SAMPE announces 2023 George Lubin Memorial Award recipient

Leonard Poveromo. Photo Credit: SAMPE

The Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE, Diamond Bar, Calif., U.S.) is pleased to announce Leonard Poveromo, former executive director of the Composite Prototyping Center (Plainview N.Y., U.S.) as the winner of the SAMPE 2023 George Lubin Memorial Award.

The George Lubin Memorial Award acknowledges individuals who have made substantial contributions to the field of material and process engineering. It honors those who have dedicated themselves to teaching, leading and promoting advancements in technology and global camaraderie within the industry.

According to Dr. Howard Kliger and Rich Caruso, the principal nominators, Poveromo has been active in the advanced composite industry for 47 years, and his career has grown alongside the industry’s development and expansion in the U.S., which led to his being chosen as one of SAMPE’s first Fellows.

According to SAMPE, Poveromo pioneered the use of composites on production aircraft, including some major milestones:

The first implementation of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy in a production aircraft application (F-14 main landing gear door)
The first carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy sinewave beams (B-1 horizontal stabilizer)
The first analytical control process for polymide composite processing (EA-6B, A-6E, EF-111A)
The first implementation of carbon fiber bismaleimides in aerospace production (DC-8)
The first application of Nextel ceramics as a fire barrier (engine nacelles for GE)

His teams have also won CRADAs in nanocomposites (the use of single-wall carbon nanotubes for conductive cable) and metamaterials (the use of structural metamaterials for radomes).

Poveromo’s technical contributions and involvement with professional societies have been significant to the advanced composites industry. His recent work with the Composite Prototyping Center and the Composite STEM and Workforce Development program continues that legacy which began with his first mentor, George Lubin.

For related content, read “SAMPE announces 2021 George Lubin Award recipient.”