Professor Vaicaitis Retires After ‘Stellar’ Thirty-Eight Years as Faculty Member
12/31/2008
Prof. Vaicaitis’ research at Columbia focused on structural dynamics, random vibrations, aeroelasticity, wind engineering, structural acoustics, fatigue, active vibration and noise control. For most of his career at Columbia (1977-2008), Prof. Vaicaitis served as Director of the Guggenheim Air Flight Structures Institute. He collaborated with NASA, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on flight structure research.
Prof. Vaicaitis was a popular teacher at Columbia. In 1990 he won the Great Teacher Award from the Society of Columbia Graduates. He also initiated and organized the popular annual Department ski trip with students and faculty for many years.
Beyond research and teaching, Prof. Vaicaitis also served as Department Chairman from 2000 to 2006. Under his leadership the number of PhD students increased significantly, the centrifuge was set up in the Carleton Lab, the Industry Advisory Committee was established, substantial remodeling work was completed in the Department, and four faculty members received tenure.
Perhaps the most ‘stellar’ aspects of Prof. Vaicaitis’ career at Columbia were the three Columbia students Prof. Vaicaitis advised that went on to become astronauts. Brg. General Kevin Chilton flew three space shuttle missions and Col. Gregory Johnson flew one shuttle mission. A more recent student, Dr. Michael Massimino, invited Prof. Vaicaitis to view his upcoming February 2009 shuttle launch at the Kennedy Space Center.
We thank Prof. Vaicaitis for his critical contributions to research, teaching, and leadership in the Department over his thirty-eight year ‘stellar’ career.