Professor Marilyn Smith accepting her honorary fellow award at the 2026 Vertical Flight Society's 82nd Annual Forum & Technology Display.
The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) has named Professor Marilyn Smith an Honorary Fellow, one of the organization’s highest honors, “for her pioneering contributions to computational rotorcraft aeromechanics and her global leadership in advancing vertical flight.”
The title of honorary fellow is awarded to highly distinguished members who have made exceptional leadership, innovative or other meritorious contributions that significantly advance the Society and the vertical flight community. The designation is granted in perpetuity and includes a certificate and lifetime membership.
I am honored to be recognized with this award by my colleagues from the Vertical Flight Society. It has been my privilege to have play a role in expanding both the VFS and vertical flight role in aerospace engineering
Marilyn Smith
Throughout her tenure at Georgia Tech, she has played a foundational role in developing computational methods used to model rotorcraft aeromechanics. Her work has improved the understanding of rotorcraft behavior, enabling more accurate simulations and influencing the design and performance of next-generation vertical flight vehicles.
Her research has had broad impact across academia, industry and government, helping advance both theoretical knowledge and practical applications in rotorcraft analysis and design.
Beyond her technical work, Smith has been a driving force within the global aerospace community. As director of the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence (VLROCE), she has supported collaboration across institutions and mentored students and early-career professionals, helping strengthen the pipeline of future engineers and researchers in vertical flight.
Smith joins a distinguished group of Honorary Fellows with Georgia Tech ties, including fellow Yellow Jackets Nicholas D. Lappos, Robert Loewy, Roger A. Krone, and Charles C. Crawford Jr.
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