Full CV may be available on request. Highlights below.
Experience
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Ribbit, 2020/05-Now
NSERC CGS-D Doctoral Researcher, University of Waterloo, 2018/09-2022/08
Mitacs Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Waterloo & Ribbit, 2020/07-2021/06
Chief Technology Officer, The Sky Guys, 2016/05-2019/01
Leadership Facilitator, Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering, Univ. of Toronto, 2016/09-2017/04
Executive Director & Senior Engineer, University of Toronto Aerospace Team, 2015/05-2017/04
Space Safety & Sustainability Researcher, Space Generation Advisory Council, 2014/11-2016/12
Visiting Researcher, Institute of Space Propulsion, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 2015/05-2015/08
Research Assistant, Vision Sensor Laboratory, York University, 2012/07-2012/08
Faculty Appointments
My professional obligations come first and receive virtually all my time. However, research and education are key to shaping the future systems and generations that will build, operate, and rely on tomorrow’s air transportation. As an adjunct professor, my research advances civil and military aircraft design and operations using system-of-systems approaches. My role also supports academic strategy, curriculum, partnerships, and funding. Appointments below.
Adjunct Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, 2025/04-Now
Adjunct Professor, Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, 2023/12-Now
Committees & Service
Extensive record of service to the broader aerospace and defence community via industrial and professional associations, universities and colleges, government, and academic publishing. Noteworthy organizations listed below in alphabetical order. Details may be available on request.
Aerial Evolution Association of Canada (AEAC), formerly USC
American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI)
Centennial College
FairVentures
International Astronautical Federation (IAF)
Journal of Drone Systems and Applications (DSA)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Nutrition North Canada (NNC)
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE)
Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA)
Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA)
Royal Canadian Air Force Aerospace Warfare Centre (CFAWC / RAWC)
Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) Canada
Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)
Transport Canada Civil Aviation
Transport Canada RPAS Task Force
University of Toronto Aerospace Team
University of Toronto Engineering Science
University of Toronto Engineering Society
University of Toronto Entrepreneurship Hatchery
University of Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics
University of Waterloo Velocity Incubator
University of Waterloo WATonomous
Waterloo Aerial Robotics Group
Additionally, a reviewer for Physics of Fluids, Journal of Supercritical Fluids, APL Machine Learning, AIP Advances, BMJ Open, Research in Transportation and Business Management, and other journals in aerospace engineering, transportation, fluid mechanics, health systems, and machine learning.
Journal & Refereed Papers
[Accepted] J.-P. Hickey, J. C.-H. Wang (2025): Moving slowly at high speed: Canada must rise to meet the hypersonic threat, SITREP: Journal of the Royal Canadian Military Institute
P. Nath, N. Lokanathan, J. C.-H. Wang, A. Benmeddour, L. Nichman, K. Ranjbar, J.-P. Hickey (2024): Parametric investigation of aerodynamic performance degradation due to icing on a symmetrical airfoil, Physics of Fluids, 36: 075117 – Featured Article
J. C.-H. Wang (2024): Promise and peril: opportunity and risk with AI for defence, SITREP: Journal of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, 84(2): 4-9 – Featured Article
J. Guan, J. C.-H. Wang (2023): Food budget ratio as an equitable metric for food affordability and insecurity: a population-based cohort study of 121 remote Indigenous communities in Canada, BMC Public Health, 24:289
J. C.-H. Wang, J.-P. Hickey (2023): FluxNet: a physics-informed learning-based Riemann solver for transcritical flows with non-ideal thermodynamics, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 411: 116070
J. C.-H. Wang, J.-P. Hickey (2022): A class of structurally complete approximate Riemann solvers for trans- and supercritical flows with large gradients, Journal of Computational Physics, 468: 111521
J. C.-H. Wang (2022): Automatic flight control: bridging the gap between fixed-wing drones and airplanes, Invited Review Article for IEEE Potentials, 41(5): 27-34
