George Pappas Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

George Pappas, UPS Foundation Professor of Transportation in Electrical and Systems Engineering in Penn Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for his significant “contributions in analysis, synthesis, and control of safety-critical cyber-physical systems.” Pappas joins a distinguished group of 114 new members and 21 international members that comprise the NAE Class of 2024.

Election to the NAE is one of the highest professional honors for an engineer, and Pappas’ induction places him among esteemed company. The 2024 class brings the total U.S. membership to 2,310 and the number of international members to 332.

The NAE recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice or education, including significant contributions to the engineering literature. It also honors those who have pioneered new and developing fields of technology, made major advancements in traditional engineering fields, or implemented innovative approaches to engineering education.

Throughout his career, Pappas has been at the forefront of analyzing and designing safety-critical cyber-physical systems, such as modern avionics, self-driving vehicles and autonomous robots. His groundbreaking work has helped lay the scientific foundations for these systems, ensuring their reliability and safety.

In addition to his research contributions, Pappas most recently served as Chair of the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering for nearly 12 years. He also holds appointments in Penn Engineering’s Departments of Computer and Information Science and Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics.