WARRENDALE, PA-Dr. John J. Moskwa, professor at the University of Wisconsin, was honored with the SAE International Edward N. Cole Award for automotive engineering innovation during the SAE 2012 World Congress held in Detroit. Moskwa is the first university professor in the 34-year history of the award.

Established in 1978, this award recognizes an SAE International member whose innovative design is described in an SAE International paper or whose lifetime of accomplishment is judged to be a significant achievement in automotive engineering. Judgment is based upon the value of the work as an original innovative contribution, not upon the application of some development or invention already known.

The award honors the memory of Edward N. Cole, former president and COO of General Motors Corp., and the inspiration he provided to others in the engineering profession by his continuing search and drive for product innovation.

In his current role, Moskwa is a professor and founding director of the Powertrain Control Research Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin. He boasts more than 38 years of professional experience specializing in the areas of vehicle powertrains and engines.

He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, and has written more than 30 internal technical reports for various corporations. He has five U.S. patents that have been issued.

Moskwa, a member of ASME, IEEE and SAE International, holds degrees from Henry Ford Community College, the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also studied at Wayne State University, the Cleveland Institute of Music and Boston University.

SAE International is a global association of more than 133,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries.