Edward Smith is celebrated for his distinguished expertise in aerospace engineering at Pennsylvania State University
Notably, he received the Group Achievement Award from the NASA Glenn Research Center in 2007 and 2018.
STATE COLLEGE, PA, February 12, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Edward Smith has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Smith, a Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Pennsylvania State University, has dedicated more than three decades to advancing the field of rotorcraft engineering. Since 2024, he has been a distinguished professor, teaching classes at all levels and advising graduate students. Dr. Smith’s career on campus began in 1992 when he joined as an assistant professor of aerospace engineering. He is presently Director of the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence. This center, which he helped establish in 1996, remains a focal point of his work, reflecting his passion for vertical flight research.
In addition to his roles at Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Smith has been a graduate faculty member in the Pennsylvania State Acoustics Program since 2023. Apart from his tenured career at the institution, he served as a visiting professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and has served on several industry advisory and philanthropic society boards.
Dr. Smith’s educational journey laid a strong foundation for his professional career. He earned a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering with a minor in Mathematics from the Pennsylvania State University in 1988. Subsequently, he studied at the University of Maryland, earning a Master of Science in rotorcraft engineering in 1990 and a Doctor of Philosophy in rotorcraft engineering in 1992.
These achievements were instrumental during a pivotal time in history when the collapse of the Soviet Union reshaped defense spending and impacted the aerospace industry.
Throughout his career, Dr. Smith has been actively involved with industry and with professional-related organizations, such as the Vertical Flight Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, contributing to advancing aerospace engineering.
Dr. Smith’s contributions to aerospace engineering have been recognized through numerous awards and honors. Notably, he received the Group Achievement Award from the NASA Glenn Research Center in 2007 and 2018. In 2017, he was honored with the Barnes W. McCormick Honorary Alumni Lectureship in Aerospace Engineering by Pennsylvania State University’s aerospace engineering department and was named College of Engineering Dean’s Fellow by Penn State College of Engineering. Earlier in his career, Dr. Smith won a Best Paper Award at the 2nd Asian Rotorcraft Forum and a President’s Award for Engagement with Students from Pennsylvania State University president.
Dr. Smith is enthusiastic about the future of his field. Among his goals, he envisions positively impacting the world through advancements in vertical flight products, aiming to enhance the STEM workforce and training within the U.S. for global economic and military strength.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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