Since joining Cal Poly in 2004, David Marshall has forged significant collaborations with colleagues and students in exploring the interactions between design, lift, and noise. Marshall led a NASA-funded project named AMELIA whose success not only raised the profile of Cal Poly’s aerospace engineering department by winning the NASA Group Achievement Award, but also inspired NASA managers to envision the benefits of university research in a new way. Marshall received his bachelor’s degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1994 and master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology.

The Distinguished Scholarship Award is the most prestigious award for scholarly and creative activity at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with two annual awards.