David Andrews

Professor David Andrews is Professor of Engineering Design in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University College London (UCL). A globally recognised authority on naval architecture and ship design methodology, he has held continuous academic appointments at UCL since 1980, punctuated by distinguished service in the UK Ministry of Defence where he rose to Director of Frigates and Mine Countermeasures. Since 2000 he has occupied the Chair in Engineering Design at UCL, leading major research initiatives funded by EPSRC, ONR and the EU, and forging strategic industrial partnerships.

Education

• Bachelor of Engineering, UCL (1970)
• MSc Naval Architecture, UCL (1971)
• PhD “Synthesis in Ship Design”, UCL (1984)

Research Focus

Professor Andrews is acknowledged as the world-leading expert in naval ship design methodology, with seminal contributions to early-stage design processes, submarine architecture, trimaran/multi-hull vessels, and distributed ship service systems. His pioneering Design Building Block approach and SURFCON CAD tool have been integrated into industry-standard platforms such as PARAMARINE. Current work addresses energy balance frameworks, computer-aided sketching, and philosophical foundations of engineering design.

Across more than 150 publications, a clear trajectory emerges: from fundamental design theory through tool development to practical application in warship, submarine and advanced multi-hull projects. Recent outputs (2021-2024) emphasise automation of early-stage synthesis, network-based modelling of complex distributed systems, and integration of operational availability considerations into concept design.

Honours & Awards

• Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2000)
• Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA)
• Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
• William Froude Medal, RINA (2020) – highest award
• David W Taylor Medal, SNAME (2021) – lifetime contribution

Advising & Grant Leadership

Since flexible retirement in 2012 he continues to lecture and supervise MSc projects in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering and Submarine Design CPD courses. He has led or co-led research grants exceeding £2 million from EPSRC, EU and industry (BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, BMT, Dstl). These projects have funded numerous CASE studentships and collaborative PhD programmes that bridge UCL and industrial stakeholders.

Research Team & Industrial Links

Professor Andrews heads the Design Research group at UCL, mentoring successive MoD Professors of Naval Architecture and maintaining active Memoranda of Understanding with BAE Systems and other maritime primes. He chairs the tri-annual International Marine Design Conference’s Design Methodology Panel and has delivered keynote addresses worldwide, uniquely representing non-US expertise at successive US Navy Ship Design Process Workshops.