Owen Hughes, professor of aerospace and ocean engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the "professor emeritus" title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1988, Hughes established a new method of designing ship structures, which was described in his textbook, Ship Structural Design, published by the Society of Naval Architects and marine Engineering, verified through extensive testing, and implemented in the leading ship design software program, MAESTRO.

In addition, Hughes has written more than 60 technical articles and three monographs, and made significant contributions in research on ocean structures engineering.

Hughes received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales (Australia).

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