National Academy of Engineering

The Viterbi School of Engineering is proud of its faculty who are members of the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions accorded an engineer.

National Academy of Engineering members with Viterbi Faculty Affiliation:

Leonard M. Adleman
Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and the Henry Salvatori Chair in Computer Science, Dr. Adleman co-invented the RSA public key crypto-system and has worked on primacy testing algorithms. His 1992 paper in Science, demonstrating that DNA can be used as a computing medium, introduced the field of molecular computing, which he has subsequently developed. Adleman and collaborators received the Association for Computing Machinery’s A.M. Turing Award for their RSA innovations. Elected 1996. ➖ PROFILE
Wanda M. Austin
Dr. Austin, CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, holds an adjunct research professor appointment in the Viterbi School’s Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Her distinguished career includes stints as head of the National Systems Group and senior vice president of the Engineering and Technology Group of the corporation, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the objective application of science and technology toward the solution of critical issues affecting the nation’s space program. Dr. Austin earned her Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from the Viterbi School. Elected 2007. ➖ PROFILE
George A. Bekey
Emeritus Professor of Computer Science, Dr. Bekey is known for his distinguished work in biomedical engineering, man-machine systems and robotics. Dr. Bekey founded the robotics research and teaching program at USC. He was one of the founders of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Robotics and Automation Society and the first editor of its IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation. Elected 1982. ➖ PROFILE
P. Daniel Dapkus
Dr. Dapkus is Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering with a joint appointment in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering-Electrophysics and the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and director of the Photonics Center at USC. He has made fundamental contributions to the development of materials and technologies for photonic devices. Prior to his arrival at USC, Dapkus was on the technical staff at Bell Laboratories and Rockwell International. His leadership in the demonstration of the viability of MOCVD at Rockwell led to its status as the most widely used process for the research and manufacture of photonic materials and devices. Elected 2004. ➖ PROFILE
Iraj Ershaghi
The Omar B. Milligan Chair in Petroleum Engineering, Director of the Petroleum Engineering Program, Executive Director of the Chevron-USC Center for Smart Oilfield Technologies at USC, and Executive Director of UKC Center for Research and Education, Dr. Ershaghi was inducted into the NAE for contributions to the characterization of complex fractured reservoirs, and for leadership in university-industry collaboration. Elected 2014. ➖ PROFILE
Ming Hsieh
Ming Hsieh, BSEE ’83, MSEE ’84, is a USC Trustee and alumnus. Hsieh currently serves as Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Fulgent Therapeutics, which develops targeted nano-delivery platform technologies and innovative biological drugs to combat cancers. Prior to Fulgent Therapeutics, Hsieh was Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Cogent Inc. Under his leadership, Cogent became the worldwide leader in providing law enforcement, military, and commercial enterprises and other government agencies with large-scale, reliable, accurate, and real-time biometrics identification services. In 2006, Hsieh endowed the USC Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the USC Viterbi School’s largest and oldest department. Elected 2015. ➖ PROFILE
Mark S. Humayun
Dr. Humayun, University Professor of Opthalmology, Biomedicsl Engineering, and Cell and Neurobiology, is co-creator of an implantable artificial device that has restored light perception and form distinction to blind individuals. He directs the NSF Engineering Research Center on Bio-Mimetic Electronics Systems and the USC Eye Institute, and holds joint appointments at the Keck School of Medicine and the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC. Humayun is also an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. Elected 2011. ➖ PROFILE
Petros A. Ioannou
A.V. "Bal" Balakrishnan Chair, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial and Systems Engineering, Dr. Ioannou is the founder and director of the Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies (CATT), and co-founder and Associate Director for Research of METRANS. Ioannou is a leader in adaptive and nonlinear control systems, vehicle dynamics and control, intelligent transportation systems, autonomous and connected vehicles, and freight transportation and applications. Elected 2022. ➖ PROFILE
Ray Irani
Ray Irani, Judge Widney Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry in the Viterbi School of Engineering and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, served as chief executive at Occidental Petroleum Corp. from 1990 to 2011. He holds 150 patents and published more than 50 technical papers and was awarded the designation of chevalier of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor, the highest award bestowed by the French government on citizens and foreigners. Dr. Irani was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for leadership in the petrochemical industry and processes for applications of particulate systems.. Elected 2012. ➖ PROFILE
Ralph L. Keeney
Emeritus Professor of the Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Dr. Keeney is noted for analyses of the theory and engineering practice of decision and risk analysis applied to complex public problems with conflicting objectives in such areas as large-scale siting studies (e.g., airports, power plants and nuclear waste repositories), energy policy, environmental studies and corporate-management problems. Elected 1997. ➖ PROFILE
Berok Khoshnevis
Dean’s Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr. Khoshnevis routinely delivers lectures and seminars on invention and technology development. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Society for Computer Simulation and a Senior Member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineering. His inventions have received extensive worldwide publicity. Elected 2019. ➖ PROFILE
Geraldine Knatz
