Winfred M. Phillips, vice president for research and dean of the graduate school at the University of Florida, has been named the 2002 chair of the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES). He began his one-year term on Jan. 1. Phillips, the president of ASME in 1998-99, succeeds Luther Graef, who completed his term as AAES chair in December 2001. In announcing Phillips' appointment, Tom Price, AAES executive director, said, "Win Phillips' distinguished career in engineering places AAES in a position to make larger contributions to the engineering community. He combines a rich academic leadership experience with a continuing commitment to and involvement in the vitality of the engineering community." Price added, "Engineering is recognized as an area of increasing national importance, which will make AAES's mission to support the engineering community even more critical. Dr. Phillips is an outstanding engineer to help us with that mission." Phillips was dean of engineering and associate vice president at the University of Florida for 11 years before accepting his current positions at the school. Before that, he was a professor of mechanical engineering and head of the school of mechanical engineering at Purdue University. Phillips worked and taught at Pennsylvania State University, as associate dean for research at the college of engineering, as professor of aerospace engineering, and as acting chairman for the university's intercollegiate bioengineering program. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Paris. Phillips earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and his master's and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia. He is a Fellow of ASME and several other associations and societies. He was the recipient of ASME's Dedicated Service Award, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)'s Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award, and AAES's National Engineering Award. Phillips, who has been a member of ASME since 1974, is the author of more than 165 research publications. His personal research and teaching interests include mechanical engineering, fluid mechanics and biomedical engineering.

Marcus B. Crotts, P.E., of Crotts & Saunders Engineering Inc. in Winston-Salem, N.C., has been named president of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) for 2002. He was installed as the new president at the society's annual meeting in November. Crotts, an ASME Fellow, currently serves on SME's board of directors and on the board of directors of SME's Education Foundation. In 1986, he was recognized with SME's Joseph A. Siegel Award. The following year, he was elected to the SME College of Fellows. Crotts served as vice president of ASME's Blue Ridge Region (Region IV) from 1967-69, and as the region's SME liaison from 1999-2000. He has been an ASME member since 1953.

John C. Simonis, P.E., was promoted from staff engineer to institute engineer in the mechanical and materials engineering division at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). Institute engineer is the highest technical position an SwRI employee can attain. Simonis, who is experienced in the fields of solid and fluid mechanics, joined SwRI in 1980 after working at Babcock & Wilcox, where he was responsible for the evaluation of nuclear reactors. At SwRI, he has been involved in many basic and applied research studies of mechanical systems and the design and redesign of engineering systems, including jet engines, ground support equipment and truck-mounted devices. Simonis, an ASME Fellow, served as an ASME representative on the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and as secretary of the Operation and Applications Committee for the Society's Pressure Vessels and Piping Division. He has held a number of offices within ASME's San Antonio Section, including vice chairman, secretary, and programs and honors and awards chairman. He has been an ASME member since 1979.

Vincent Wilczynski, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., was chosen as one of four 2001 U.S. Professors of the Year. The U.S. Professors of the Year program, which is sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), recognizes college and university professors for their dedication to teaching, commitment to students and innovative instructional methods. The four winners were selected from nearly 400 nominations. Commander Wilczynski was named Outstanding Baccalaureate Colleges Professor. He was instrumental in es- tablishing the mechanical engineering major at the Academy, and earning its accreditation. A strong advocate for linking engineering principles to practical applications, he guides students through research and analysis to real-world design problems. Wilczynski extends his teaching beyond the Academy by working with high school students across the nation in FIRST (For Inspiration of Science and Technology), a nonprofit organization that brings students together with distinguished professionals and introduces the students to mentoring, leadership, entrepreneurship and professional behavior. Wilczynski has a doctorate in mechanical engineering from The Catholic University of America and a master's degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been an ASME member since 1992.

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