Two associate professors within Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering have been named to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ Associate Fellow class of 2009. Entering class members must be an AIAA senior member with at least 12 years professional experience in their field.
Kevin Kochersberger, a research associate professor with Virginia Tech’s Unmanned System Laboratory and Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, and Craig Woolsey, associate professor in the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering department, will be honored at the AIAA Associate Fellows dinner Jan. 5, 2009, at the Orlando Marriott World Center. A total of 195 people will be inducted as fellows.
A three-time graduate from Virginia Tech, Kochersberger earned his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in 1983 and his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 1994. After applying for the fellowship, Kochersberger says he was “amazed at how fast it was able to come together.” Applications for the honor must include three letters of recommendation.
Kochersberger’s research focuses on experimental aerodynamics, adaptive air vehicle design and control, autonomous fixed and rotary wing aerial systems, and experimental model analysis / vibration analysis. Honors include a Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Educator Award in 2004, the Aviation Week and Space Technology Aerospace Laureate Award in 2003, and the SAE International Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award in 1998. He flew the Wright Flyer for the Kitty Hawk, N.C., Centennial of Flight Celebration in 2003
Woolsey earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech in 1995 and a Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University in 2001. In 2002, he was granted the National Science Foundation Career award and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program Award.
He was named a Virginia Tech College of Engineering Faculty Fellow in 2003. In 2007, he was awarded the Ralph Teetor Educational Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers. In addition to the AIAA, Woolsey is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. His research focuses on nonlinear control of autonomous systems, particularly autonomous marine and air vehicles.
“Being named an AIAA Associate Fellow is certainly a great honor for me,” Woolsey said. “A nomination for this honor must include the endorsement of a number of AIAA Fellows who are willing to comment on one’s professional contributions to the aerospace community. I am very fortunate to have several outstanding mentors in the AOE department who helped me achieve the kind of early career success that made this honor possible. “
AIAA advances the state of aerospace science, engineering, and technological leadership, according to the organization’s Web site. Based in Reston, Va., the Institute serves more than 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79 countries. Membership is drawn from all levels of industry, academia, private research organizations, and government.
The College of Engineering http://www.eng.vt.edu/ at Virginia Tech is internationally recognized for its excellence in 14 engineering disciplines and computer science. The college's 5,700 undergraduates benefit from an innovative curriculum that provides a "hands-on, minds-on" approach to engineering education, complementing classroom instruction with two unique design-and-build facilities and a strong Cooperative Education Program. With more than 50 research centers and numerous laboratories, the college offers its 1,800 graduate students opportunities in advanced fields of study such as biomedical engineering, state-of-the-art microelectronics, and nanotechnology. Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and results to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
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