two years at the U.S. Naval War College as a visiting professor of strategy and policy. He was then offered a permanent position at Air University at Maxwell AFB, Ala., where he is currently an associate professor at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. He has just finished his third book and continues research in airpower and military technology and innovation. This lecture, held in the Carney Auditorium, is part of the museum's Wings & Things Guest Lecture Series. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. For more information or special seating arrangements, contact the museum's Special Events Division at (937) 255-1743. Filming or videotaping the lecture is prohibited. The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day). Admission and parking are free.