Mechanical Engineering Technology Directory


Vahid Motevalli

Vahid Motevalli PhD, PE

Professor and Founding Director, Center for Technology Development

Campus: West Lafayette
Contact Form

Department: Center for Technology Development
Department: Mechanical Engineering Technology
Office: Knoy Hall of Technology, Room 307
Phone: 765.494.9652
motevalli@purdue.edu
Fax:765.494.6219

Biography:

Dr. Motevalli has more than 26 years of teaching, research and administrative experience in academic, government and industry with diverse experience in combustion, fire safety, aviation safety and security and transportation safety.  His professional experience outside the academia includes working at National and government laboratories (NIST, NRL), government (US Congress as ASME Congressional Fellow) and consulting.  Dr. Motevalli served as Department Head from September of 2009 prior to taking the current role.  In addition, he is the lead faculty for the Purdue EcoCAR 2 project (one of the 15 universities selected competitively in North America in 2011) in addition to other research projects, teaching and initiatives.  Prior to coming to Purdue, he directed the International Aviation Safety and Security Summit program (2001-2005) which developed a leadership program for ministers and Directors General of civil aviation for more than 100 countries of the world.  This program was funded by FAA and supported by the DOT Secretary’s office.  The program focus was on providing executive level training and technical information and assistance to ministerial level officials, Director Generals of civil aviation and other foreign government officials on oversight responsibilities and requirements in aviation safety and security based on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices.  As Project Director, Dr. Motevalli worked with US and Foreign government officials, Department of State, TSA and aviation industry.

Several years of directing the aviation safety and security program has enabled him to develop broad knowledge of the issues in aviation particularly related to cabin safety, uncontained engine failures, government oversight issues, aviation security challenges and emerging threats.  He also worked closely with the Gore Commission (President’s Commission on Aviation Safety and Security in 21st Century) staff in 1996-97.  He has published papers on the various aspects of aviation safety and security.  In the broader transportation area, Dr. Motevalli directed the technical aspects of the proposal to house the NTSB Academy at GW Campus in Virginia which holds the reconstructed TWA 800.  In addition, he has directed a number of projects in transportation safety areas such as airbag modeling and testing, hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicle safety as well as most recently pedestrian safety issues.  His research has included aircraft evacuation injury evaluation, emerging aviation safety and security issues,  Finite Element modeling of aircraft engine containment simulation, aircraft cabin safety, aircraft finite element modeling, aviation safety oversight standards, hybrid-electric vehicle research with emphasis on safety of fuel cell, fuel reformers, alternative fuel use and evaluation of airbag models. He has over 100 technical publications in addition to reports, presentations and invited talks and has directed over 35 graduate students and a large number of undergraduate students in a variety of topic areas.  Dr. Motevalli has conducted sponsored research and training programs exceeding $13 million since 1988.

Prior to joining Purdue University in September of 2009, Dr. Motevalli served for a brief period as a Professor of Engineering and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research at Dubai Aerospace Enterprise University.   Prior to that position, he was at the George Washington University in a variety of capacities including Director of the Aviation Institute from 2004-2008, co-Director of the Institute (2002-04) and Director of the Aviation Safety and Security Certificate Program (1998-2008) in addition to being an Associate Professor of Engineering from 2004.  He was selected as a Senior Homeland Security Fellow of the GW Homeland Security Policy Institute for the 2009 calendar year.  Prior to his positions at GW, Prof. Motevalli became a tenured faculty of Mechanical Engineering Department at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1994 after being an Assistant Professor in Center for Firesafety Science and Mechanical Engineering from 1988-1994.

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