David W. Taylor Medal

Notable Achievement in Naval Architecture and/or Marine Engineering

The 2018 David W. Taylor Medalist

Professor Frederick Stern
University of Iowa

Professor Frederick Stern graduated from the University of Michigan NA&ME with BSE summa cum laude (1975), MSE (1977) and PhD (1980). Subsequently, was Research Naval Architect at SAIC/Annapolis from 1980-1983 and afterwards Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Iowa and Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research with 35 years’ experience teaching fluid mechanics courses and supervising 25 MS and 27 PhD student theses/degrees.

Professor Stern is an expert in experimental/computational ship hydrodynamics, including integrated approach whereby simulations provide guidance, experiments provide validation data, and simulations fill in sparse data. Iowa towing tank and wave basin data used for physics and CFD validation, including test cases for CFD workshops and NATO AVT working groups. CFDShip-Iowa URANS/DES is one of the best codes at CFD workshops since 1994 with many functionalities; and next generation high-fidelity/resolution V6 enables two-phase sharp-interface, and DNS/LES utilizing billions of grid points. The research includes development of V&V and UQ methods, fundamental physics and ship performance, deterministic/stochastic shape/multi-disciplinary optimization, and fluid structure interaction, as described in many publications.

Professor Stern served as chairperson/member of ITTC and CFD workshop committees and NATO AVT working groups; has had many national/international collaborations; and is ASME fellow and SNAME and ASEE member. Professor Stern holds the George D. Ashton Professorship in Hydroscience and Engineering; and received the 1993-1996 Faculty Scholar, 2012 Faculty Research Excellence, 2012-2013 Weinblum lecture and 2016 NATO STO AVT panel excellence awards. Professor Stern gratefully acknowledges the support of the Office of Naval Research.

Established by the Executive Committee in 1935 and was first awarded in 1936

The award will be for "Notable Achievement in Naval Architecture and/or Marine Engineering." The title will be "The David W. Taylor Medal." The medal will be made of gold-plated bronze approximately 2 1/2 inches (6.25 cm) in diameter, one side to show likeness of Admiral Taylor, the other side to show an inscription of award. Eligibility for the medal need not be limited to membership in the Society. The proposal for award may be made by a member of the Society in good standing. The selection of the nominee for the award shall be made by the Awards Committee of the Society. The nomination by the Committee and final award by the Council will require a two-thirds vote of the Committee and of the Council. Notification of the award will be made prior to the Annual Meeting and the medal will be presented with suitable ceremonies at the Annual Meeting or at such time as the President of the Society may arrange. The medal may be awarded annually but not more often.

Medals and Awards Nomination Form