Aerospace engineering professor named Konrad Dannenberg Educator of the Year
Published: Aug 16, 2019 2:00 PM
By Drew Daws
Norm Speakman, professor of aerospace engineering in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, was recently named the Konrad Dannenberg Educator of the Year by the Greater Huntsville Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
The award is conferred in recognition of outstanding service to education and the promotion of math and science within the community. Konrad Dannenberg was a German-American rocket pioneer who was an avid proponent of education in the community, an active AIAA member and an inspiration to the aerospace community.
Speakman was nominated by Roy Hartfield, the Walt and Virginia Woltosz professor in aerospace engineering, for his unwavering commitment to student success through AIAA STEM outreach initiatives; Design, Build, Fly team activities; inspirational flight dynamics coursework; integration of FlightStream optimization tools into Capstone design challenges; and sustained student mentorship.
Speakman earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from Auburn University and his doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Florida. His professional career spans more than 45 years and covers experience in the military, federal government, aerospace industry and academia. Speakman began his professional career at Eglin Air Force Base as a commissioned Air Force officer, where he served as an aerospace and electrical engineer at the Air Force Armament Laboratory. After leaving government service, Speakman held key engineering and management positions at General Research Corp., Amtec Corp. and the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Huntsville, Alabama. He contributed to several weapon system research, development and technology programs that are critical to our national defense.
In 2013, Speakman returned to Auburn as a lecturer in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. He currently teaches courses in aircraft design, missile design, flight dynamics, fundamentals of aerospace engineering and aerospace systems. In 2014, he was presented the Most Outstanding Faculty Member Award by the AIAA student chapter at Auburn. Speakman is also the recipient of the Air Force Systems Command Science and Engineering Technical Achievement Award, the Air Force Armament Laboratory Scientist of the Year Award, the Air Force Commendation Medal and is a first runner-up for the Harold Brown Award.
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Major Alex Jehle, AIAA section chair; Kenny Mitchell, standing in for Jackie Dannenberg; Norm Speakman, professor of aerospace engineering; and Joe Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in aerospace engineering.
