Abstract: A method and apparatus for deforming the network topology of a multi-hop wireless network dynamically (i.e., in real time), in response to changing network traffic conditions and in order to advantageously reduce mean end-to-end network (transmission) delay. Two illustrative embodiments of the invention deform the network topology dynamically in response to traffic conditions (i) by changing the network connectivity between the existing network nodes and (ii) by adding one or more new nodes (and associated connections thereto and therefrom) to the network. In both cases, the traffic conditions may be fed into the algorithm in real time as, for example, a set of queue length measurements. Then, in response, the network is advantageously reorganized into a configuration that reduces the mean end-to-end network transmission delay.