Hopwood Headshot

Education

2020–2025 Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech
Dynamics, Control, and Estimation

Ph.D. Dissertation:

Nonlinear Observers for Aircraft Maneuvering in Wind

Advisory Committee:

  • Prof. Craig A. Woolsey (Chair)
  • Prof. Mark L. Psiaki
  • Prof. Shane Ross
  • Prof. Daniel J. Stilwell

2014–2019 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Central Connecticut State University
Aerospace Concentration, Mathematics Minor

Fellowships and Awards

  • 2024 Walts Fellow
  • 2023 & 2024 Martin-Marietta Aircraft Fellow
  • 2023 & 2024 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate Research Fellow
  • 2023 Atmospheric Flight Mechanics, Best Student Paper, 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum
  • 2023 Best Paper in Unmanned VTOL Session, 2023 Vertical Flight Society Forum 79
  • 2022 Atmospheric Flight Mechanics, Best Student Paper, 2022 AIAA SciTech Forum
  • 2019 Connecticut Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Research Fellow
  • 2018 Best Paper in Design Education Session, 2018 AIAA SciTech
  • 2017 NASA CT Space Grant Helicopter/UAS Workshop, Central Connecticut State University

Collegiate Athletics and Coaching

2019–2020 USA Track & Field Certified Level I Coach and Volunteer Coach

2017–2019 NCAA Div. I Track and Field, Central Connecticut State University, Pole Vault

  • 2019 Senior Academic Award Recipient
  • 2017-18 & 2018-19 CCSU Travelers All-Academic Team
  • 2017-18 & 2018-19 Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll