Head of PHM lab, Ben- Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Israel
Prof. Jacob Bortman is a distinguished mechanical engineer, professor, and retired Brigadier General of the Israeli Air Force with an illustrious career spanning both military and academic domains. Currently serving as a Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Prof. Bortman is widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to structural health monitoring, digital twins, and mechanical systems. With over three decades of leadership and innovation, he seamlessly bridges defense engineering and academic excellence.
Publication Profile
🎓Education Background
Prof. Bortman completed his B.Sc. (1978–1982) and M.Sc. (1983–1984) in Mechanical Engineering at Tel Aviv University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with top honors. He then pursued his Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, USA (1988–1991), where he excelled under the mentorship of Prof. Barna Szabo. His doctoral research focused on nonlinear modeling using the p-Version Finite Element Method.
💼Professional Experience
Spanning from 1981 to 2009, Prof. Bortman served in the Israeli Air Force, culminating his service as Head of the Materials Directorate with the rank of Brigadier General. He led critical departments including Aircraft, UAV & Space, and Engineering Laboratories, driving technological advancements in fatigue, damage tolerance, and maintenance. In 2010, he transitioned to academia at BGU, where he continues to lead in teaching and research. Additionally, Prof. Bortman has held key industrial roles, including board memberships and chairmanships in several high-tech and medical technology companies, and serves as a consultant for aerospace and defense sectors.
🏅Awards and Honors
Prof. Bortman has received numerous accolades including the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Nomination by the PHM Society, 2020 Israeli National Defense Prize, 2016 Outstanding Lecturer at BGU, and 1992 Israeli Prime Minister National Prize for Excellence in Public Service. His consistent recognition for innovation, teaching, and public service highlights his impactful career.
🔬Research Focus
Prof. Bortman’s research centers on vibration-based condition monitoring, digital twins, machine learning for fault diagnosis, and prognostics and health management (PHM). He actively contributes to structural integrity research communities and serves on editorial boards, notably advancing knowledge in AI integration for Industry 4.0 applications.
🔚Conclusion
Prof. Jacob Bortman’s exemplary service in defense, academia, and industry makes him a globally respected authority in mechanical engineering and structural health monitoring. His dedication to research, innovation, and education continues to inspire the next generation of engineers and thought leaders. 🌍
📚Top Publications
Machine Health Indicators and Digital Twins
Sensors, 2025
Cited by: 4 articles
New Holistic Approach for Bearing RUL Estimation
Structural Health Monitoring, 2025
Cited by: 3 articles
Few-shot Learning for Gear Wear Estimation
Engineering Failure Analysis, 2025
Cited by: 2 articles
Anomaly Detection of Gear Wear
Structural Health Monitoring, 2025
Cited by: 2 articles
Zero-Fault-Shot Learning for Spall Type Classification
Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 2025
Cited by: 1 article
Anomaly Detection and RUL Estimation – 2023 Data Challenge
Sensors, 2024
Cited by: 2 articles
Systematic Review of Deep Learning for Fault Diagnosis
Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2024
Cited by: 5 articles