David S. Thompson

David S. Thompson is a Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Mississippi State University, where he holds the inaugural Airbus Helicopters, Inc. Professorship. He is affiliated with the Bagley College of Engineering and has been a key figure in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research and education. He previously served in leadership roles at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) and the Office of Research and Economic Development.

• Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University (1987)
• M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University (1980)
• B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University (1979)

Dr. Thompson's research focuses on computational fluid dynamics, particularly in aircraft icing, unsteady flows, and vortex-dominated flows. He also works on mesh generation, flow visualization, and high-performance computing applications in both aerospace and biomedical systems. His interdisciplinary work spans engineering mechanics, numerical methods, and biological flow modeling.

His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on turbulent wake analysis, flow visualization techniques, and CFD modeling of complex systems such as iced wings and lung airways. The articles demonstrate expertise in hybrid turbulence modeling, vortex detection, and adaptive mesh refinement, often applied to real-world engineering and biomedical challenges.

• Faculty of the Year, MSU Department of Aerospace Engineering (2015)
• Royal Academy of Engineering Distinguished Visiting Fellow (2014–15)
• Inaugural Airbus Helicopters, Inc. Professorship (2013–present)
• Bagley College of Engineering Hearin Faculty Excellence Award (2010)
• Mississippi State University StatePride Award (2010, 2011)
• Bagley College of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Teachers (2010)
• NASA Group Achievement Award for LEWICE development (2009)
• NASA TGIR Award for aircraft icing research (2001)

Dr. Thompson has secured research funding from major agencies including the National Science Foundation, NASA, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Army Research Office, Department of Homeland Security, and aircraft industry partners such as Airbus. He has advised numerous students and collaborators across disciplines, contributing to projects in aerospace, energy, and biomedical engineering. His work integrates simulation, visualization, and high-performance computing to solve complex fluid dynamics problems.

He is associated with research facilities such as the Autonomous System Research Laboratory (ASRL) and the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS), where he led the Computational Fluid Dynamics group. His collaborations extend to international institutions, including Cardiff University during his Royal Academy fellowship.