Faculty Directory

Wereley, Norman M.

Wereley, Norman M.

Minta Martin Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Director, Composites Research Laboratory (CORE)
InnoVital Systems Faculty Fellow
Keystone Professor
Director, Aerospace Engineering Honors Program
Aerospace Engineering
Maryland Robotics Center
3179 Glenn L. Martin Hall
Website(s):

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1990)
  • M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1987)
  • B.Eng., McGill University (1982)

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • CAMX Oustanding Technical Paper Award (2024)
  • Editor-in-Chief, SAMPE Journal (2023)
  • American Helicopter Museum Achievement Award (2020), First Organ Transplant Flight via VTOL Drone
  • Senior Faculty Outstanding Research Award, Clark School of Engineering (2017)
  • Making a Difference Award, Office of Community Engagement, University of Maryland (2016)
  • ASME Ephrahim Garcia Best Paper Award (2016)
  • Marvin C. Demler Award for Exceptional Service to AIAA National Capital Section (2015)
  • Member, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honors Society (2015)
  • SPIE Smart Structures and Materials Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
  • SPIE Smart Structures and Materials Product Implementation Award (2013)
  • Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2012)
  • ASME Adaptive Structures and Material Systems Prize (2012)
  • American Helicopter Society (AHS) Best Paper Award in Crash Safety (2012)
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Adaptive Structures and Material Systems Best Paper Award in Structural Dynamics and Control (2012, 2004)
  • AHS Harry T. Jensen Award, Boeing Active Crash Protection Team (2011)
  • Editorial Board, Advances in Materials Research (2011 – present)
  • AIAA Sustained Service Award (June, 2011)
  • A. James Clark School of Engineering Faculty Service Award, U. Maryland (May, 2010)
  • Member, AIAA Region I Engineer of the Year Honor Society (March, 2010)
  • AIAA National Capital Section Engineer of the Year Award (April, 2009)
  • Associate Editor, AIAA Journal (2009-2014)
  • Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2008)
  • Associate Editor, Smart Materials and Structures, (Jan. 2008 – present)
  • Techno-Sciences Inc. Faculty Fellow (Nov. 2007 – April 2012)
  • Editor, Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures (2007 – 2024)
  • American Helicopter Society Grover E. Bell Award, Smart Structures Program of the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center (2002)
  • Invention of the Year Finalist (2002), Office of Technology Commercialization, U. Maryland
  • Fellow, Institute of Physics (2001)
  • Associate Technical Editor, J. Intelligent Material Systems and Structures (1999-2006)
  • Associate Editor, J. Intelligent Material Systems and Structures (1997-1998) Army Young Investigator Award (1997)
  • Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, National Science Foundation (1997)
  • Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) (1998)
  • Broken Propeller Award (1994), AIAA Student Chapter, U. Maryland
  • Quality Performance Award for Technical Excellence and Leadership, Infrared Materials Producibility Program, BDM Federal, Inc. (1992)
  • Best Presentation in Linear Systems at the 1991 American Control Conference
  • Best Presentation in Multirate and Periodic Systems at the 1990 American Control Conference
  • Vertical Flight Foundation GE Aircraft Engines Fellowship (1989-90)
  • William L. Steward Jr. Award, MIT (1987)
  • Captain, McGill University Rugby Team (1980-81, 1981-1982)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Summer Fellowship (1982)
  • Greville Smith Scholar (1978-1979, 1979-1980)
  • McGill University Scholar (1978-1979)
  • Fairweather Memorial for Scholarship, Citizenship & Sportsmanship, RCS (1978)
  • Governor General of Canada’s Medal, Rothesay Collegiate School (1978)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Fellow and Lifetime Member, Society for Advancements in Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE)
  • Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
  • Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Fellow, Canadian Soeciety for Mechanical Engineering (CSME)
  • Fellow, Institute of Physics (IOP)
  • Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)
  • Fellow, SPIE - The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)
  • Fellow, Vertical Flight Society (VFS), Lifetime Member & Technical Fellow
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Senior Member
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Member

 

Minta Martin Professor Norman Wereley Named SAMPE Fellow

Award recognizes his pioneering research in smart materials and sustained leadership and mentorship in the advanced materials community.

