Multifunctional Material and Aerospace Structures Optimization Lab

Research website for the Hartl research team at Texas A&M

Mason Ward

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (2022) – Texas A&M University

M.S. in Business (2023) – Texas A&M University

Mason is a graduate student from Keller, Texas pursuing a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering. As an undergraduate, Mason was the recipient of the Brockman Scholarship and participated in research for the MAESTRO Laboratory while also holding a leadership role in the Student Engineers Council at Texas A&M. Mason spent two summers interning at Lockheed Martin and aspires to work in the defense industry after earning his doctorate. After being awarded his B.S. in aerospace engineering in 2022, Mason completed a one-year multidisciplinary business degree at Texas A&M’s Mays Business School, earning a business master’s degree in 2023. Mason is supported by the Department of Defense via fellowship and studies the implications of morphing aerospace structures on the performance of electromagnetic systems. His current research focuses include finite deflection structural analysis and reconfigurable antennas.

Current Research Project:

Previous Research Project:

Experience:

  • NextGen Aeronautics (Torrance, CA—Remote)
    Graduate Engineering Intern
    February 2024 – May 2024
  • Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (Palmdale, CA)
    Utility Systems Intern, Advanced Development Programs (Skunk Works)
    May 2021 – August 2021
  • Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (Marietta, GA—Remote)
    Propulsion Intern, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions
    May 2020 – August 2020

Fellowships:

  • The Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, 2024 AFOSR DoD NDSEG Fellow
  • The Department of Aerospace Engineering National Excellence in Aerospace Sciences Fellowship (NEXAS), Texas A&M Dept. of Aerospace Engineering

Publications:

  • Ward, R. M. and Hartl, D. J. “Exploration of Morphing Wing-Integrated Offset Reflector Antenna Concept for Aerodynamic and Far-Field Electromagnetic Performance.” AIAA SCITECH 2026 Forum. January 2026.
  • Ward, R. M., Kirby, D., Hardy, J., Hartl, D. “Effectiveness of shape memory alloy golf clubs in enhancing golfer performance.” Proc. ASME 2023 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems. September 2023.
  • Ward, R. M., Bielefeldt, B. and Hartl, D. “Design of tailorable stiffness structures using L-system topology optimization”, Proc. SPIE 11377, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials IX, April 2020.

Research: