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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

American Helicopter Museum Honors UMD Organ Flight

Aerospace engineering department nets a second Achievement Award.

ARL to Fund $30M in Equipment Innovations for Service Members

UMD announces with the U.S. Army Research Lab agreements in additive manufacturing and battery research.

UMD Engineering Receives $22.8M from U.S. Army to Collaboratively Advance Additive Manufacturing Technology

The University of Maryland College Park's research partnership with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory will establish an ecosystem for revolutionary additive manufacturing technology and concepts to expedite national readiness and response.

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.

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.

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

Award recognizes a significant impact to furthering vertical flight.

Voice of America video highlights kidney transplant drone flight

Segment on VOA Russia Service details life-saving capabilities of drone delivery.

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.

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.

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

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

Three Aerospace Students Recognized as Tomorrow’s Engineering Leaders

The "20 Twenties Award" was Sponsored by Aviation Week and AIAA

Hubbard Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

Joins 23 other Clark-affiliated faculty

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.

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 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.

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.

Maryland Innovation Initiative Grant Awarded to Clark School Researchers

Project will advance technology for the real-time detection of bridge scou, a leading cause of failure for bridges in the U.S.

Flatau Awarded ASME Adaptive Structures and Materials Systems Prize

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

New Minta Martin Professors Named

Historic honor recognizes full professors who have made significant scholarly contributions.

Dean's Master's Student Research Awards Announced

Research on bacterial biofilms and small-scale actuators for artificial muscles recognized.

Wereley to Chair Department of Aerospace Engineering

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

Wereley, Hubbard Named Fellows by Professional Society

Highest honor for an aerospace professional bestowed upon two Clark School professors.

Wereley Honored for Work in Adaptive Structures

American Society of Mechanical Engineers recognizes professor's advances used to protect military personnel.

Becnel Wins Prestigious Fellowship

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship supports crew protection research.

Wereley Honored by AIAA for Service

Aerospace engineering professor has long history of service to Institute, Clark School.

Clark School, Techno-Sciences Win Contracts

Morphing-rotor technology earns support from Bell/Boeing and Boeing Phantom Works.

Clark School Holds 2010 Commencement

Faculty and staff awards for teaching, service awards announced.

Lewis Named Aerospace Chair

Prof. Mark J. Lewis takes helm September 14.

Wereley Named Engineer of the Year

Aero professor recognized by AIAA for adaptive occupant protection systems work.

Students Sweep National Composite Wing Competition

Aerospace teams capture top Wing Design/Build/Test awards at SAMPE '09.

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.

Clark School Leads "Microsystems Mechanics" Center

$10M effort to develop networked micro-vehicles for assisting soldiers.

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.

Clark School Accomplishments Spring 2002

A list of Clark school accomplishments for Spring 2002

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