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Virginia Tech Engineering honors Pradeep Raj with emeritus status

The emeritus title is awarded to retired faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding service to the university. Nominations are made by the university president, with recipients approved by the board.  

Pradeep Raj / Image- Virginia Tech

Indian American professor Pradeep Raj has been officially recognized as a professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech College of Engineering. The honor, conferred by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, acknowledges Raj's exemplary contributions to the university over a career spanning more than 12 years.  

The emeritus title is awarded to retired faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding service to the university. Nominations are made by the university president, with recipients approved by the board.  

Professor of aerospace and ocean engineering, Raj contributed significantly to research in multidisciplinary analysis, design, and optimization during his time at Virginia Tech. In addition to his research, he transformed the senior capstone course on air vehicle design, mentoring more than 90 design teams and over 700 students. Under his guidance, 19 teams achieved national recognition in design competitions.  

Before joining Virginia Tech, Raj spent 32 years at Lockheed Martin, where he worked in applied computational aerodynamics and vehicle development. He served as a director at the Advanced Development Programs division, commonly known as Skunk Works, which is recognized for its cutting-edge technologies and landmark aircraft designs.  

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Raj is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering. He has been honored with the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from the College of Engineering.  

Raj holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Meerut University, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, and a doctorate rom the Georgia Institute of Technology.  

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