COLLEGE PARK, Md. and
STRATFORD, Conn., May 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
University of Maryland (UMD) today
announced that Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., along with its parent
company, United Technologies Corp., have pledged one million dollars to endow a fund to create the
Igor Sikorsky Distinguished Professorship in Rotorcraft at UMD's A.
James Clark School of Engineering. Sikorsky Aircraft (NYSE: UTX),
is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service,
headquartered in Connecticut, and
is a subsidiary of United Technologies.
The Igor Sikorsky Distinguished Professorship in Rotorcraft will
be part of UMD's Department of Aerospace Engineering and is
intended to support enhanced research specialization in areas
related to rotorcraft such as: autonomous flight operations, flight
control and system identification, aeromechanics, composite
structures and computer aided manufacturing.
Sikorsky's donation is aimed at expanding UMD's rotorcraft
education and curriculum, research programs and intellectual
capital to be a continuous source for the best rotorcraft engineers
in the world. The endowment is part of an ongoing effort between
Sikorsky and the Clark School to enhance UMD's robust rotorcraft
program, and provides for continued support for developing not only
cutting-edge technology for future helicopters, but also the next
generation of innovative rotorcraft engineers.
"We are very grateful to Sikorsky and UTC for this generous
investment in the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center and our aerospace
engineering program," said Clark School of Engineering Dean and
Farvardin Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Dr. Darryll Pines. "Our partnership with Sikorsky
has been a tremendously successful one, advancing innovation in
rotorcraft education, research and technology development through
our shared commitment to excellence."
Sikorsky is a committed Corporate Partner of UMD's Clark School
of Engineering. Since 2011, the company has donated nearly
$400,000 to support programs for
Clark School students, such as scholarships, fellowships and the
Sikorsky Aircraft Colloquium Series in Aerospace Engineering. To
date, 42 Sikorsky awards have been made to UMD students.
"Sikorsky has seen a direct benefit from many of the best and
brightest alumni of the University of
Maryland who now are exceptional engineers and senior
leaders at our company. As Sikorsky continues its leading role in
redefining the future of vertical flight, what better way to extend
the legacy of our founder than by supporting this professorship so
that future innovators may join the broader mission of rotorcraft
engineering," said Mark Miller,
Sikorsky Vice President of Research & Engineering.
The Clark School is home to one of the world's leading programs
in helicopter engineering. In 2013, Clark School students continued
to set U.S. and world records for flight duration of a
human-powered helicopter and have won the American Helicopter
Society's graduate student design competition for the 12th time in
15 years.
A new senior faculty member will be hired to fill the Igor
Sikorsky Distinguished Professorship in Rotorcraft. More
information about the opportunity will be announced at
jobs.umd.edu.
About the A. James Clark School of Engineering
The University of Maryland's A.
James Clark School of Engineering is a premier program, ranked
among the top 20 in the world. Located just a few miles from
Washington, D.C., the Clark School
is at the center of a constellation of high-tech companies and
federal laboratories, offering students and faculty access to
unique professional opportunities.
Our broad spectrum of academic programs, including the world's
only accredited undergraduate fire protection engineering program,
is complemented by a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, early
hands-on educational experiences, and participation in national and
international competitions.
The Clark School is leading research advancements in aerospace,
bioengineering, robotics, nanotechnology, disaster resilience,
energy and sustainability, and cybersecurity. From the Universal
Product Code to satellite radio, SMS text messaging to the
implantable insulin pump, our students, faculty, and alumni are
engineering life-changing innovations for millions.
Learn more at www.eng.umd.edu.
About the Department of Aerospace Engineering
The Department of Aerospace Engineering's undergraduate and
graduate programs are consistently ranked by US News and
World report amongst the Top Five public aerospace engineering
departments in the nation with its graduates highly sought after by
leading corporations throughout the world.
Aerospace engineering is a dynamic and growing department with
21 faculty, six named faculty professorships, annual research
expenditures of approximately $16
million and cutting-edge facilities such as the Alfred
Gessow Rotorcraft Center and the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel. The
department has a vibrant research and educational environment in
several core areas, including: aerodynamics and propulsion, smart
and composite structures, space systems, robotics, rotorcraft,
autonomous systems and hypersonic systems.
About United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corp. (UTC), based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high
technology products and services to the building and aerospace
industries. UTC businesses include Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky,
UTC Aerospace Systems and UTC Building & Industrial Systems.
For more information, visit UTC's website at www.utc.com or
follow us on Twitter: @UTC.
About Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is a world leader in aircraft
design, manufacture and service. With development programs
including the S-97 Raider™ featuring X2 Technology®, the
CH-53K "King Stallion" heavy-lift
helicopter and the S-76D™ helicopter, Sikorsky Aircraft continues
to explore and introduce state-of-the-art technologies for military
and commercial markets. The organization builds on Sikorsky
Aircraft's 90 years of innovation and will increase the scope of
previous efforts by expanding collaborative arrangements spanning
government technology agencies, academic institutions, other United
Technologies Corporation facilities, and entrepreneurial businesses
where research and product development take place in cooperation
with Sikorsky's engineers and technicians. For more information,
visit www.sikorsky.com or follow us on Twitter:
@SikorskyAircrft.
SOURCE University of Maryland A. James
Clark School of Engineering