Aerospace Engineering Welcomes New Assistant Professor, Chloe Johnson

rotorcraft

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland (UMD) welcomes new faculty member, Chloe Johnson. Johnson joins the department as an assistant professor in the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center.

Johnson is an experienced engineer in the field of rotorcraft aerodynamics and acoustics, with a focus on stacked rotor systems and noise reduction for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Prior to Maryland she worked as an aerospace engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, and she completed her doctoral research at the University of Texas at Austin.

Her work integrates experimental methods to enhance rotor performance, improve aerodynamic efficiency, and mitigate noise pollution in next-generation aerial vehicles.

With an eye towards those next generation eVTOL and applications in advanced air mobility (AAM), Johnson wants to ensure that the systems are safe, especially where carrying passengers is concerned.

“These aircraft are leveraging new configurations, like stacked rotor designs, that are very complex to model and as of yet, we have very few methods of validation to understand the effects of the rotors on the whole system,” explains Johnson.

Beyond safety, Johnson is also interested in ensuring that these new systems, potentially operating in urban centers, or in military theaters, can be engineered in ways that help reduce noise pollution. As part of her work at Maryland, she will be making updates and modifications to UMD’s Acoustic Hover Chamber, a 30'H by 18'W acoustically treated facility.

“My goal is to calibrate the chamber and build a whirl tower for hover testing,” explained Johnson. “The facility allows for synchronous measurements of performance, noise, and aerodynamic interactions using methods such as PIV.”

Johnson is the recipient of numerous awards for her work, including the Vertical Flight Society’s Robert L. Lichten Award and an Aviation Week 20 Twenties honoree. Beyond her research, she is also actively engaged in professional societies and outreach, fostering innovation and inspiring future aerospace engineers.

Published February 24, 2025