Student Success at SAMPE 2026

UMD aerospace engineering students earn national recognition in research and design competitions.

Murray Named SAMPE’s 2026 Young Professional of the Year

Leadership award recognizes outstanding early-career professionals shaping the future of materials and process engineering.

Nine UMD Students Receive Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships

Awards recognize exceptional students pursuing careers and research in vertical flight.

Wereley Named Fellow of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering

The recognition honors his excellence in mechanical engineering as an international scholar in smart structures and composites.

Seven UMD Students Receive 2025 Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships

Awards recognize the world’s most talented engineering students pursuing careers in vertical flight.

Aerospace Engineering Senior Earns Winston Family Award for Outstanding Thesis

Christopher Clark honored for innovative thesis on lightweight, 3D-printed aerospace actuators.

Students Take Top Spots at AIAA Region III Student Conference

15 UMD aerospace engineering undergraduates attended the event hosted at the University of Cincinnati.

The Clark School Celebrates the Legacy and Impact of Black Engineers

At the A. James Clark School of Engineering, we honor the contributions of Black engineering trailblazers, whose accomplishments improve our society through innovation and leadership.

Wereley, Choi Honored with Outstanding Technical Paper Award at CAMX 2024

Composites and Advanced Materials Expo honors exceptional research from students, engineers, and industry professionals that drive the future of composites innovation.

Aerospace Undergrad Takes First in SAMPE Regional Poster Competition

Sophomore Jack Szyprowski took the top spot at the SAMPE Regional Additive Manufacturing Symposium at Rowan University.

From Composites to Competition: Grad Student Wins at Dance Championship

Colleen Murray wins in team category, takes third in solo, at the 2024 North American Irish Dance Championships.

Two UMD Students Win Spots in SAMPE University Research Symposium

Undergraduates Christopher Clark and Grace Johnson will present their work at SAMPE’s 2024 Composites and Advanced Materials Expo.

Seven Maryland Students Receive Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships

Awards recognize the world’s most talented engineering students interested in vertical flight.

Three UMD Students Receive SAMPE Leadership Awards

Awards support networking and career opportunities in the materials and process engineering community.

Colleen Murray Wins Award at Regional SAMPE Symposium

Grad student’s collaborative work explored ways to improve the mechanical properties of additively manufactured lattices.

Two UMD Teams Take Top Spots in SAMPE Bridge Contest

International competition challenges students to design, build, and test a miniature structural bridge using composite materials.

Seven UMD Students Receive Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships

UMD students represent a third of total 2023 VFF Scholarship recipients.

Aerospace Engineering Grad Student Wins SPIE Student Paper Award

Ph.D. student Frank Cianciarulo takes second in SPIE’s Craig F. Bohren Best Student Presentation Awards.

NAWCAD-UMD Seed Grant Review and Discussion strengthens collaboration commitment

The event emphasized research, advanced education, and outreach collaborations for the region, the state of Maryland and the nation.

Garbulinski Receives USMSC GSG Outstanding Student Leader Award

University System of Maryland Student Council award recognizes students for leadership and civic engagement.

Celebrating Women in Aerospace Engineering: Sylvie DeLaHunt

A senior engineer and supervisor at JHUAPL, DeLaHunt has also won awards for her advocacy of greater diversity and inclusion.

Celebrating Black Aerospace Engineers: Louise Ami Ahure Powell ('06, M.S. '09, Ph.D. '14)

NIST staff scientist and engineer Ahure Powell built a successful engineering career on the pillars of family, leadership and challenges.

Wereley Elected Royal Aeronautical Society Fellow

RAeS recognizes Wereley for contributions to the advancement of adaptive structures and materials for aerospace applications.

Wereley Steps Down as Aero Chair

Professor has led the department during an era of firsts.

