Craig Woolsey

Craig Woolsey is a Professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech, within the College of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. (2001), M.A. (1997) from Princeton University, and a B.M.E. (1995) from Georgia Tech. His research focuses on nonlinear control of ocean and atmospheric vehicles, emphasizing energy-based methods for enhanced performance. He leads the Nonlinear Systems Laboratory and affiliated groups like CAAMS and KEAS Lab. Notable awards include AIAA Associate Fellow and NSF CAREER Award.

Education:

• Ph.D., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University (2001)
• M.A., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University (1997)
• B.M.E., Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (1995)

Research interests span nonlinear control, robotics/autonomy, and vehicle dynamics. Key themes include energy-based control, biomimetic locomotion, and autonomous system reliability. His work applies to UAVs, USVs, AUVs, and environmental sensing.

Awards:

• Associate Fellow, AIAA
• Senior Member, IEEE
• Virginia Tech Dean’s Research Award (2017)
• Student Engineers Council Advisor of the Year (2015)

Labs and collaborations include the Nonlinear Systems Lab, CAAMS, and Kentland Experimental Aerial Systems Lab. He advises on autonomous air mobility and sensor development, contributing to both theoretical and applied research in aerospace and ocean engineering.