Jacob McFarland selected as AIAA Associate Fellow

Jacob A. McFarland, incoming professor of mechanical engineering at UW–Madison, has been selected as a member of the Class of 2027 AIAA Associate Fellows by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

AIAA’s Associate Fellow grade recognizes members who have made important contributions to aeronautics or astronautics through engineering, scientific work, research or service. Only 17% of AIAA members are ever selected for this distinction.

McFarland was specifically recognized for “advancing fundamental and applied understanding of shock-driven, multiphase, and reactive flows, producing high-fidelity data and predictive models for aerospace propulsion.”

McFarland will join the UW–Madison Department of Mechanical Engineering in January 2027 from Texas A&M University, taking over as director of the Wisconsin Shock Tube Laboratory (WiSTL). His research focuses on understanding how shock waves interact with liquids, particles and gases in extreme, high-speed environments. His work helps researchers better understand how fuels mix, break apart and react under the intense conditions found in advanced propulsion systems and hypersonic flight. By combining experiments, computer simulations and advanced imaging techniques, McFarland’s research is helping improve the design and performance of next-generation aerospace technologies.

McFarland has also been an active contributor to the aerospace research community through his service to AIAA. He serves on the organization’s Fluid Dynamics Technical Committee and has helped organize AIAA SciTech and Aviation meetings. He served as an AIAA SciTech session chair in 2017, 2025 and 2026, supporting the exchange of research and ideas among members of the aerospace community. He also contributes to the American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics and the Combustion Institute and holds leadership roles with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers/Pi Tau Sigma.

McFarland and the other members of the Class of 2027 AIAA Associate Fellows will be recognized at the AIAA Associate Fellows Induction Ceremony and Dinner in January 2027, during the AIAA SciTech Forum in Orlando, Florida.

Read the AIAA press release.