Jacek Garbulinski Awarded 2021 Alex Brown Scholarship

Scholarship recognizes innovative research practices, visionary leadership and impressive effort in academic pursuits.

Softer, More Resilient Robots

UMD research on bio-inspired robotics makes the cover of a special issue of Actuators.

UMD Team Honored for First Organ Transplant by Drone

History-making flight wins Golden Hour Award from Helicopter Association International.

Anderson Awarded AIAA 2021 Summerfield Book Award

Award recognizes Hypersonic and High-Temperature Gas Dynamics, Third Edition as the best book published within the last five years.

Paley, Wereley edit new Springer book on soft robotics

Bioinspired Sensing, Actuation, and Control in Underwater Soft Robotic Systems is a comprehensive snapshot of the latest advances.

American Helicopter Museum Honors UMD Organ Flight

Aerospace engineering department nets a second Achievement Award.

Langford Establishes Scholarship in Honor of President Pines

Aerospace entrepreneur’s gift aims to inspire future engineers.

History-Making Organ Flight Honored with Industry Award

 AUVSI’s XCELLENCE Awards Announced; UMD Wins in Humanitarian/Public Safety Category

Engineering Robotic Starfish

Echinoderm-inspired robots could perform many difficult, dangerous tasks.

UMD names Derek Paley as a 2020–2021 Distinguished Scholar-Teacher

The program recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement along with equally outstanding accomplishments as teachers.

Dr. Aileen Hentz Receives Clark School of Engineering’s 2019-20 Student Advising Award

Aerospace Engineering’s Program Director of Student Services recognized for staff excellence in student services.

Nine UMD Students Awarded 2020 Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships

Aerospace Engineering students receive nine out of 29 awarded Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships.

Student 3D Prints Personal Protective Equipment for Area Hospitals

Quinn Kupec’s efforts featured on North Dakota news outlet KVRR.

Three Aerospace Engineering Students Receive ASPIRE Awards

Rachel Harvey, Ben Stutzke, and Vivik Uppoor receive awards to support undergraduate research.

UAS Test Site Receives Achievement Award from the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center

Award recognizes a significant impact to furthering vertical flight.

UMD Research Featured in Aerospace America

Dr. Norman Wereley and undergraduate researchers devise a wing section similar to a fish’s skeleton.

UMD Transplant Organ Flight Named Invention of the Year

The Technical.ly Awards honored an history-making drone flight that helped save the life of a kidney patient.

Special Delivery

To build an unmanned aerial vehicle worthy of a groundbreaking three-mile flight on the night of April 19, a team of UMD engineers worked over the course of two and a half years.

Aerospace Graduate's Gift Elevates Teacher's Legacy

Out of gratitude to his mentor, Jim Rand has made a generous gift to the Clark School in support of the Robert M. Rivello Scholarship.

Clark School Aerospace Engineering Faculty Recognized by AIAA National Capital Section

Three faculty receive AIAA NCS awards for their outstanding contributions to research and education.

A Fearless Flight

Maryland tests demonstrate how human organs can be transported safely by drones.

McCullum Earns SMART Scholarship

Service program offers college students the opportunity to receive a full scholarship and be employed by DOD after completing their degrees.

Brin Family Prize Celebrates Student Innovation

Three teams win prize money for drone projects.

Brin Family Prize to Support Excellence in Drone-Related Activity

Contest aims to inspire students, faculty and staff engaged in research, competitions and activities involving drones at the University of Maryland.

UMD Opens Outdoor Flight Laboratory to Advance Autonomy, Robotics

First university facility of its kind in D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region.

Aerospace Engineering Student Wins NDSEG Fellowship

Senior Patrick Washington Receives National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship

New Class Inducted into Order of the Engineer

Clark School students make a commitment to integrity and responsibility in the engineering profession.

Four Aerospace Students Receive Society of Satellite Professionals International Scholarships

Frizzell, Kaptui Sipowa, McCullum and Shannon receive awards to support research efforts.

