Leigh McCue-Weil honored with award from American Society of Naval Engineers
Leigh McCue-Weil, an associate professor with Virginia Tech’s Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, will receive the Rosenblatt Young Naval Engineer Award from the American Society of Naval Engineers at its ASNE Day in Arlington, Va., this week.
To be presented Feb. 21, the award honors engineers younger than 35 who have demonstrated “superior innovation and insight, as evidenced by senior acclaim, published paper(s), invention, design creativity, patent(s), simulation, process improvement, or similar accomplishments,” as well as, “outstanding technical leadership and obvious potential for continued distinction in naval engineering based on assigned responsibilities and recognized preeminent performance,” according to the organization.
The award is named for father-son entrepreneurs Lester Rosenblatt and Mandell Rosenblatt, who together founded M. Rosenblatt & Son Inc. following World War II, growing it to be one of the largest naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the world.
“I’m exceedingly grateful for the wonderful support I have received from Virginia Tech, my terrific colleagues in the aerospace and ocean engineering department, and my great students, all of which have enabled my career,” said McCue-Weil, who joined the Virginia Tech College of Engineering faculty in 2004.
McCue-Weil’s research focuses on nonlinear and chaotic vessel dynamics including capsize, parametric rolling, and sea-based aviation operations largely involving analytical and numerical approaches including computational fluid dynamics. Her work has been funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation, and defense tech company QinetiQ, among others.
She has twice participated in the joint-operated American Society for Engineering Education and Office of Naval Research’s Summer Faculty Research Program to collaborate with other researchers at the Maryland-based Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, and was on sabbatical for the 2011-2012 academic years with its Combatant Craft Division. Among awards and grants she has won: the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development, the Office of Naval Research’s Young Investigator Program, and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
Also a member with Virginia Tech’s Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems, she earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering in 2000 from Princeton University; master’s degrees in aerospace engineering in 2000 and naval architecture and marine engineering in 2002, and a doctoral degree in naval architecture and marine engineering in 2004, all from the University of Michigan.
The American Society of Naval Engineers identifies itself as the leading professional engineering society for engineers, scientists, and allied professionals within the naval and aerospace engineers, along with educators and students within the industry.
