RENOWNED SIMULATION EXPERT NAMED DIRECTOR OF SIMULATION PROGRAMS

R. Bowen Loftin, creator of the virtual model of the Hubble telescope used to trained astronauts, will join Old Dominion University's College of Engineering and Technology to oversee all simulation activities, including the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center and the modeling and simulation master's and doctoral programs.

Loftin, who will assume his new post July 24, previously served as chair of computer science at the University of Houston and director of the NASA/University of Houston Virtual Environments Research Institute. His teaching and research areas include computer science, physics, virtual modeling and simulation, intelligent systems and synthetic environments.

"We are fortunate to have someone with the breadth of experience and caliber of Bowen Loftin to provide overall oversight and coordination to our modeling and simulation academic and research programs," said William Swart, dean of the engineering college.

Thomas Mastaglio, VMASC's first director, is stepping down this month to start a new company, Mymic, which will market simulation and visualization services.