WVU Director/Professor Named SAE International 2009 President Nominee

WARRENDALE, Pa., Apr. 28 /PRNewswire/ --

WARRENDALE, Pa., April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SAE International's Executive Nominating Committee named James E. (Jim) Smith, Ph.D., as its candidate for 2009 SAE President.

Dr. Smith is Director of the Center for Industrial Research Applications (CIRA) at West Virginia University. Through his career, he has been granted 25 U.S. patents and has more than 26 pending. Dr. Smith has published 141 peer-reviewed conference papers, 44 journals or bound transaction papers, and multiple project reports and non-peer-reviewed publications on numerous topics, including engine mechanism design, dynamics and alternate fuels.

Dr. Smith, who has taught at West Virginia University since 1984, is a member of seven professional societies and has chaired more than 75 technical sessions at conferences around the world.

He holds a Doctorate degree in mechanical engineering, a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from West Virginia University.

Dr. Smith is an SAE Fellow and has an extensive history of service with SAE International. A former member of the SAE Board of Directors (2005-08), he served on the Engineering Meetings Board (2002-07) and the Technical Standards Board (2006-09) and as a liaison to the Publication Board (2003-05).

In addition, Dr. Smith worked with the Convergence Program Office (2002-05) and served as general chair of the 14th Asia Pacific Automotive Engineering Conference in 2007.

Dr. Smith's nomination will go to a member vote in November 2008. If elected, he will begin a one-year term in January 2009.

Dr. Smith is a resident of Bruceton Mills, W.Va.