Professor of the Practice of Policy and Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering Practice, Dr. Knatz was elected to the NAE in recognition of her international leadership in the development of environmentally clean urban seaports. She served as the Director of the Port of Los Angeles from 2006 to 2014 and made a significant impact through the creation and implementation of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, an aggressive plan that reduced air emissions by combined port operations of over 70 percent over five years. Elected 2014. ➖ PROFILE
William Lindsey
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering-Systems in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Lindsey is an internationally renowned expert in deep space, satellite, and terrestrial communications, and is distinguished by his contributions to a unified theory of phase-locked loops and applications of this theory. Elected 1997. ➖ PROFILE
Azad Madni
University Professor of Astronautics, Aerospace and Mechanial Engineering, and Education, Dr. Madni has advanced complex systems engineering by exploiting ontology-enabled systems modeling, formal methods, minimum viable modeling techniques, and AI and machine learning in Model-Based Systems Engineering. He has advanced distributed simulation- based training and education through innovative integration of selective fidelity models, platform-based architectures, and lightweight agent models to realize low-cost simulators and mission rehearsal systems. Elected 2021. ➖ PROFILE
Gerard Guy Medioni
Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, Dr. Medioni was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for "contributions to 3D computer vision and vision-based technologies for consumer-facing applications.” He is a Fellow of the IAPR, IEEE, and AAAI. Elected 2023. ➖ PROFILE
Sanjit Mitra
Research Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering, Dr. Mitra is internationally known for his work in analog and digital signal processing and image processing. Mitra has published over 640 papers, is the author or co-author of 12 books, and holds five patents. Mitra is a fellow of IEEE, AAAS, and SPIE. Elected 2003. ➖ PROFILE
Mahta Moghaddam
Holder of the William M. Hogue Professorship in Electrical Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering-Electrophysics, Dr. Moghaddam has introduced innovative approaches and algorithms for quantitative interpretation of multichannel radar imagery based on analytical inverse scattering techniques applied to complex and random media. Moghaddam is a Fellow of IEEE and the Electromagnetics Academy. Elected 2019. ➖ PROFILE
Farzad Naeim
Farzad Naeim, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Practice, has over 38 years of experience in structural analysis, design, peer review, research and development, and seismic retrofit design of buildings. Dr. Naeim was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for advancing performance-based seismic design of tall buildings and other structures with instrumentation, isolation, and energy dissipation devices. Elected 2022.➖ PROFILE
C. L. Max Nikias
The University of Southern California’s 11th President, holder of the Robert C. Packard Presidential Chair and the Malcolm R. Currie Chair in Technology and the Humanities, and Professor in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Nikias is an inventive scholar and visionary academic leader. Nikias, the former USC Executive Vice President and Provost, has made seminal contributions to the field of adaptive signal processing. Elected 2008.➖ PROFILE
Jong-Shi Pang
Epstein Family Chair and Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Dr. Pang's general research interest is in the mathematical modeling and analysis of a wide range of complex engineering and economics systems with focus in operations research, (single and multi-agent) optimization, equilibrium programming, and constrained dynamical systems. Elected 2021.➖ PROFILE
Ellen Marie Pawlikowski
General (Ret.) Ellen M. Pawlikowski joined the Viterbi School of Engineering as the Judge Widney Professor, a title named for one of USC’s founders and reserved at USC for eminent individuals from the arts, sciences, professions, business, and community and national leadership. She served for over forty years in the military, reaching the rank of four-star general, and is only the third woman to achieve the highest rank in the Air Force. Gen. Pawlikowski was elected to the NAE for leadership in the development of technologies for national security programs, including spacecraft operations and the Airborne Laser. Elected 2014.➖ PROFILE
Aristides A.G. Requicha
Dr. Requicha, the Gordon S. Marshall Emeritus Professor of Engineering, is a pioneer in nanorobot technology, 3-D geometric modeling, computer graphics, and artificial intelligence. He is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Elected 2011. ➖ PROFILE
Robert A. Scholtz
Dr. Scholtz, Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering-Systems, was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for contributions to the fields of ultra-wideband and spread-spectrum communications. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a co-recipient of the 2006 IEEE Eric E. Sumner Medal “for pioneering contributions to ultra-wide band communications science and technology.”. Elected 2009. ➖ PROFILE
F. Stan Settles
Professor Emeritus of Industrial and Systems Enineering in the Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Dr. Settles contributed to the development of sophisticated techniques of industrial engineering and manufacturing practice during his tenure in industry, and excelled in bringing the techniques he developed in the market to USC for refinement and teaching to students. He has served as a program director for the NSF and on the National Science and Technology Council for the NSF and White House Office on Science and Technology Policy. Among his other awards and honors, Settles is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers. Elected 1991.➖ PROFILE
Neil Siegel
The IBM Professor of Engineering Management and Professor of Computer Science Practice, Dr. Siegel created “the digital battlefield” for the United States Army. This led to the use of information and radio technology to significantly increase the combat power of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Forces. His work has also resulted in important benefits for civilian applications. Elected 2005. ➖ PROFILE
Leonard M. Silverman
Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Entineering, Dr. Silverman served as dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering for 18 years. He has made classic contributions to systems and control theory and applications and built a national reputation for guiding exemplary engineering research and education. Elected 1988. ➖ PROFILE
John Brooks Slaughter
