Three new members inducted into the Academy of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Excellence

The Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech recently inducted three new members into the Academy of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Excellence on November 7. 

The aerospace and ocean engineering department and the members of its advisory board established an Academy of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Excellence in 2016. Membership in this Academy is reserved for individuals who have made sustained and meritorious engineering and/or leadership contributions during their careers. While many of the inductees are alumni of the department, being an alumnus is not a requirement.  It is expected that Initiates have reached the pinnacle of their professional achievements and can recognize their accomplishments.  

For 2025, the academy inducted three new members: Robert A. Canfield, Craig Martell and Patricia Remias. These individuals were selected from some 7,000 living alumni, friends, and faculty who have demonstrated, over their career, a dedication to engineering excellence and Virginia Tech core values: brotherhood, honor, leadership, sacrifice, service, loyalty, duty, and Ut Prosim.

Robert A. Canfield

Bob Canfield has built a distinguished career in aerospace engineering, with over four decades of pioneering research in Multidisciplinary Design Optimization. He served as a professor in the department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech for more than 16 years, holding key administrative roles including Assistant Department Head of Academic Affairs from 2009 to 2021 and Interim Department Head during two separate terms. From 2014 to 2022, he directed the Virginia Tech Airworthiness Center (VTAC), and most recently, he served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Dr. Canfield’s contributions to the field of MDO have been widely recognized by the AIAA, which named him a Fellow for his groundbreaking work in automated structural optimization and future vehicle concepts. He received the AIAA Sustained Service Award in 2007 and the prestigious MDO Award for Technical Excellence in 2014.

Before joining Virginia Tech, Dr. Canfield served 25 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he held several influential positions at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He concluded his military career at the Air Force Institute of Technology as Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, shaping future leaders in aerospace engineering.

Among his most notable technical achievements was his early management of the USAF Automated Structural Optimization System (ASTROS). He later guided graduate students in applying ASTROS and MDO to the innovative Joined-Wing SensorCraft project, which led to the successful flight test of a jet-powered, aeroelastically scaled prototype. 

In retirement, Dr. Canfield continues to advise graduate students at Virginia Tech, commercialize aerospace software, and offer engineering consulting services through Golden Section LLC.

Craig Martell

Craig Martell’s career has spanned over three decades in aerospace and defense systems. A proud Virginia Tech alumnus, he began his academic journey in 1984 as an out-of-state student from Maryland. He gained hands-on expertise through the University Co-Op Program at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen. There, he completed the equivalent of two years of full-time work experience focused on production quality, reliability, and performance testing for U.S. Army armored vehicles, including the M1A1 Main Battle Tank, M2/M3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and the M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer.

He remained in Blacksburg to continue into graduate study, earning his Master’s degree under the mentorship of Drs. Fred Lutze, Eugene Cliff, and Wayne Durham. During Martell’s time at Virginia Tech, he had the distinction of studying under all of the department’s Emeritus Professors, and took the inaugural courses taught by now-notable faculty Dr. Kapania and Dr. Devenport.

Following graduate school, Martell joined the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia, where he served from 1991 until retirement in 2022. Over 31 years, he contributed to major U.S. Navy programs including the SM-3 missile defense system and Aegis surface combatants, specializing in threat and defensive missile/guided projectile trajectory optimization, including supporting concept design through flight testing for the Navy SM-3 missile defense program. He served as a member of the Dahlgren team that developed the new approach of missile guidance for the SM-3 family of interceptors.

He also focused in coupled system-level modeling of weapons, threats, and sensors, with emphasis on flight dynamics across subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic regimes in support of the SM-3 Program; as well as active and passive sensor modeling, including infrared (2D) and radar (1D/2D/3D) systems in support of the SM-3 family of Navy interceptors and Aegis surface combatants.

He also specialized in state estimation and multi-source track filtering, where for two decades he led the concept development, testing, and real-time deployment of the Navy software component to the national level multi-agency overhead sensor detection and tracking system.

Patricia Remias

Pat Remias is the Vice President of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering at Blue Origin, a private space company working to radically reduce the cost of access to space and harness its vast resources for the benefit of Earth. With over 40 years of executive, engineering, and program management experience in DoD, NASA, commercial, and international aerospace programs, Pat is a seasoned aerospace executive dedicated to innovation.

Pat joined Blue Origin in 2022 as the Vice President of Space Destinations. In 2023, Pat was appointed Vice President of Space Systems Development, where she leads the research and development group, ideating and formulating new projects and programs in Commercial LEO Development, Lunar Mobility and Habitats, In-Situ Space Resources (ISRU) and Space Nuclear areas, among others. Her role expanded in 2024 to develop force multipliers for engineering productivity at Blue Origin.

Prior to Blue Origin, Pat was at Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), where she was responsible for establishing the company’s new satellite business group – followed by developing complete engineering infrastructure for SNC’s Sierra Space subsidiary, including the Dream Chaser® space plane development effort. She previously held positions at NAVAIR, Orbital Sciences Corporation and ComTech Aeroastro.

Remias is an AIAA Associate Fellow and an Emeritus member of Virginia Tech’s AOE Advisory Board.

Alumni Awards and Departmental Honors

In addition to our academy membership, the department recognizes achievements and accomplishments of our alumni in all stages of their careers, and honors contributions of faculty and staff.

Emerging Leaders Award: This award aims to highlight alumni who have shown exceptional progress and notable achievements within the first decade of their careers. These alumni are recognized as future leaders, demonstrating rapid advancement and making a significant impact in their organizations and fields. By honoring their accomplishments, the department not only celebrates their success but also strengthens its connection with these emerging leaders, encouraging them to contribute to the department’s ongoing mission and strategic goals.

Ryan Brewer

Award for Service and Engagement: This award celebrates individuals who have made substantial volunteer contributions to the department. It acknowledges those who have furthered the department's goals through their selfless dedication, support, and active participation. By honoring these individuals, the department recognizes the crucial role of volunteer service in advancing its mission and fostering a collaborative, vibrant community that extends beyond professional achievements alone.

Jill M. Marlowe

Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award: This award recognizes alumni in the middle stages of their career, specifically those who have been in the workforce between 10 to 20 plus years. Nominees have been recognized by their peers for their significant achievement and their sustained contributions within their profession, field, or organization. 

Ryan J. Meritt

Craig Morris

Distinguished Faculty Award: In recognition of faculty members for lifelong contributions to the profession, field, University or society at large. Nominees have brought distinction to the department, evidenced by activities that extend beyond normal expectations, unique contributions, or long standing leadership and impact on the University and beyond.

Alan J. Brown

Meritorious Staff Award: Honoring staff members for their commendable service to the department and University. Nominees have demonstrated their commitment to excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service.

Jama Green