A Lifelong Commitment Takes Flight

For Stephen B. Klein, supporting Israel has always been a calling. But his latest gift to the Technion in support of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, is the one he holds most dear.

“I’ve donated to Israel for fifty years, and this is the most important project for me,” Mr. Klein said at a ceremony during the Technion’s annual Board of Governors meeting.

The Faculty naming marks a milestone in Mr. Klein’s decades-long relationship with the Technion and with Israel’s aerospace and defense community. A businessman, pilot, honorary doctorate recipient, and Technion Guardian, Mr. Klein has long been dedicated to strengthening the State through education, technology, and the Air Force.

“I know the Israeli Air Force well and am aware of its hardships on families, which is why I’ve funded 14 civilian projects on Air Force bases – housing, clubs, and kindergartens,” he said. “Over the past two years, we have witnessed the achievements of the Air Force and its air defense systems, many of which originated from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion. That’s why I decided to contribute to the Faculty’s development.”

Mr. Klein’s commitment comes at a time of rising challenges for Israel. Reflecting on his motivation, he emphasized both education and national resilience: “For me, supporting the Faculty means supporting education, research, innovation, and technology – but also the future security of Israel.”

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan placed Mr. Klein’s gift in a broader historical context. He recalled how, in 1949, David Ben-Gurion had charged the Technion with establishing a department of aeronautical engineering to safeguard Israel’s skies. That vision, said President Sivan, has paid dividends through defense systems like Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow antimissile system, largely developed by Technion graduates.

“This is a historic full circle, and I congratulate Stephen Klein – it is a great honor for us to name the Faculty after you,” said President Sivan.

Thanks to Mr. Klein’s lead gift, together with a generous donation from the Estate of Stephen Grand, the Faculty will soon break ground on a seven-story building equipped with advanced laboratories and research facilities. Architecturally designed to harmonize with nearby historic structures, the building will be named after Stephen and Nancy Grand.

For Prof. Daniella Raveh, dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Mr. Klein’s gift will shape the future of aerospace education in Israel. “This donation will allow the Faculty to recruit new researchers and expand into cutting-edge research areas in aviation and space,” she said. “We are deeply grateful for your support, Stephen, and we promise to honor your legacy and make you proud through training generations of outstanding aerospace engineers and fostering research that will benefit all of humanity – and above all, protect the State of Israel and its citizens.”

The impact of this support is already visible. The Faculty has seen a surge in new students: enrollment for the 2024–2025 academic year rose 25% compared to the previous year, and 42% compared to two years prior.

For Mr. Klein, the investment is about more than buildings and numbers. It is about preparing Israel for the challenges ahead and ensuring that its aerospace engineers remain at the forefront of innovation and defense. His words and actions reflect a lifelong commitment: to Israel, to education, and now, to a legacy that will carry forward for generations.