Prof. Tim Lieuwen

Regents’ Professor Tim Lieuwen has been selected by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to receive the 2022 R. Tom Sawyer Award. The honor recognizes individuals who have made important contributions to advance the purpose of the gas turbine industry and to the International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI) over a substantial period of time. 

Established in 1972 to honor R. Tom Sawyer, often referred as the “Father of the Diesel Locomotive” and “Mr. Gas Turbine”, it is the highest honor bestowed by IGTI.

“I’m very excited to receive this award. It means a great deal to be recognized by my peers in industry, government, and academia that are working on gas turbines,” said Lieuwen.

Lieuwen has been involved with ASME since his undergraduate days and has served on various ASME leadership roles including the ASME nominating committee. He’s contributed to ASME IGTI conference continuously for 20 years, producing more than 50 conference papers, 15 J. Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power papers, received 2 best paper awards, served on the Combustion Fuels and Emissions leadership committee (POC, vice-chair, and chair), and served as chair for the Council of Chairs (2009-2011), Turbo Expo Technical Program (2013), and Turbo Expo vice-review chair and review chair (2014-2015). 

. “I’ve always been interested in mechanical things, particularly jet engines and car engines. In high school, I had my own small engine repair business, and I’m currently working on the transmission for my 1992 Jeep with my 15-year-old daughter,” said Lieuwen.

Currently, he’s the executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute at Georgia Tech and holder of the David S. Lewis, Jr. Chair. His research interests lie in the areas of clean energy and propulsion systems, energy policy, acoustics, fluid mechanics, and combustion. He works closely with industry and government, focusing particularly on fundamental problems that arise out of the development of clean combustion systems or utilization of alternative fuels.

“I can’t say enough how appreciative I am to the School of AE and Georgia Tech. I’ve been mentored, supported, and advised from my first day of graduate school in 1995 to the present by a wonderfully supportive, collegial group. Glenda Duncan, Henry Miller Russell, Scott Moseley, Vickie Brian, Ben Pritchett, Diego Remolina, Greg Anderson, and Howard Simpson have been an incredibly supportive team who made this achievement possible. I am proud to be a faculty member at Georgia Tech,” exclaimed Lieuwen.