SW New Mexico News

Abdessattar Abdelkefi, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at New Mexico State University (NMSU), has been elected as an Associate Fellow by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The formal induction ceremony is scheduled for January in Orlando, Florida.

The AIAA recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to aeronautics or astronautics. Abdelkefi was honored for his work in nonlinear dynamical systems and aeroelasticity, particularly through developing reduced-order models that aid in understanding and designing dynamic systems such as energy harvesters and bioinspired unmanned vehicles.

During his decade-long tenure at NMSU, Abdelkefi has achieved several accolades. In 2021, he received the Westhafer Award, the university's highest research honor. The following year, he was awarded the Distinguished Career Award by the NMSU University Research Council. His global impact is reflected in his ranking among the top 2% of scientists worldwide based on research publication influence.

Abdelkefi's research focuses on dynamics, vibrations, and aeroelasticity. He has secured $5.5 million in funding from organizations like the National Science Foundation and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

His previous honors include being named Outstanding Research Professor by NMSU’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Academy in 2019 and 2020, receiving the Teaching-Research-Service Synergy Award from NMSU’s College of Engineering in 2020, and winning the Early Career Award from NMSU University Research Council in 2019.

AIAA President Dan Hastings congratulated this year's class of Associate Fellows: “This distinguished group of professionals has made significant and lasting contributions to the aerospace profession. They exemplify a dedication to excellence in advancing their specific technical disciplines.”

To be considered for Associate Fellow status with AIAA, candidates must be Senior Members with over 12 years of professional experience and require recommendations from three AIAA members.

For more details about AIAA, visit www.aiaa.org.