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Timothy A Sands

Professor of the Practice
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

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Overview

Doctor of Philosophy - Astronautical Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
Engineer's Degree - Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University (Tau Beta Pi)

Former Chief Academic Officer (Interim)
Former Associate Provost
Former Dean
Former Associate Dean
Former Research Center Director
.
NPS Experience
  • 2021 - current: Professor of the Practice (AD-7/AD-24 equivalent) Naval Postgraduate School
  • 2017 - 2021: - Associate Professor (AD-5/AD-23 equivalent) Naval Postgraduate School
  • 2013 - 2017: - Senior Military Professor (AD-9/AD-25 equivalent) Air Force Institute of Technology
  • 2010 - 2013: - Assistant Professor (AD-3/AD-22 equivalent) Naval Postgraduate School
  • 2000 - 2010: - Instructor (AD-1/AD-21 equivalent), Top Graduate - Instructor Qualification Course (U.S. Air Force)

Awards

  • 2024 - Highly Cited Paper, Sensors (Impact factor 3.9)
  • 2023 - Best Paper Award in Engineering, 2022, MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
  • 2023 - Highly Cited Paper (second award, disparate article), Sensors (Impact factor 3.9)
  • 2023 - Highly Cited Paper, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (Impact factor 2.9)
  • 2023 - Highly Cited Paper, Sensors (Impact Factor 3.9)
  • 2022 - Highly Cited Article, Algorithms (Impact Factor 2.267)
  • 2022 - Best Paper Award in Engineering, 2021, MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
  • 2022 - Highly Cited Paper Award (#1 of top 5), “Robotics and Automation” Section of Applied Sciences (Impact factor 2.838)
  • 2022 - Highly Cited Paper, Sensors (Impact Factor 3.847)
  • 2022 - Excellent Reviewer, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics (Impact factor 2.048), AIAA
  • 2021 - Top Cited Paper Award (#2 of top 10), “Robotics and Automation” Section of Applied Sciences (Impact factor 2.838)
  • 2020 - Editor's Choice Article Award, Algorithms (Impact factor 2.267)
  • 2020 - Best Paper Award, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (Impact factor 2.744)
  • 2010 - Theodore von Kármán Award Nominee, Most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of science and engineering
  • 2009 - Science and Engineering Award, US Air Force's Air Combat Command
  • 2007 - Best Student Paper National Finalist, AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference
  • 2003 - Air Medal for single act of heroism, United States Air Force
  • 2001 - Air Medal for single act of heroism, United States Air Force
  • 1999 - Air Medal for single act of heroism, United State Air Force

Boards, Memberships, & Certifications

Professional Memberships
  • 2023 Full Member, Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Honor Society (nominated in 2023 by University of North Carolina)
  • 2023 Space Robotics Technical Committee Member, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society
  • 2023 Topic Editor in Chief, Space Robotics, Frontiers of Control Engineering
  • 2023 Section Editor: Dynamical Systems, Engineering Mathematics, Optimization, Journal of AppliedMath (JAM)
  • 2022 Editor-in-Chief, AI, Computer Science and Robotics Technology, ISSN 2754-6292
  • 2021 Topic Editor in Chief, Space Robotics, MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
  • 2021 Guest Editor, Applied Mechanics (ISSN 2673-3161) Mechanics and Control using Fractional Calculus
  • 2021 Guest Editor, Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417) Underwater Vehicles
  • 2012 Eminent Engineer, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society (nominated by Columbia University)
  • 2010 Fellow, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (nominated 2009)
  • 2009 International Scholar Laureate, Golden Key International Honour Society (nominated at University of Wisconsin)