J. C.-H. Wang (2020): Canada: Droning On?, SITREP: Journal of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, 80(4): 15-19
J. C.-H. Wang, J.-P. Hickey (2020): Analytical solutions to shock and expansion waves for non-ideal equations of state, Physics of Fluids, 32: 086105 – Editor’s Pick
J. R. Osborne, A. Ghosh, A. De Biasi, H. Lau, J. C.-H. Wang (2015): The Design and Testing of a Student-Built Paraffin-Aluminum-Nitrous Oxide Hybrid Sounding Rocket, University of Toronto Galbraith Society Undergraduate Engineering Journal, 1(1): 21-29
Conference & Non-Refereed Papers
J. C.-H. Wang, P. W. Jansen, R. E. Perez (2025): Air cargo operations research: current limitations and future directions, American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics AVIATION Forum
J. C.-H. Wang (2025): Common problems and essential questions for automation in aviation, Transport Canada Aviation Safety Letters
J. C.-H. Wang, M. Hou, D. Dunwoody, M. Ilievski, J. Tomasi, E. Chao, C. Pigeon (2025): Flight Testing an Optionally Piloted Aircraft: a Case Study on Trust Dynamics in Human-Autonomy Teaming, IEEE International Conference on Human-Machine Systems
J. Guan, J. C.-H. Wang, B. Beardy (2025): Indigenous food insecurity is complex—why are the policy indicators simple? SSRN Public Health Preprints
M. M. Alexiev, P. W. Jansen, R. E. Perez, J. C.-H. Wang (2024): Modeling Cargo Demand for Regional Air Transport Networks in Canada and the United States, International Council of Aeronautical Sciences Congress
P. W. Jansen, R. E. Perez, J. C.-H. Wang (2024): System of Systems Analysis of Autonomous Aircraft Operations in Air Cargo Feeder Networks, International Council of Aeronautical Sciences Congress
J. C.-H. Wang, C. Pigeon, J.-P. Hickey (2021): Low-speed computational aerodynamics and design optimization of fuselage enlargements in support of autonomous cargo aircraft, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute Conference
C. Pigeon, T. Leung, J. C.-H. Wang (2016): Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) 2016: The Development of a Student Designed Hybrid Rocket, International Conference in Aerospace for Young Scientists
A. Rivolta, Y. Porat, C. Thro, A. Nasseri, J. C.-H. Wang, J. Lousada, N. Carletti (2016): The On Orbit Servicing Answer to Safety and Sustainability for Future Space Activities, International Astronautical Congress
A. Rivolta, Y. Porat, N. Carletti, J. C.-H. Wang, C. Thro, A. Nasseri, J. Lousada, M. Emanuelli (2016): Analysis on Spacecraft Safety Enhancement through On-orbit Servicing, International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety Conference
A. Ghosh, A. De Biasi, J. C.-H. Wang, T. Leung, O. Petelin, E. Yang, C. Pigeon, A. Typa, M. Timmusk (2015): The Design and Organizational Approach to a Student-Built Paraffin-Nitrous Oxide Hybrid Sounding Rocket, International Astronautical Congress
A. Rivolta, L. Ferrario, C. Borriello, J. Medel, L. Ghasemzadeh, J. C.-H. Wang, A. Nasseri, M. Emanuelli (2015): International Spacecraft Design Policies for On-Orbit Servicing, International Astronautical Congress
J. Svoboda, A. Powis, J. Orr, A. Caraccio, S. Marquart, M. Gryshyn, J. Pardo, D. Revay, J. C.-H. Wang, V. Marwaha, M. Jurg, P. Milova, C. Forrester, S. Ringler (2014): Entrepreneurship and its Role in Space Industry, 52nd Session of the Science and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs
Conference Presentations
P. Nath, N. Lokanathan, J. C.-H. Wang, A. Benmeddour, L. Nichman, K. Ranjbar, J.-P. Hickey (2024): A parametric investigation of the effects of icing on aerodynamic performance, Sustainable Aeronautics Summit
J. C.-H. Wang, M. Ilievski, E. Chao, J. Tomasi, C. Pigeon (2024): Flight testing an uncrewed autonomous fixed-wing airplane in high-altitude environments, Transport Canada Community of Practice on Intelligent Transportation Systems
M. M. Alexiev, P. W. Jansen, R. E. Perez, J. C.-H. Wang (2023): Demand Modeling of Regional Air Transport Cargo Networks in Canada, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute Conference
P. W. Jansen, R. E. Perez, J. C.-H. Wang (2023): System of Systems Analysis of Autonomous Aircraft Operation in Canada’s Regional Air Transport Cargo Network, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute Conference
J. C.-H. Wang, M. Ilievski, E. Chao, J. Tomasi, C. Pigeon (2023): Operational test and evaluation of Canada's first fixed-wing autonomous aircraft: lessons learned from cross-country flights in northern Ontario, Transport Canada Community of Practice on Intelligent Transportation Systems
