Momentum - The Magazine for Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Vol. 4 No. 4 Winter 2019 | Page 20
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transonic turbine blade aerodynamics, the de-
velopment of advanced diagnostic techniques
for flow measurement in turbine engines,
the acoustics of jet noise, and the acoustics of
drones and unmanned air vehicles.
As the co-director of Virginia Tech’s Ad-
vanced Propulsion and Power Lab, Ng helps
lead a team of mechanical engineering and
aerospace and ocean engineering researchers
as they examine critical areas like supersonic
jet noise reduction, turbulence modeling, and
intake distortion flow quantification.
In 1998, Ng founded Techsburg Inc., a
Blacksburg-based company that provides engi-
neering services and precision manufacturing
to defense, aerospace, and energy industries.
Ng’s contributions included classified and
proprietary engineering work for major U.S.
engine manufacturers and engineering system
integrators, such as Northrop Grumman, Pratt
& Whitney, Honeywell, and Solar Turbines.
In recognition of his work with Techsburg,
Ng was named to the Virginia Tech Entrepre-
neur Hall of Fame in 2017. Ng continues to
provide leadership and strategic planning to
guide the company to its current success.
SUZANNE
IRBY
COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING
STEVEN
MACKAY
COLLEGE OF
SCIENCE
Ng has been recognized on multiple occa-
sions for his achievements as a teacher and
researcher throughout his time at Virginia
Tech, having received the Ralph R. Teetor
Educational Award from the Society of
Automotive Engineers in 1986, the Virginia
Tech Sporn Award for Excellence in Teaching
Engineering Subjects in 1987, the Dean’s
Award for Excellence in Research in 2013, and
the university’s William E. Wine Award for
teaching excellence in 2014. He has received
the College of Engineering Certificate of
Teaching Excellence four times.
In 2019, Ng was elected as a Fellow in the
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astro-
nautics, and in 1996 as a Fellow of the Amer-
ican Society of Mechanical Engineers. He
has held the Christopher C. Kraft Endowed
Professorship since 1996.
Ng received his master’s and doctoral
degrees in mechanical engineering from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980
and 1984, respectively.
Tim Long
Long graduated with a Ph.D. in chemistry
from Virginia Tech in 1987 and then spent
a decade as a research scientist at Eastman
Kodak Company and Eastman Chemical
Company. Since his return to Blacksburg as
a faculty member, Long has chalked up more
than 50 patents in the field of macromolecular
science and engineering and more than 250
peer-reviewed publications.
He and his research team have received
more than $50 million in research funding
during the past 18 years.
Among the materials he has developed or
co-developed are a biomedical gel designed
for use in cervical cancer treatment and a new
way to print a high-temperature polymeric
material known as Kapton into solid 3-D
shapes rather than flat sheets — a win for its
main usage to insulate space craft and satellites
from extreme heat and cold.
“Receiving this prestigious distinction re-
quires a team of exceptional graduate students,
a university with unwavering support for our
international leadership in polymeric mate-
rials, and a supportive wife and family, and
without this collective support that surrounds
me, this award would truly not be possible,”
Long said.
Among his awards are the 2010 Virginia
Tech Alumni Research Award, the 2012
American Chemical Society POLY Mark
Scholar Award, the Adhesion Society’s Robert
L. Patrick Fellowship Award in 2014, a 2015
Virginia Scientist of the Year honor, and the
2019 Chemistry of Thermoplastic Elastomers
Award by the Rubber Division of the Amer-
ican Chemical Society, as well as the IBM
Faculty Award, and the 3M Faculty Award.
He also has served as editor-in-chief of
Polymer International, a Wiley publication.