06/08/2026
Dear Armour College Community,
I write with great sadness to share that Professor David Williams passed away yesterday while attending an ONR program review at Texas A&M.
Dave was a deeply respected member of our Armour College and MMAE communities, an outstanding engineer, a dedicated educator, and a valued colleague and friend to many of us. His impact on our aerospace engineering program, our students, and our broader professional community was profound.
Dave brought both rigor and conviction to his work, and his high standards reflected how much he cared about the education and development of our students.
On a personal note, I first met Dave at an AFOSR program review in the 1990s, when I was a research scientist at NASA. I was early in my career, but Dave approached me and treated me as a respected colleague. He took an active interest in mentoring me, and from that time forward he became a trusted friend and colleague. That generosity, directness, and commitment to others are qualities I will always remember.
Our hearts go out to Dave’s wife, Lorrie, his two children, Sandra and Chris, and all those who knew and loved him. This is a significant loss for our community.
Sincerely,
Lou
Louis N. Cattafesta III, Ph.D.
Carol and Ed Kaplan Dean
Armour College of Engineering
Here is a link to Professor Williams' obituary:
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