Dr. Slaughter, University Professor Emeritus of Engineering and Education, is renowned for his work in the design of digital control systems and for his endeavors to dramatically increase the number of underrepresented groups in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. He has also been a leader in formulating national technology policy. Before rejoining the USC faculty in 2010, Dr. Slaughter served as President and CEO of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, President of Occidental College, Chancellor of the University of Maryland, and Director of the National Science Foundation. Elected 1982. ➖ PROFILE
Richard J. Stegemeier
Richard J. Stegemeier served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Unocal Corporation from 1990-95. He holds seven patents and was elected to the Academy for his leadership in research leading to improved oil recovery and the discovery of new oil and gas fields. He holds a research faculty appointment in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Elected 1992. ➖ PROFILE
Ronald D. Sugar
Ronald D. Sugar, Judge Widney Professor of Management and Technology in the Marshall School of Business and Viterbi School of Engineering, served as president and COO of TRW Aerospace and Information Systems and Litton Industries, and as chairman of the board and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corporation. Dr. Sugar earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from UCLA and was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for major contributions to advanced space communication systems and leadership in innovative aerospace programs. Elected 2004. ➖ PROFILE
Costas Synolakis
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Costas Synolakis studies the impact of natural hazards, particularly tsunamis and extreme flooding events on beaches. Dr. Synolakis was inducted to the National Academy of Engineering for the development of predictive models and early warning systems of tsunamis, and for advising policymakers in hazard management. He is a member of Academia Europaea and Academy of Athens. Elected 2023. ➖ PROFILE
Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson, Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, has made foundational scientific breakthroughs that enable the development and commercialization of materials for organic light emitting diode devices (OLEDs), including the screens of millions of smartphones and televisions worldwide, as well as white OLEDs for lighting applications. He has also made substantial contributions in the areas of organic photovoltaics for solar energy, and biotic/abiotic interfacing. Elected 2020. ➖ PROFILE
Andrew J. Viterbi
A holder of the USC Presidential Chair and a professor in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering-Systems, Dr. Viterbi is the creator of the Viterbi Algorithm, co-developer of CDMA cell phone technology, and co-founder of Qualcomm. A recipient of the National Medal of Science, Viterbi is a Laureate of the Millennium Technology Prize Foundation of Finland. He is also a recipient of the IEEE Claude E. Shannon Award, the Marconi Foundation Award, the Christopher Columbus Award, and the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal. Viterbi is an elected member of the National Academy of Science and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Elected 1978. ➖ PROFILE
Michael Waterman
University Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, Computer Science, and Mathematics, Dr. Waterman researches molecular sequence data using computational approaches. His work concentrates on the creation and application of mathematics, statistics and computer science to molecular biology, particularly to DNA, RNA, and protein sequence data. Waterman is the co-developer of the Smith-Waterman Algorithm for sequence comparison and of the Lander-Waterman formulas for physical mapping and sequencing. Elected 2012. ➖ PROFILE
Lloyd R. Welch
Emeritus Professor of the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering-Systems, Dr. Welch’s career has advanced the fields of digital communications, coding theory, and signal processing by establishing parameters based on fundamentals of information theory to guide the design of communications coding for reliability, security, and synchronization. He is known for the Baum-Welch Algorithm, the Welch Bound, and other classic works. He is a winner of the Claude E. Shannon Award of the IEEE. Elected 1979. ➖ PROFILE
Alan Willner
Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professorial Chair and Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering-Systems, Dr. Willner is one of the world’s leading experts in optics and photonics. He has had a significant impact on the development of high-speed optical networks adopted by top telecommunications companies. These networks are used daily by people across the globe and have altered the pace of communication and business. Elected 2016. ➖ PROFILE
Yannis C. Yortsos
The Zohrab A. Kaprielian Chair in Engineering and Chester F. Dolley Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Dr. Yortsos is the current dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. He has contributed fundamental advances in fluid flow, transport, and reactions in porous and fractured media applied to the recovery of subsurface hydrocarbons. He has been actively involved in peer review of the Yucca Mountain Project for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. A co-organizer of the National Academy of Engineering’s annual Grand Challenges Summit, Yortsos is also a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Elected 2008. ➖ PROFILE
Don Zhang
Current Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Dr. Zhang is the dean of engineering at Peking University. He served as the Gordon Marshall Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering with a joint appointment in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at USC until 2011. Zhang is an expert in stochastic partial differential equations and their applications to hydrology, reservoir simulation, and the sequestration of carbon dioxide in geological formations as a viable option for mitigating greenhouse gas effects. Elected 2017.➖ PROFILE
Charles F. Zukoski
Dr. Zukoski, holder of the Shelly and Ofer Nemirovsky Provost's Chair, was appointed USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2019. He received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Princeton and was named one of the 100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Zukoski was elected to the NAE for “research on the manipulation of particle interactions to alter their suspension properties, and for leadership in education.” Elected 2007.➖ PROFILE

Published on December 1st, 2016

Last updated on November 17th, 2023