Paley is Principal Investigator for $2M 'SEA-STAR' grant

Researchers will create soft underwater robot appendages that mimic functionality found in sea stars; Werley is a co-PI.

Wereley Receives UMD Office of Community Engagement “Making a Difference” Award

Aerospace Engineering Department Chair recognized for community outreach and engagement.

UMD Faculty, Student and Alumni Receive 2016 ASME Ephrahim Garcia Best Paper Award

Wang, Wereley and Pillsbury recognized for work in the field of soft actuators and pneumatic artificial muscles.

Magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) Research Highlighted Cover of Smart Materials and Structures

Choi, Wereley and Xie explore sedimentation of MRFs in a vertical column.

DeLaHunt and Fievisohn Win Department Graduate Student Research Award Competition

Aerospace engineering students Robert Fievisohn and Sylvie DeLaHunt win department's 2016 Graduate Student Research Competition.

Sherman Named 2016 Alex Brown Leadership Award Recipient

Aerospace engineering Ph.D. student Stephen Sherman receives 2016 Alex Brown Leadership Award.

Hubbard Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

Joins 23 other Clark-affiliated faculty

Cadou Named ASME Fellow

Associate Professor Christopher Cadou Named Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Hubbard Named SPIE 2016 Smart Structures and Materials Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Aerospace Engineering Professor recognized for contributions to the field of smart structures and materials.

Chambers Awarded STLE Scholarship

Grad student Jonathan Chambers received a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, Philadelphia Chapter scholarship.

Huan Xu to become tenure-track assistant professor

Xu’s research interests lie in control and dynamical systems and formal methods with applications in autonomy, cyberphysical systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Wereley Awarded 2015 AIAA NCS Marvin C. Demler Award

Aerospace Engineering Department Chair Norman Wereley recognized for his commitment to supporting and forwarding the AIAA National Capital Section.

Lankford Awarded ARCS Scholarship

Aerospace engineering grad student receives 2015-2016 Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation (ARCS) Scholarship

Wereley Named AHS Technical Fellow

American Helicopter Society promotes Department of Aerospace Engineering Chair Norman M. Wereley to AHS Technical Fellow.

Mechanical Engineering Clinches 2015 Alumni Cup Title

Student teams conquer light bulb challenge at 4th annual competition.

Aerospace Engineering Faculty Honored at University Celebration of Scholarship and Research

15 Aerospace Engineering faculty were recognized for their research and scholarly achievements.

Shrestha and DeVries Win 2014 Graduate Student Research Awards Competition

Elena Shrestha and Levi DeVries win Department of Aerospace Engineering Graduate Student Research Awards Competition.

Aerospace Engineering Student Named ARCS Scholar

Bernadette Cannon was selected as the ARCS 2014-2015 Wanda M. Austin Undergraduate Scholar.

Wereley Elected SPIE Fellow

Department of Aerospace Engineering Chair Dr. Norman Wereley elected International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) Fellow.

Aerospace Faculty Recognized at 15th Annual Research Leaders Luncheon

15 Department of Aerospace Engineering's faculty honored for successful research funding efforts.

Wereley Lead Editor and Contributor for New Book on Magnetorheological Fluids

Magnetorheology: Advances and Applications published by the Royal Society of Chemistry as part of their series on smart materials.

Becnel Awarded Inaugural Alex Brown Leadership Award

Aerospace Engineering grad student Andrew Becnel to receive Alex Brown Leadership Award.

Aerospace Alumnus Selected as Aviation Week's "Twenty20s"

Kenneth 'Kip' Hart selected as one of Aviation Week's “Tomorrow’s Engineering Leaders: The Twenty20s."

Singh Awarded Kalpana Chawla Scholarship

Aerospace Engineering graduate student awarded scholarship from the American Society for Engineers of Indian Origin.

UMD Team Wins AHS Student Design Competition

Graduate student team takes top spot in the 30th Annual American Helicopter Society Design Competition.

Fourney Selected to Receive 2014 Frocht Award

Associate dean and Keystone professor to be honored with Society for Experimental Mechanics award.

