Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (commonly called Vaughn College) is a private college in East Elmhurst, New York, specialized in aviation and engineering education. It is adjacent to LaGuardia Airport but was founded in Newark, New Jersey in 1932 before moving to New York City in 1940. The college's most recent name change, to honor a founder, was on September 1, 2004. History In 1929, Charles S. “Casey” Jones, a pioneer aviator and aviation company executive, foresaw the need for highly trained technicians to design, build and service aircraft and engines. George A. Vaughn Jr. and Lee D. Warrender joined with Charles S. "Casey" Jones in founding the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics, the predecessor of the Academy of Aeronautics, and after September 1986, the College of Aeronautics. Effective September 1, 2004, the Board of Regents of the State of New York approved the institution changing its name from the College of Aeronautics to Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. Founding Mayor Fiorello Henry La Guardia laid the cornerstone of the academy building in 1940, shortly after the opening of LaGuardia Airport. Mayor LaGuardia wanted an aviation school to teach and train young people in the Aviation technologies at his new airport. At the time, his friend and flying comrade of World War I, Charles (“Casey”) S. Jones, was operating the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics near Newark Airport. In early 1940, the mayor convinced Casey to establish a school near LaGuardia airport, across the Grand Central Parkway. It was founded by Jones, a well known racing pilot of the 1920s, George Augustus Vaughn, Jr., second ranking ace of World War I, and Lee D. Warrender, an aeronautical engineer. The Casey Jones School educated and trained 20,000 men and women who supported the nation's successful air effort during World War II. Following World War II, the Casey Jones school was consolidated with the Academy of Aeronautics, and returned to the civilian aviation industry. In the fall of 1964, the Academy of Aeronautics conferred associate in applied science degrees for the first time, and, in 1969, the academy was accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1996, the college completely revised its curriculum offering, resulting in nine new academic programs, including for the first time, the Bachelor of Science and an associate degree in flight. On May 5, 1998, a 35,000-square-foot addition to the building complex