Mehdi Ahmadian, Virginia Tech professor of mechanical engineering, received the Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) International Lloyd L. Withrow Distinguished Speaker Award at its 2015 World Congress.

Ahmadian, director of the Center for Vehicle Systems and Safety and the Railway Technologies Laboratory, earned the award for his demonstrated outstanding presentation skills. Previously, Ahmadian received SAE's Oral Presentation Award five times, a prerequisite for the Withrow award.

The intent of the award is to maintain a high level of presentations at SAE international technical sessions by recognizing individuals who make outstanding presentations.

Ahmadian, who holds the Dan Pletta Professorship, has authored more than 120 archival journal publications and more than 270 conference publications. He has made more than 200 technical presentations in topics related to advanced technologies for ground vehicles, including a number of keynote lectures.

He also holds 10 U.S. and international patents and has edited four technical volumes.

Ahmadian has worked with other faculty on research programs totaling more than $20.9 million and has been personally responsible for over $17.3 million in research funding.

His research interests include vehicle system dynamics and control, advanced automotive systems, smart materials and systems, advanced materials for improving ground vehicle dynamic performance and control, energy harvesting systems, intelligent suspensions, magneto-rheological fluids, and biodynamics.

He currently serves as editor of the International Journal of Vehicle System Dynamics, editor-in-chief of Journal of Vibration and Control, as well as Shock and Vibration Journal. He also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Smart Materials Research, Advances in Mechanical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

Ahmadian is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International). He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is the recipient of the SAE International 2008 Forest R. McFarland Award and the 2014 SAE International L. Ray Buckendale Award with a plenary lecture on "Integrating Electromechanical Systems in Commercial Vehicles for Improved Handling, Stability, and Comfort."

Ahmadian is an active member of SAE International with his activities including: member-at-large of the SAE Membership Board, member of Executive Council, SAE International Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress, and chair of the congress' Activity Committee.

He is the founding director of Center for Vehicle Systems and Safety, the Railway Technologies Laboratory, the Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research, and the Advanced Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory.

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