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Talk about Aggie Homecoming. This might be the best yet.

When it began its work two months ago, the chancellor search committee at N.C. A&T could have summed up its hopes in one name: Harold L. Martin.

Sometimes, wishes do come true.

Sources say Martin will be named Friday as A&T's next chancellor, replacing Stanley Battle.

The selection was obvious. Martin was a successful chancellor at Winston-Salem State University from 2000 to 2006. Since then, he's served as senior vice president for academic affairs for the University of North Carolina system. His academic credentials are outstanding, including a doctorate in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. And he's spent most of his career at A&T. He's an Aggie, and he's coming home.

Martin is a perfect fit for many reasons. He knows A&T intimately, having been vice chancellor of academic affairs from 1994 to 1999, dean of the College of Engineering from 1989 to 1994 and headed the electrical engineering department from 1984 to 1987. He earned his undergraduate and master's degrees in engineering at A&T.

And the A&T community knows and respects Martin. He's a trusted leader who can count on support starting his first day in office.

After Battle's short tenure and abrupt resignation earlier this year, A&T staff, faculty, students, alumni and friends need the security of proven, familiar leadership they can count on for a long commitment. It's not clear that Battle, who came from Maryland with no North Carolina connections, ever established that relationship with key constituencies.

The main question about Martin was whether he would step back to Greensboro from Chapel Hill. In his current post, chancellors at all 16 UNC campuses report to him about academic planning and implementation. System President Erskine Bowles is a businessman and politician; Martin is the academic chief.

It's likely, however, he was attracted at least in part by the prospect of helping to manage the development of the A&T-UNCG Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. Martin has conducted research and authored scholarly papers on complex subjects related to electrical engineering. He's worked as a consultant to major corporations. He understands the scientific concepts and potential business applications that can come from the school and its private-sector partnerships. For that reason alone, he's coming to the right place at the right time.

Martin also is likely to strengthen A&T's traditional engineering programs and continue efforts begun under Battle to rebuild the university's overall academic reputation. He did that at Winston-Salem State, which created a School of Graduate Studies and Research and added several master's programs under his leadership. His devotion to A&T indicates he's sure to set even higher goals there.

This Aggie's Homecoming deserves a celebration. Wishes have come true.