News - USC's Azad Madni Awarded 2026 John Fritz Medal for Engineering Innovation

Professor Azad Madni of USC Viterbi has been honored with the 2026 John Fritz Medal, a prestigious accolade established in 1902 to recognize groundbreaking contributions in the engineering field. Madni joins an elite group of past recipients such as Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, and Elon Musk. The medal acknowledges his revolutionary work in transdisciplinary systems engineering, transforming the design, construction, and deployment of complex systems across aerospace, defense, healthcare, and more. Currently, Madni holds positions as the Northrop Grumman Foundation Fred O’Green Chair in Engineering and University Professor, reflecting his outstanding achievements in multiple disciplines. His award citation commends his innovative use of disciplinary convergence, augmented intelligence, and interactive storytelling in virtual environments. USC President Beong-Soo Kim lauded Madni’s contributions, underscoring their impact on complex system design and his profound career dedicated to advancing engineering frontiers. Recognition of Madni's contributions is significant within the USC Viterbi School, where the namesake Andrew Viterbi was also honored with the John Fritz Medal in 2011 for digital communication advancements. Dean (interim) Gaurav Sukhatme remarked on this continuity of pioneering leadership from USC's engineering community. A respected member of the National Academy of Engineering, Madni is a fellow of numerous scientific and engineering bodies. His accolades include the NAE Gordon Prize, IEEE Simon Ramo Medal, and ASME Spirit of St. Louis Medal. Alongside engineering, Madni has extended his professorship to medicine and education at USC. His educational journey includes a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. from UCLA. The announcement made on October 12th, 2026, further solidifies Madni's enduring influence and exemplary contributions to modern engineering disciplines.