Calvin engineering professor inducted into world's largest aerospace professional society
Calvin University is proud to announce that Kenneth D. Visser, professor of engineering, has been selected as a member of the Class of 2025 Associate Fellows of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s largest aerospace professional society. Visser will be formally honored and inducted at the AIAA Associate Fellows Induction Ceremony and Dinner on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
AIAA Associate Fellows are recognized as leaders in the aerospace community, having made outstanding contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics and astronautics. According to the AIAA Constitution, this distinction is reserved for individuals who have accomplished or led significant engineering or scientific work or whose work has been of outstanding merit. Each year, only one member for every 150 AIAA members is selected as an associate fellow.
Visser earned this prestigious recognition for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of aerodynamics and his dedication to improving fuel efficiency and sustainable power generation. The citation accompanying his award reads:
“For improving the environment through the application of aerodynamics to aircraft wing tips, tractor trailers, and wind turbines thereby enhancing fuel efficiency and sustainable power generation.”
Notable achievements:
- Aircraft Wings: Visser’s work on aerodynamics contributed to the design of the Boeing 767-400ER raked wing tips, which provide significant fuel efficiency benefits. The innovation has been applied to many other Boeing aircraft, including the 777 and the 737, and continues to impact global aviation. His research activities included collaborations with Fairchild Dornier and the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) in Germany to advance computational techniques for aircraft drag reduction.
- Tractor-Trailers: Visser developed aerodynamic enhancements for tractor-trailers, including skirts and trailer extensions that improve fuel efficiency by reducing drag. These designs have led to patents and widespread adoption in the trucking industry, with fuel savings estimated at over 1.4 billion gallons per year across the U.S. truck fleet.
- Wind Turbines: The design and development of a ducted wind turbine to increase power production by optimizing the airflow has been Visser’s third major focus. The resulting commercialization of this technology culminated in the founding of the company Ducted Wind Turbines, Inc. His efforts to advance renewable energy solutions has been supported by over $2 million in funding from industry, government, and private agencies.
Visser’s career exemplifies the integration of technical excellence, environmental stewardship, and practical application. His innovations enhance the efficiency of existing systems and contribute to a more sustainable future.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Visser’s induction into the AIAA Associate Fellows Class of 2025,” said Noah Toly, Calvin University’s provost. “His achievements reflect the caliber of expertise and innovation that Calvin University faculty bring to their fields, and we are proud to see his work recognized on this global stage.”
About the AIAA Associate Fellows Program
The AIAA Associate Fellows Program recognizes individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the aerospace profession. Members are nominated and selected by their peers, underscoring their impact and leadership within the field.
About Calvin University
Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its 3,600 students from 48 U.S. states, 66 countries, and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at www.calvin.edu.
