Vern D. Wedeven is President of Wedeven Associates, Inc., an engineering consulting firm specializing in tribology research and development. He pioneered a novel tribology-by-design (T/D) approach, encompassing theory, tools, methodology, and solutions, and has made significant contributions to jet engine oil qualification and space propulsion systems. The author of more than 60 technical papers, Wedeven holds three patents and has received multiple prestigious awards for his work in tribology.