Richard E. Walters

A native of Wheeling, WV, Professor Walters worked at Bell Aircraft, and served 3 years in the US Air Force. He returned to WVU in 1959 as Instructor of Aerospace Engineering, and became an Assistant Professor in 1967, Associate Professor in 1971, and Professor in 1976. He served as Associate Director of the WVU Energy Research Center from 1981-84, as Acting Chair of the MAE Department in 1984-85, and as Associate Chair of the MAE Dept. from 1986-96. Dr. Walters’s research has included airfoil aerodynamics, and high-altitude research aircraft; he published 44 technical articles, papers, and reports, and was research advisor to 23 graduate students. An Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Dr. Walters served as the WVU student branch advisor for 19 years. He served on the AIAA National Student Activities Committee, and as chair of the Allegheny Section. Dr. Walters strengthened MAE undergraduate scholarship endowments. He initiated the dual BSME/AE degree program in 1994, and was recognized with a COE Leadership Award in 1991 and has received College Outstanding Teaching awards.