Abstract: A ferrohydrodynamic thermal management system is described and claimed. At least one ferrohydrodynamic pump is utilized to motivate a ferrofluid along a fluid communication channel. A primary heat exchanger transfers thermal energy from a system to be thermally managed to the ferrofluid, and a secondary heat exchanger transfers thermal energy from the ferrofluid to an external heat sink. The ferrofluid is motivated within the fluid communication channel by at least one time-varying magnetic field produced by at least one electromagnet, which may be driven by a time-varying electromagnet drive signal such that the motivation of the ferrofluid within the fluid communication channel is controlled in a desired fashion. The amount of thermal energy, or heat, removed from the system to be thermally managed is controllable and may be controlled by a controller that produces a desired time-varying electrical drive signal.