Fall 2007 G R A M A Anewsletter fore alumniro & friends of the School of Aeronautics & Astronautics Covering the 2006-2007 academic year The Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering Dedication n William H. Gerstenmaier – Distinguished Engineering Alumni 2007 n The Outstanding Aerospace Engineers Award n 201st Commencement 2006-2007 in this issue... with Purdue’s Engineering Professional AAE Headlines Education Program. The School graduated By the time you read this, the School will be its 2nd EPE MS in May. in Armstrong Hall. We could not have done it Highlights of the year included the AAE Headlines . 2 without your support. Thank you very much. 8th William E. Boeing Distinguished Neil A. Armstrong presents Jischke Those of you visiting campus will no doubt Lecture given by Dr. Michael Griffin, NASA with award . 3 enjoy touring this world class facility. There Administrator. The School celebrated the Dr. France Córdova 11th president will be a dedication on October 27 at 10:00 am. 8th Outstanding Aerospace Engineers of Purdue University . 3 The 2006-07 academic year was a great Celebration and the College named William The Neil A. Armstrong Hall of Engineering one for AAE faculty who conducted research H. Gerstenmaier a Distinguished Engineering Dedication . 4 totaling more than $7.2 million in external Alumnus during National Engineers Week. expenditures. This represents approximate These events along with Homecoming and M4 Sciences Corp win chance to meet with doubling of the expenditures over five years! Gala Week are wonderful times for you to venture capital firms . 6 Congratulations to the AAE faculty. We are return to campus. The AAE Fall 2006 Colloquium Series . 6 also pleased that Bill Anderson was pro- As you probably know, Dr. Martin Jischke Boeing Lecture 2007 . 7 moted to Associate Professor with tenure completed seven years as Purdue President. NASA visit to the Mach-6 Wind Tunnel . 7 and the Li Qiao has joined us as assistant The School benefited greatly from his uni- Purdue Space Day 2007 . 8 professor. Also, there were many faculty versity leadership and strategic planning. News About You . 10 accomplishments acknowledged by Purdue Dr. France Córdova became Purdue’s 11th William H. Gerstenmaier - DEA 2007 . 12 and peers and colleagues around the world. President on July 16th. Córdova joins Purdue A few of these are listed below. AAE Alumni inducted to Purdue’s ROTC from the University of California, Riverside, • Dominick Andrisani received the School’s where she served as chancellor since Hall of Fame . 12 Bruhn Teaching Award 2002. She previously was vice chancellor STS-116 Mission Magnificent Success . 13 • Bill Crossley received the Dean A.A. for research and a professor of physics at U.S. News & World Report’s Graduate Potter Teaching Award from the College the University of California, Santa Barbara. Rankings . 13 of Engineering Before that, she was the first woman and Hero in our Midst . 14 • Dan DeLaurentis received the Sorenson youngest person to hold the position of Dr. Marty Ferman Patents Wing Design . 15 Best Paper Award from the Journal of Air NASA chief scientist. Lana M. Couch . 15 Transportation Dr. Leah Jamieson is completing her first Designs on Love after AAE 251 . 16 • Art Frazho received the School’s Gustafson year as Dean of the College. Her theme Teaching Award is “think impact.” The faculty and student The Industrial Advisory Council (IAC) . 16 • Skip Grandt was named Distinguished accomplishments described herein are but Purdue Pugwash . 17 Visiting Professor at the US Air Force a few examples of the impact of the School. Purdue Graduate Student Government Academy for 2007-08. He also delivered We always welcome you back to campus Soup Kitchen Community Involvement. 17 the Keynote Lecture at the Second so that we might show you up-close the Faculty and Staff Group Photo . 17 International Conference on Engineering educational opportunities that your sup- A Success Story . 18 Failure Analysis in Toronto, Canada port provides our students as we lead them AIAA Design Build Fly Team • NASA listed Inseok Hwang’s “Multiple- toward making their own impact on the Wins 3rd Place . 18 Target Tracking and Identity Management world. Having you back on campus gives us (MTIM)” algorithm as Reportable the chance to say thank you for your sup- Kincheloe Memorial Park Rededication • Jim Longuski published “The Seven port and, more importantly, connects you Ceremony . 19 Secrets of How to Think Like a Rocket with our present students so that you too Google and US space agency NASA . 19 Scientist” can know why we make educating Purdue Outstanding Aerospace Engineers Award . 20 • Mario Rotea was recipient of the CT Sun Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineers our Faculty News . 22 School of Aeronautics and Astronautics life’s work. We strive to make the Purdue AAE Experiment on International Space Excellence in Research Award and named education live up to the standards that you Station . 26 a Fellow of IEEE remember so well and remind you that we Purdue Varsity Glee Club . 27 • Tasos Lyrintzis received the College of cannot do so without your support. Thanks Engineering Leadership Award again for your part in making times at Royal Australian Air Force . 27 • John Sullivan was named to the NASA Purdue so exciting. Congratulations to the Graduates . 28 Advisory Council Student Awards . 30 • The ISI Web of Knowledge recognized Mercury Rising . 31 CT Sun on the “Highly Cited Researcher Astronauts get the glory, but Flight List” in Materials Science Directors run the show . 33 • Terry Weisshaar received the Department of Houston we have a problem . 33 Defense Outstanding Achievement Award Campaign for Purdue = BIG Success! . 34 Many of these accomplishments are detailed Donor Honor Roll . 34 elsewhere in Aerogram. Any error or omission Keep in Touch . 40 in the above is mine. Student interest in the School remained strong with an undergraduate enrollment in On the Cover: Fall 2006 of 401 and a graduate enrollment Armstong Hall near completion. of 211. A group of eleven students finished Photo provided by Purdue Marketing 3rd out of 49 teams in AIAA’s Design/Build/ Communications, Mark Simons Fly Competition. We hope that many of you will take advan- tage of the newly minted AAE MS degree Thomas N. Farris Brady Kalb Dr. France Córdova 11th president of Purdue University The Purdue Board of Trustees voted on May 7 unanimously to hire Dr. France A. Córdova as the 11th president of Purdue University. Córdova's selection followed a seven- month search for a successor to Martin C. Jischke, who retired on July 31 after serving as Purdue president since Aug. 14, 2000. Córdova's start date at Purdue was August 1, 2007. The 14-member search commit- tee included Thomas N. Farris, head of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Córdova is an internationally recognized Neil A. Armstrong presents astrophysicist who served as chancellor of University of California, Riverside since 2002, coming from the University of California at Jischke with award Santa Barbara where she had been vice chancellor for research and a professor of physics for six years. Before that, she was The Purdue University community, as well the youngest person to hold the position as local and area officials celebrated the conclusion of NASA chief scientist, working on projects of the Campaign for Purdue and the presidency of that included the Hubble Space Telescope. Martin C. Jischke during a series of events during May Córdova said she and Purdue are on and June. Jischke, the 10th president in the university’s the same trajectory as she was inspired by 138-year history, retired this summer after seven years Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong walking on as Purdue’s president. the moon in 1969. She has now come full He has overseen a number of major projects circle - to Purdue, the cradle of astronauts during the last seven years, including a $1.5 and the place that played a major role in billion capital campaign and the construction launching her quest. “The opportunity to lead of many new buildings and research facilities one of America's great universities is a won- around campus. A campus reception was held derful privilege for me. I have tremendous on May 18 where the event gave the campus respect for the achievements of Purdue under community and the public a chance to meet Martin Jischke's leadership, and I look forward with the Jischkes. to working with the faculty, staff and students On June 12, 2007 Purdue President Martin C. here.” Córdova said at the announcement. Jischke was awarded the university's first-ever Neil The oldest of 12 children, Córdova was born Armstrong Medal of Excellence by the Neil A. Armstrong in Paris and spent a few years in Germany, BSAE’55; HDR’70 during a dinner for Purdue trustees and other university where her father served as the Chief of and government leaders. University leaders also announced progress on Missions for CARE, a U.S. relief organization. scholarships established in honor of Martin and Patty Jischke. An avid sports enthusiast, she said she also The Neil Armstrong Medal of Excellence was established earlier this year enjoys running, canoeing, hiking and cross- to recognize outstanding contributions to the student experience at Purdue. country skiing. Córdova and her husband, Recipients will be those who have made a significant impact on the university Christian J. Foster has two college-age children. and its students through the development or improvement of academic programs, increased access or enhancements to the quality of student life. The Armstrong Medal will be given at the trustees' discretion, based on the recommendation of a seven-member committee to be appointed in the future by the university's president.