J. Guan, J. C.-H. Wang (2023): Food budget ratio as a more equitable metric for food affordability across Canada’s remote Indigenous communities, Public Health (Canadian Public Health Association)
J. C.-H. Wang, J.-P. Hickey (2020): Structurally complete approximate Riemann solvers for flows with non-ideal thermodynamics, Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics
J. Guan, J. C.-H. Wang, A. Costa (2020): Trends in billing codes by Ontario family physicians, McMaster University Medical Student Research Day
M. Yao, K. Younes, J. C.-H. Wang, J.-P. Hickey (2019): Towards Predictive Simulations for Rocket Propulsion, Ontario Aerospace Council Research and Technology Conference
C. Pigeon, T. Leung, J. C.-H. Wang (2016): Hybrid Paraffin-N2O Based Sounding Rocket Development, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute Conference
J. C.-H. Wang, T. Leung, C. Pigeon (2016): Design and Simulation of an Impinging Injector for a Paraffin-Nitrous Oxide Hybrid Rocket Engine used in Sounding Rockets, International Astronautical Congress
J. C.-H. Wang, T. Leung, C. Pigeon (2016): Injector Cold-Flow Testing for an N-Class Paraffin-Nitrous Oxide Hybrid Rocket Engine, International Astronautical Congress
J. C.-H. Wang, C. Génin (2015): Experimental Design and Image Processing Tool Development for Flow Separation Studies in Subscale Rocket Nozzles, University of Toronto Undergraduate Engineering Research Day
Technical Reports & Manuals
18 technical reports and series on topics including policy, regulation, and strategy, drafted for the organizations listed below in alphabetical order. Details may be available on request
Canadian Armed Forces
Canadian Army
Department of National Defence
House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence
Industry Canada Spectrum Management
National Research Council of Canada
Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Navy
Transport Canada Civil Aviation
Transport Canada RPAS Task Force
Book Contributions
Case study for R. Irish (2015): Writing in Engineering: A Brief Guide, Oxford University Press, ISBN-13: 9780199343553
J. C.-H. Wang (2013): Tree of Life in On Familiar Shores, p. 7, Poetry Institute of Canada, ISBN-13: 9781926774299
Media Publications
J. C.-H. Wang (2017): Not “just” a student club, Momentum Magazine, SAE International – Featured Article
Patents
N. Yang, R. Williams, S. Wu, and J. C.-H. Wang (2015): Method and Device for Wringing a Mop, CA2877767A (Canada); US14/681,157 (USA)
Invited Appearances
19 keynotes, 40 seminars, 24 lectures, 10 exhibits/demonstrations, and 28 panels. Noteworthy organizations listed below in alphabetical order. Details may be available on request.
AIAA AVIATION Forum
AIST Pipe & Tube Conference
All Canadian Aeromedical Transport (ACAT) Conference
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Canada Youth Club Summit
Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute
Canadian Technology Investment Conference
Carleton University
Centennial College
Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship
Clarkson University
Conference Board of Canada
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Defence Research & Development Canada
Engineering Science Education Conference
George Brown College
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
IEEE
Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada
Intellectual Property Ontario Summit
International Astronautical Congress
Los Angeles CoMotion Conference
McGill University
McMaster University
NASA Space Apps Challenge
NATO Association of Canada
National Defence HQ of Canada
National Research Council of Canada
Northern Transportation Symposium
Ontario Centre of Innovation
Ontario Science Centre
Regional Aviation Association of Australia
Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Military Institute
Royal Military College of Canada
Ryerson University
Sustainable Aeronautics Summit
TEDxUofT
Transport Canada Lecture Series
United States Air Force
United States Naval Postgraduate School
United States Special Operations Command
University of Ottawa
University of Toronto
University of Waterloo
Unmanned Canada
Velocity Incubator
Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute
Western University
World Affairs Conference
York University
Media Coverage
60+ news segments at mass media venues such as CBC, Globe and Mail, National Post, CTV News, CP24, and Yahoo News, as well as sector-specific venues including Aviation International News, FutureFlight, AvWeek/AvWeb, Skies Magazine, sUAS News, and The Space Channel. Visit https://tinyurl.com/jchw-media for links and details.
