Electrical engineering alum Scott Willoughby '89 has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in recognition of “engineering leadership enabling the deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope,” according to a press release.
Willoughby is Vice President of Program Excellence serving Northrop Grumman's Space Systems sector and former Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems Program Manager for the James Webb Space Telescope Program.
NASA's Webb telescope is the most powerful space science telescope ever built—a project that took 20 years; thousands of technicians, scientists, and engineers; and 40 million hours to complete.
“Willoughby led the Webb program from 2009 to the observatory’s arrival at Lagrange Point 2 in 2022 and oversaw all aspects of the program,” according to a Northrop Grumman press release.
Election to the NAE is an elite distinction in the field of engineering: Willoughby is among 114 new members and 21 new international members announced Feb. 6, 2024. There are now 2,310 U.S. members and 332 international members, according to the NAE.
Willoughby is also a recipient of NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal, which “recognizes personal contributions to NASA mission success and advancement of the nation’s interests through extraordinary service and a profound level of excellence.”
He holds a master's degree in communication systems from the University of Southern California, in addition to his Lehigh degree.
Read more about Willoughby’s work on the James Webb Space Telescope in Resolve magazine.
