The Heronemus Award for Outstanding Achievement in Offshore Wind honors an individual who has contributed significantly to the expansion of offshore wind energy. Named in honor of William Edward Heronemus (1920 – 2002), the “father of modern wind power,” it recognizes an individual’s leadership, dedication, and unwavering perseverance to accelerate the offshore wind industry.
Bill Heronemus was the inventor of products and terms today considered the backbone of offshore wind. He served in the Navy during World War II and received a Bronze Star for his service. Following the war, he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving an M.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and worked for the Navy for nearly 20 years until he retired in 1965. Soon after, he established the Ocean Engineering Department at the University of Massachusetts. During his decades-long tenure at the University, he advocated for the advance of “grand scale” renewables to replace fossil fuel and nuclear energy, saying, “Renewable energy is mandatory for the future of mankind. Wind energy is one of the best sources, and the technology already exists to tap it.”
