Neel Mehta
United Technologies Corp. and its subsidiary Sikorsky Aircraft have pledged a donation of $1 million to establish the Igor Sikorsky Distinguished Professorship in Rotorcraft program at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering.
As part of UMD’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, the program is intended to bolster rotorcraft technology research and development in areas such as aeromechanics and autonomous flight operations, the University said Monday.
The donation is also expected to aid further development of rotocraft engineering education and curriculum to build intellectual capital in the field through the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center.
“Sikorsky has seen a direct benefit from many of the best and brightest alumni of the University of Maryland who now are exceptional engineers and senior leaders at our company,” said Mark Miller, Sikorsky vice president of research and engineering.
Sikorsky, a Clark School corporate partner, has made previous donations to support student programs, including scholarships, fellowships, awards and the Sikorsky Aircraft Colloquium Series in Aerospace Engineering.
The university will hire a senior faculty member to fill the professorship.