Research Supervision
MASTERS
A. Kresnyak (2024-2026): Injector design and simulation for rotating detonating rocket engines, MASc in Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, supervised by J.-P. Hickey and J. C.-H. Wang (University of Waterloo)
2Lt H. Mydland (2024-2026): Long-endurance solar-powered RPAS for persistent airborne monitoring, MASc in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, supervised by R. E. Perez and J. C.-H. Wang (Royal Military College of Canada)
M. Taherkani (2024-2026): Network optimization and hub location analysis of air ambulance networks, MASc in Management Sciences & Engineering, supervised by S. A. Alev and J. C.-H. Wang (University of Waterloo), J. Naoum-Sawaya and B. Ghaddar (WesternU)
A. Lamey (2024-2026): Fused deposition additive manufacturing for rapidly manufacturable attritable RPAS, MASc in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, supervised by R. E. Perez and J. C.-H. Wang (Royal Military College of Canada)
A. Blandford, A. Nair, T. Smouter (2024-2025): A feasibility assessment of sustainable UAV solutions for remote northern supply chains, AVIA 602/802 Research Project in Collaborative Aeronautics, supervised by S. Kearns, C. Woudsma, and J. C.-H. Wang (University of Waterloo)
BACHELORS
S. Chatterjee (2024): Numerical simulation of turbulence-generated noise, Mitacs Globalink Project in Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, supervised by J.-P. Hickey and J. C.-H. Wang (University of Waterloo)
G. Wei (2020): Non-ideal thermodynamics for the Roe and HLLC Riemann solvers, NSERC USRA Project in Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, supervised by J. C.-H. Wang and J.-P. Hickey (University of Waterloo)
D. Ingriselli (2020): Numerical methods for high-speed gas dynamic flows, URA Project in Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, supervised by J. C.-H. Wang and J.-P. Hickey (University of Waterloo)
Select Grants & Contributions
Extensive track record of grants, contributions, and other non-dilutive funding secured for industry and academic projects. Noteworthy funding organizations listed below in alphabetical order. Details may be available on request.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canada Revenue Agency
Employment and Social Development Canada
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
Mitacs
National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
North York General Foundation
Ontario Centre of Innovation
Ontario Centres of Excellence
Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Honours & Awards
American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics: Challenge Coin for Outstanding Service, 2024
Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute: Nominee for the Trans-Canada McKee Trophy, 2023
University of Toronto: Arbor Award (highest honour for exceptional service to the University), 2023
Mitacs: Outstanding Change Agent Entrepreneur, 2023
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers: Nominee for President’s Young Professional Award, 2020
Velocity Incubator: Winner, Velocity Fund Pitch Competition, 2020
University of Waterloo: Winner, Graduate Student Startup Fund, 2020
University of Waterloo: Winner, Concept Pitch Competition, 2019
Frost & Sullivan: Top 22 Innovative Drone Service Providers (World), 2019
University of Waterloo: Winner, Problem Pitch Competition, 2019
Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute: Top Graduating Student of the University of Toronto, 2018
University of Toronto: Gordon Cressy Leadership Award (outstanding extra-curricular contributions), 2018
Drone Industry Insights: Top 20 UAV Operators (World), #1 for Inspections and Mapping (Canada), 2018
American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics: 20 Twenties, 2018
Ernest C. Manning Awards for Innovation: Finalist, Greater Toronto Area, 2017
Experimental Sounding Rocket Association: 1st (Canada), 3rd (World), Advanced Category of IREC, 2016
Canadian Satellite Design Challenge: 3rd Place Critical Design Review, 4th Place Overall, 2016
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International: 2nd (Canada), 10th (World), UAS Competition, 2016
Unmanned Systems Canada: 1st Place, sUAS Competition Phase 1, 2016
NEXT Canada: The Next 36 (one of Canada’s top 36 highest potential young entrepreneurs), 2016
University of Toronto: Best Presentation in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, UnERD Conference, 2015
Experimental Sounding Rocket Association: 1st Place Design & Analysis (World), Advanced Category of IREC, 2015
University of Toronto: Outstanding Initiative or Vision for a Campus Organization, 2015
Ryerson University Engineering Society: Best Professional Event (TSAA Conference 2014), 2015
Space Generation Advisory Council: Member of the Month, 2014
Experimental Sounding Rocket Association: R. G. Moore Award for Innovation (regeneratively cooled nozzle), 2014
The Operations Research Challenge: 1st Place, 2013
Poetry Institute of Canada: Best Poem, Young Writers Category, 2013
World Education Games: 3rd Place in Mental Arithmetics (Canada), 2013
Degrees
Ph. D. in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 2018-2022
Specialization in Fluid Mechanics, Certificate in Fundamentals of University Teaching
Thesis: Riemann solvers with non-ideal thermodynamics: exact, approximate, and machine learning solutions
B. A. Sc. in Engineering Science with Honours, University of Toronto, 2013-2018
Major in Aerospace Engineering, Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Small Business
Thesis: Investigating how organizational culture influences goals and challenges of co-curricular engineering design teams
Licences
Radio Operator Certificate — Amateur Advanced, Industry Canada, 2021-Now
Radio Operator Certificate and Accredited Examiner — Aeronautical, Industry Canada, 2021-Now
RPAS Pilot — Basic Operations, Transport Canada, 2019-Now
EIT, Professional Engineers Ontario, 2018-Present
Professional Memberships
Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries: Member, 2025-Now
Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute: Member, 2016-Now
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics: Senior Member, 2014-Now
American Physical Society: Member, 2020-2022
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers: Associate Member, 2019-2021
Last Update: 2025-05-10