A Lifelong Learner, URI Engineering Alumnus Kam Ng Shares His Experiences

Kam Ng received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at URI's commencement ceremony in 1988. (Photo courtesy of Kam Ng)

Kam Ng conducting acoustic research of turbulence noise while a doctoral student at URI.

Kam Ng has spent his life learning, either as a student, a faculty member or working in industry. The University of Rhode Island alumnus now enjoys sharing his experiences with his grandchildren and with a wider audience through his memoirs.

In 1969, Ng began his collegiate academic career at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. After earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Cooper Union, he attended six other institutes of higher education, culminating with his Ph.D. from URI in mechanical engineering in 1988.

Kam Ng as a mechanical engineering student at URI. Photo courtesy of Kam Ng.

The bulk of Ng’s industry experience was in the defense sector, working at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport from 1982-1991, and the Office of Naval Research from 1991-2012.

Ng’s research at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center focused on acoustic transients and reduction of submarine launcher noise. At the Office of Naval Research, Ng managed a wide spectrum of research, including a high-speed supercavitating weapon, quiet torpedo, simulation-based design, signal processing, active noise control, nonlinear control, and structural health monitoring.

Kam Ng with Professor Peter Stepanishen — Kam Ng with his mechanical engineering professor, Peter Stepanishen, following commencement. Photo courtesy of Kam Ng.

With more than 40 years of experience in acoustics and noise control engineering, and nine patents to his name, Ng now works as an independent consultant in Midlothian, Virginia.

Ng has chronicled his life, which started in 1951 in Hong Kong, in five memoirs: