Biographical Sketch

Dr. Overfelt is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University as well as the Director of the Materials Processing Center.   He received a B.S. in Engineering Science in 1978 from Tennessee Technological University.  The M.S. and Ph. D. were earned at Vanderbilt University in Materials Science and Engineering in 1981 and 1984, respectively. 

From 1981 to 1986 he worked for General Electric Corporation on a variety of metallurgical engineering assignments with responsibilities for aluminum die casting, permanent mold casting, and low pressure casting as well as materials development and electric motor applications of high energy iron-neodymium-boron permanent magnets.  While with General Electric, Dr. Overfelt completed the GE's prestigious Advanced Course in Engineering ("C" Course graduate in 1984). 

He joined Auburn University in 1991 after 5 years as an Assistant Research Professor at his alma mater Vanderbilt University.  Dr. Overfelt successfully led a team of engineers from Auburn University and Wyle Laboratories through engineering design, fabrication and space flight safety certification an electromagnetic heating and positioning instrument for materials research on the International Space Station.  His current research interests involve microstructural development during metal alloy solidification, applications of electromagnetic levitation techniques to the study of molten metals and the use of 3D motion capture and electromyography to analyze and refine advanced less-lethal control and restraint techniques.  Dr. Overfelt has authored or co-authored over 150 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings, holds 2 patents, and has made numerous technical presentations.