Florida State University Vice President for Research Gary K. Ostrander has named FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Professor Lou Cattafesta the new director of the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion.
“I cannot think of a better choice to lead FCAAP into the future,” Ostrander said. “Lou’s excellent scholarship and experience as a researcher, teacher and mentor make him the ideal candidate to continue the wonderful success FCAAP has already had and propel the center and its faculty to even greater heights.”
The Florida Legislature established FCAAP in 2008 after the federal government terminated the shuttle program. Lawmakers charged the center, a joint project of FSU, University of Central Florida, University of Florida and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, to develop cutting-edge technology in aerospace and aviation while also building a new generation of scientists from the state’s leading universities.
Cattafesta joined FCAAP in 2012.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of FCAAP and excited for this opportunity to serve my colleagues and continue to watch the center grow,” Cattafesta said.
Cattafesta specializes in air flow control and aeroacoustics and has been funded by NASA, National Science Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Office of Naval Research and private industry. He previously worked at NASA Langley Research Center and then at University of Florida from 1999 to 2012.
Cattafesta holds seven U.S. patents, has authored or co-authored seven book chapters and about 90 journal articles. He is an associate fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is currently an associate editor for the journal Experiments in Fluids and previously served as an associate editor for AIAA Journal.
He received his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State University.