Ray Sedwick

Ray Sedwick is the Keystone Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute. He holds a B.S. from Penn State University and M.S./Ph.D. degrees from MIT in Aeronautics and Astronautics. His research focuses on space power systems, plasma applications, fusion propulsion, and advanced power conversion. Sedwick leads the Space Power and Propulsion Laboratory and has pioneered work in electromagnetic formation flight, wireless power transfer, and laser ablation propulsion for debris removal. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and holds multiple patents in space technology.

His honors include the NSF CAREER Award, NASA fellowships, and the Raymond Bisplinghoff Teaching Fellowship. Professional roles include Associate Editor of the AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets and leadership in AIAA’s Nuclear and Future Flight Technical Committee. Sedwick collaborates with NASA, Lockheed Martin, and other industry partners on projects like the Direct Fusion Drive and cryogenic thermal control for superconducting magnets. His teaching spans space propulsion, thermodynamics, and advanced propulsion systems.