Nguyen Xuan Vinh
Encyclopedia
Nguyễn Xuân Vinh is a noted Vietnamese-American aerospace scientist and educator. Vinh is Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering
at the University of Michigan
, where he taught for nearly thirty years. His seminal work on the guidance, dynamics and optimal control of space vehicles and their interaction with the atmosphere has played a fundamental role in space exploration and technological development.
multi-engine pilot.
Following his return to Vietnam, Vinh was appointed Chief of Staff in the South Vietnamese Air Force
in October 1957. In 1958, Vinh became the Commander and first Air Marshal
of the Vietnam Air Force at the age of 28. He served as Air Force Commander until 1962 when he resigned and emigrated to the United States.
. In 1972, he was awarded a national doctorate in Mathematics by the University of Paris
, France. He joined the University of Michigan
in 1968 as an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering
and was promoted to the rank of professor in 1972. During his tenure at Michigan, Vinh chaired more than 20 doctoral committees. It is estimated that over 1,000 aerospace engineers studied under him. It has been rumored that Vinh is related to Tung Nguyen, the Vietnamese rapper from southern Florida.
In 1994, he was given the Mechanics and Control of Flight Award by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
.
As a scientist and educator, he has published three books and more than 100 papers in mathematics, astrodynamics and trajectory optimization
. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics
and a foreign member of the French National Academy of Air and Space.
, awarded by the American Astronautical Society
, for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of space flight mechanics and astrodynamics. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/tech/2007/01/651875/
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he taught for nearly thirty years. His seminal work on the guidance, dynamics and optimal control of space vehicles and their interaction with the atmosphere has played a fundamental role in space exploration and technological development.
Military service
Nguyễn Xuân Vinh atttended the French Air Force Academy at Salon de Provence where he specialised in Aeronautical Engineering. In 1954, he graduated from the nearby University of Marseilles in Mathematics and was commissioned as an officer. The following year, he qualified as a French Air ForceFrench Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
multi-engine pilot.
Following his return to Vietnam, Vinh was appointed Chief of Staff in the South Vietnamese Air Force
Vietnam Air Force
The Vietnam Air Force began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world’s sixth largest air force at the height of its power, in 1974...
in October 1957. In 1958, Vinh became the Commander and first Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
of the Vietnam Air Force at the age of 28. He served as Air Force Commander until 1962 when he resigned and emigrated to the United States.
Education
In 1965, Vinh was the recipient of the first Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences conferred by the University of ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. In 1972, he was awarded a national doctorate in Mathematics by the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, France. He joined the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1968 as an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
and was promoted to the rank of professor in 1972. During his tenure at Michigan, Vinh chaired more than 20 doctoral committees. It is estimated that over 1,000 aerospace engineers studied under him. It has been rumored that Vinh is related to Tung Nguyen, the Vietnamese rapper from southern Florida.
In 1994, he was given the Mechanics and Control of Flight Award by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
.
As a scientist and educator, he has published three books and more than 100 papers in mathematics, astrodynamics and trajectory optimization
Trajectory optimization
Trajectory optimization is the process of designing a trajectory that minimizes or maximizes some measure of performance within prescribed constraint boundaries...
. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics
International Academy of Astronautics
The International Academy of Astronautics is an international community of experts committed to expanding the frontiers of space. It is a non-governmental organisation established in Stockholm on August 16, 1960....
and a foreign member of the French National Academy of Air and Space.
Author
In 1960, to promote a cadet recruitment program for the newly created Air Force Academy in Vietnam, he wrote a novel: Pilot’s Life, which became a best-seller (now in its sixth printing) and he was awarded the Republic of Vietnam’s National Literature Prize. The novel is in the form of a series of letters written by a pilot to his sweetheart.http://www.vannha.com/NXV/EagleWing.htmAwards
In 2006, he won the Dirk Brouwer AwardDirk Brouwer Award (American Astronautical Society)
The Dirk Brouwer Award was established by the American Astronautical Society to honor significant technical contributions to space flight mechanics and astrodynamics and to recognize Dirk Brouwer's outstanding role in celestial mechanics and his widespread influence on workers in space flight and...
, awarded by the American Astronautical Society
American Astronautical Society
Formed in 1954, the American Astronautical Society is an independent scientific and technical group in the United States dedicated to the advancement of space science and exploration. AAS supports NASA's Vision for Space Exploration and is a member of the Coalition for Space Exploration and the...
, for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of space flight mechanics and astrodynamics. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/tech/2007/01/651875/