Dr. Robert “Bobby” Braun, the David and Andrew Lewis Associate Professor in Space Technology in the Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, has been named NASA’s Chief Technologist. In his new appointment, Braun will serve as a technology advisor to the Administration and member of the NASA Administration’s strategic management team and will be responsible for development of technology and innovation strategic policy, program planning, and program execution. Through an Inter-governmental Personnel Agreement (IPA), Braun will work for NASA in Washington while maintaining his chaired position here at Georgia Tech.
“Prof. Bobby Braun's appointment is another great example of how Georgia Tech can provide services that are essential to the development of our society,” stated Prof. Vigor Yang, Aerospace Chair. “…the AE School will benefit tremendously from Prof. Braun's broad vision and connections, and in return, AE will have increased ability to contribute to NASA's activities in areas of our faculty's pursuit.” Don Giddens, Dean of the College of Engineering and three time graduate of the Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, had this to say regarding Braun’s appointment: “We are pleased to have one of our distinguished faculty serve NASA. This is a great honor, not only for Bobby, but for the college and the entire Institute.”
RESPONSIBILITIES AT GEORGIA TECH
On the Georgia Tech campus, Braun leads an active research program that focuses on the design of advanced flight systems and technologies for planetary exploration. He is responsible for undergraduate and graduate level instruction in the areas of space systems design, astrodynamics and planetary entry.
Dr. Braun’s current research projects include, but are not limited to, entry, descent and landing systems analyses and technology maturation to enable eventual human exploration of Mars, robotic concepts capable of powered flight in planetary atmospheres, entry system architectural concepts for human return from the International Space Station and the Moon.
BRAUN HAS NASA EXPERIENCE
Prior to coming to Georgia Tech, Dr. Braun worked at NASA for sixteen years where he contributed to the design, development, test, and operation of several robotic space flight systems. From 2001-2003, Dr. Braun managed the development of the ARES Mars Scout mission (a proposed scientific survey using a Mars airplane) including the successful ground-based and high-altitude flight test program. From 2000-2001, Dr. Braun served as Deputy Program Manager and Chief Engineer of NASA's Intelligent Synthesis Environment program, where he led NASA's advanced engineering environment technology development activities. From 1992-1997, Braun was a member of the Mars Pathfinder design team participating in landing operations for this mission. He has also contributed to the Mars Microprobe and Mars Sample Return flight projects.
Dr. Braun earned his B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1987 from Pennsylvania State University; his B.S., M.S., in Astronautics in 1989 from George Washington University; and his Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1996 from Stanford University.
