Warren Dixon

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department Chair

Warren Dixon received his Ph.D. in 2000 from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from Clemson University. He worked as a research staff member and Eugene P. Wigner Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) until 2004, when he joined the University of Florida in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. His main research interest has been the development and application of Lyapunov-based control techniques for uncertain nonlinear systems. Outcomes of his research have focused on uncertain autonomous systems in general, with specific applications in space applications such as satellite attitude control, rendezvous maneuvers, orbit transfer control for non-cooperative resident space objects, relative maneuvering of multiple spacecraft through differential drag in low earth orbit, momentum management of control moment gyroscopes, and integrated power and attitude control. His work has been recognized by the International Federation of Automatic Control Cyber Physical Human Systems 2020 Best Paper Award (2020), IEEE Control Systems Society Distinguished Member Award (2020),  IEEE Control Systems Technology Award (2019),  University of Florida College of Engineering Doctoral Dissertation Mentoring Award (2017-2018 & 2012-2013), American Automatic Control Council (AACC) O. Hugo Schuck (Best Paper) Award, Fred Ellersick Award for Best Overall MILCOM Paper (2013), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Dynamics Systems and Control Division Outstanding Young Investigator Award (2011), and the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) Early Academic Career Award (2006). He is an ASME Fellow (2016) and IEEE Fellow (2016), was an IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS) Distinguished Lecturer (2013-2018), served as the Director of Operations for the Executive Committee of the IEEE CSS Board of Governors (BOG) (2012-2015), and served as an elected member of the IEEE CSS BOG (2019-2020). He was awarded the Air Force Commander’s Public Service Award (2016) for his contributions to the U.S. Air Force Science Advisory Board.  

Dr. Dixon’s role in the Astraeus Space Institute has been to build stronger connections between the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the broader space community within UF and the State of Florida. Example efforts include organizing seminar speakers, faculty hiring, infrastructure development, and marketing and communications. Dr. Dixon’s unique perspective for the University of Florida Astraeus Space Institute is to understand connections and impacts with Department of Defense applications in the space environment.