Aerospace Represented Among Wylie Dissertation Fellows

Harinder Singh is a 2013-2014 Recipient of the Wylie Fellowship

Schlueter and Sherman Awarded 2013 NDSEG Fellowship

Kristy Schlueter and Stephen Sherman are the Newest U-Md. NDSEG Fellows

DeLaHunt wins WAI's Delta Air Lines Engineering Scholarship

Sylvie was awarded this $5,000 scholarship by Women in Aviation International (WAI).

Flatau Awarded ASME Adaptive Structures and Materials Systems Prize

Clark School Associate Dean of Research honored for scholarship and engineering excellence

2011 ASME Best Paper Award to Drs. Woods, Kothera and Wereley

Drs. Woods, Kothera, and Wereley won Best Paper the ASME Conference, 3/13/12

Wereley to Chair Department of Aerospace Engineering

Techno-Sciences Professor of Aerospace Engineering Norman Wereley to assume post on April 15.

Wereley and Hubbard AIAA Fellows

James Hubbard and Norman Wereley will be honored as AIAA Fellows in May

Prof. Wereley to be Awarded ASME Adaptive Structures and Material Systems Prize

Wereley Recognized for Contributions to Theory and Application of Semi-active Magnetorheological Dampers

Erica Hocking Awarded NDSEG Fellowship

Congratulations to Erica Hocking for receiving the NDSEG Fellowship!

AE Faculty Honored at Research Leaders Luncheon

10 AE Faculty Represent Department at Research Leaders Luncheon

SAMPE Bestows 2011 Jerry Bauer Award on Andrew Becnel

Becnel Receives Bauer Award, Will Travel to Tokyo to Present Research

Active Crash Protection System Team Wins 2011 AHS Jensen Award

The Boeing-led Rotorcraft ACPS Team is Awarded the 2011 Harry T. Jensen Award by AHS

CORE Lab Wins at 2011 SAMPE Regional Student Symposium

On Feb. 9th Aerospace Students Were Recognized at the 2011 Washington Regional SAMPE Symposium.

UMD and Techno-Sciences Inc. Awarded US Patent

UMD and Techno-Sciences Inc. Awarded US Patent for Aerodynamic Control Surface Actuation Systems for Helicopter Rotors

Andrew Becnel Awarded NDSEG Fellowship

Andrew Becnel has been Awarded a Prestigious National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship!

Professor Wereley honored with AIAA Sustained Service Award

Professor Wereley honored with AIAA Sustained Service Award

UMCP Techno-Sciences Researchers Awarded US Patent

Team of University of Maryland and Techno-Sciences Inc. Researchers Awarded US Patent

Aerospace Engineering Students Finalists at 2010 SMASIS Conference

Aero students are finalists at the 2010 Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems Conference in Philadelphia

Rotorcraft Students Swoop in on First Place at AHS

Rotorcraft Students Win First Place at 2010 AHS Design Competition

Wereley Receives Engineer of the Year Award

Dr. Norman Werley Recognized by AIAA

Louise Ahuré Wins SAMPE Paper Competition

Ahuré Earns First Place in SAMPE Presentation

AE Students Sweep Composite Wing Competition at SAMPE '09

Two individual and two AE student project teams place in the top six.

Two Seniors Receive Anderson Scholarship

The John D. Anderson Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering Awarded to McNerney & Woodside.

SAMPE Lightweight Aircraft Wing Competition Garners Top Prizes

Four Clark School Aerospace Teams Place in Top Six

Inaugural Anderson Scholarship Awarded to Kirk

Madeline Kirk announced as first recipient of Anderson Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering

Army CTA MAST Center on "Microsystem Mechanics" is awarded

AE and Clark School is awarded Army CTA MAST Center on "Microsystem Mechanics"

Clark School Leads NASA Project

Aerospace Chair Darryll Pines to lead $7.8M/year research project, 20 universities involved.

Aero Researcher Recognized by AIAA

Wang selected as 2006 AIAA National Capital Section Young Engineer/Scientist.