Dr. Wilkerson is Professor Emeritus of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He retired in 1999 after more than 30 years of service. He taught courses in propulsion, gas dynamics, aerodynamics, airplane performance, aerospace systems design, thermodynamics, energy conversion, and thermal systems design. He also taught several graduate and short courses in Propulsion-Flight Testing for the US Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD.

He holds degrees in Aerospace Engineering (PhD) and Mechanical Engineering (MS) from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee.

He has extensive industrial experience with the Boeing Company where he was a research specialist in experimental flight test engineering and propulsion development for the Commercial Airplane Division. He participated in the experimental flight testing of the prototype 707, the 367-80 in 1955, the first KC-135 jet refueling tanker, and the development and certification of the first 707 airplane. He also directed the FAA certification flight tests for the first 707 presidential airplane. Later, he was involved in the engineering design and development of the 747 propulsion systems.

Dr. Wilkerson started flying at 15 years of age, receiving his flying license prior to his automobile driver's license. He is an active commercial pilot and flight instructor for single-engine and multi-engine airplanes and instruments. He serves as a consultant to industries, insurance companies, and law firms. He has investigated more than 45 aircraft crashes. Dr. Wilkerson is a co-inventor of a Self-Learning, Real-Time, Takeoff Performance Monitor for airplanes. He is a member and has served as an officer of several professional and honorary engineering societies.