UMBC CSEE alumnus Ralph Semmel recognized by National Academy of Engineering

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:47:48 -0500
academy, apl, engineering, jhuapl, nae, national, of, ralph, semmel

Ralph Semmel, Ph.D. '92, Computer Science, has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Election to the NAE is among the highest levels of professional recognition conferred to any engineer. Semmel, director emeritus of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), is recognized for his "leadership in generating innovative and disruptive engineering advancements in defense, national security and space exploration."

Semmel joined APL in 1985, holding a range of technical and leadership roles before becoming the Laboratory's eighth director in 2010 and serving for 15 years, guiding the Laboratory through a period of strategic growth and transformation.

Semmel was named a UMBC Outstanding Alumni of the Year in 2011. His career includes influential leadership and technical roles advancing artificial intelligence, database systems, and software engineering. Members of the NAE Class of 2026 will be formally inducted during the NAE Annual Meeting.