Purdue Recognizes Schmitendorf with Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Alumni Award

Honored for his contributions to aerospace engineering

October 4, 2005 – Samueli School Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, William E. Schmitendorf, recently received a prestigious Outstanding Aerospace Engineer (OAE) alumni award from his alma mater, Purdue University, honoring his demonstrated excellence in academia and other aerospace engineering endeavors.

Nominated by Purdue faculty for his accomplishments, Schmitendorf joins an elite group of less than two percent of the school’s alumni to accept this award since its inception in 1999.

“I am truly honored to receive this award, and appreciate that my alma mater is recognizing me in such a positive way,” said Schmitendorf, who received his B.S. ('63), M.S. ('65), and Ph.D. ('68) in aerospace engineering from Purdue.

Schmitendorf joined UC Irvine in 1988 after teaching at Northwestern University for 21 years, and participating in two sabbaticals at UC Berkeley.

He served as Chair of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department from 1989-1997, Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs from 1995-1997, and was appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in 1997.  He became Professor Emeritus in 2001, and continues to serve as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Schmitendorf is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), as well as a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

His professional interests and research have been focused in the area of control theory and applications, and he has published 75 journal articles and 60 conference papers.

Schmitendorf will accept his alumni award on Oct. 6 at Purdue University.