Professor Owen Hughes Junior Faculty Fellowship for Ship Structures and Ocean Engineering

A lasting legacy in ship design and engineering innovation

For more than three decades, MAESTRO Marine has been advancing the technology behind ship structural design. The Annapolis-based software company was shaped by its founders’ collaboration with Professor Emeritus Owen Hughes of the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, a visionary whose computer-based methodology transformed modern ship design and laid the foundation for the MAESTRO software. His influence continues to guide both industry practice and academic research today.

In honor of Professor Hughes’ legacy, MAESTRO Marine founders Tobin McNatt and Ming Ma established the Professor Owen Hughes Junior Faculty Fellowship for Ship Structures and Ocean Engineering. Amplified by support from the Moraco Fellowship Challenge, their gift expands its long-term impact in supporting early-career faculty in aerospace and ocean engineering and encouraging new exploration into the complex challenges of modern ship design.

“Supporting research in the College of Engineering is important to us because successful engineering depends on continuous innovation and adaptation,” said McNatt. “Progress is achieved through the combination of evolving technologies, creative thinking, and a strong understanding of practical engineering needs. Research within the college fosters this environment and helps ensure continued advancement and growth in engineering disciplines.”

Through this fellowship, MAESTRO Marine aims to inspire faculty to carry forward Hughes’ vision by advancing knowledge and developing students into future leaders. McNatt and Ma’s investment reflects a deep commitment to innovation, collaboration, and the enduring impact of engineering research.