Rate My Professor Michael Henshaw

Professor Michael Henshaw is Professor of Systems Engineering in the School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University. He holds a BSc (First Class Honours) in Applied Physics from the University of Hull (1983), a PhD in Applied Physics from the same university (1989) on computer modelling of hydrodynamic instabilities in spherical laser accelerated targets, and an MBA with Distinction from the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside (1998). His career began as a Research Assistant at the Universities of Hull and York, followed by seventeen years at BAE Systems (formerly British Aerospace) as an Aerodynamics Engineer, where he developed computational modelling for aeronautical systems and received a BAE Systems Chairman’s Silver Award in 1999 for innovation in aeroelastics prediction technologies. He joined Loughborough University in 2006 to lead a major multi-disciplinary project in Network Enabled Capability. Previously, he served as Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in Systems Engineering at Cranfield University (2005-2006). From 2016 to 2020, he led the university’s Global Challenge in Secure and Resilient Societies. Since 2020, he has been Associate Dean for Education and Student Experience in the Wolfson School and Director of the Systems Engineering MSc and Level 7 Apprenticeship Programme.

Professor Henshaw’s research focuses on the integration and management of complex sociotechnical systems, with contributions in cyber-physical Systems of Systems Engineering across domains including autonomy, command and control, systems architecture, ethics, decision making, and quantum systems engineering. He led EU research agenda-setting programmes such as T-AREA-SoS and TAMS4CPS. Key publications include 'Capability Engineering - An Analysis of Perspectives' (INCOSE International Symposium, 2011, Best Paper Award) and 'Current status and the future for unsteady flow research' (CEAS Aerospace Aerodynamics Research Conference, 2002, Best Paper Award). His influence is evident in numerous leadership roles, including NATO CSO Systems Concepts and Integration Panel member since 2008, Chair of its Strategy Committee since 2023, INCOSE UK Academic Director (2010-2012), and co-chair of the IEEE SMC Technical Committee on Systems of Systems. He has received awards such as the NATO CSO Panel Excellence Award (2023), NATO Scientific Achievement Award (2014), and NATO CSO Panel Excellent Award (2017). Professor Henshaw has chaired conferences like the IEEE Systems of Systems Engineering Conference (2012) and served on editorial boards for the Aeronautical Journal (2004-2021), IEEE Systems Journal (2011-2014), and the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge.