The Graduate School of Engineering and Management is proud to announce its 2023 Distinguished Professor Award winners--Dr. Marina Ruggles-Wrenn, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Dr. Michael Havrilla, Professor of Electrical Engineering, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The honorary title of Distinguished Professor is reserved for individuals who have displayed exceptional, lifelong performance and achievement as a faculty member.

Dr. Marina Ruggles-Wrenn has excelled in all aspects as a faculty member in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics for more than 20 years. Before coming to AFIT, Ruggles-Wrenn had spent 15 years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a research engineer in their Metals and Ceramics Division.

Ruggles-Wrenn has authored nearly 250 presentations and publications and authored or co-authored 12 books and is the sole author of four book chapters. She has served as research advisor to 71 MS graduates and eight PhD graduates. As of summer 2023, Scopus described her work as having 2,081 citations of 115 documents, and denoted her h-index as 26. It is a noteworthy achievement that 62 of the peer-reviewed journal articles produced by Ruggles-Wrenn have been co-authored by one or more of her AFIT students.

She not only sets an example for junior faculty but also develops research and writing skills for her student researchers who accept leadership roles within the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force after they graduate from AFIT.
 

Dr. Adedeji Badiru presents the Distinguished Professor Award to Dr. Marina Ruggles-Wrenn. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

Outstanding teaching performance:
- 2019 Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Professor Award
- 2008 ASA Instructor of the Quarter, AFIT Student Association
- 2007 Col Gage H. Crocker Outstanding Professor Award

Outstanding service to the institute and the profession:
- Served as Doctoral Committee Chair of ENY for over 10 years
- Served as Chair of the Graduate Materials Science (GMS) program for over 10 years
- Won the 2016 ASME Dedicated Service Award
- Won the 2016 ASME Board of Governors Award
- Won the 2003 ASME Pressure Vessel and Piping Division Distinguished Service Award

National or international honors and recognitions bestowed at the highest levels of major professional societies:
- Named Fellow of the International Association for Advanced Materials in 2022
- Named Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2003
- Gave the 2019 Plenary Lecture at the 10th International Conference on High Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composites HT-CMC10
- Won the 2014 Stinson Trophy, the National Aeronautic Association
- Won the 2012 Best Paper Award – ASME International Gas Turbine Institute 2012 Turbo Expo Technical Conference

Dr. Michael Havrilla has been named an AFIT Distinguished Professor for his consistently strong performance within the Graduate School of Engineering and Management as well as his outstanding and sustained accomplishments within his field.

Havrilla has won numerous Department of the Air Force (DAF) awards recognizing his contributions. He is an Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA) Fellow, recognizing his high levels of impact in electrical engineering, with a special focus on electromagnetics and low observables.

Havrilla publishes consistently in high-profile conference and journal venues. In 2022 alone, he published eight conference articles, had one journal article accepted, and was an invited speaker at an additional two conferences.

Havrilla continues to bring in steady funding, which reflects how highly regarded he is at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and beyond.

Dr. Michael Havrilla accepts the Distinguished Professor Award from Dr. Adedeji Badiru. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

Outstanding teaching performance:
Havrilla has taught numerous electromagnetics and low observables courses during his time at AFIT and these courses have been consistently well-received by students. He is a strong mentor to junior faculty and students, and never turns down the chance to collaborate on an effort or give his advice when difficult problems arise. He also gives regular tutorial sessions at conferences he attends to pass his knowledge on to the next generation of scholars.

Outstanding service to the institute and the profession:
Havrilla has held sustained and/or highly significant leadership roles at the university, regional, and/or national levels. He is member of the AMTA Board of Directors and has been a consultant for AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing and Sensors Directorates on a consistent basis since 2002. Havrilla is a frequent reviewer for numerous conferences and journals. Within AFIT, he was a member of the Graduate School’s Academic Standards Committee for 12 years. He has also been the longstanding chair of the MS Electrical Engineering Electromagnetics sequence and curriculum.

National or international honors and recognitions bestowed at the highest levels of major professional societies:
Havrilla has made several contributions to various activities within the International Union of Radio Science (URSI), such as conference presentations, convening sessions and serving as chairperson, and active participation in business meetings.