Biography

Dr. Robert A. Frederick, Jr., is Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Director of the Propulsion Research Center at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. He joined UAH in 1991 and has directed the center since 2008. His research includes solid, hybrid, liquid, and air-breathing propulsion, with recent work in centrifugal nuclear thermal propulsion, controllable hypersonic boost propulsion, liquid injection, and high-temperature rocket motor seals. He teaches rocket propulsion and advanced solid and liquid rocket propulsion and mentors students through experimental research. He is an AIAA Associate Fellow and a former U.S. representative to NATO propulsion research activities.

Curriculum Vitae

PRC director

Education

• Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Purdue University, 1988
• M.S., Engineering, Purdue University, 1982
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 1980

Honors & Awards

• Konrad Dannenberg Educator of the Year, AIAA Greater Huntsville Section, 2023
• Shaping the Future of Aerospace award, AIAA Solid Rocket Technical Committee, 2017
• UAH Advisor of the Year, 2016

Expertise

• Solid Propellant Combustion and Diagnostic
• Hybrid Rocket Fuels
• Liquid Rocket Injection and Combustion Instability

Recent Publications

• Frederick, R., and Schroll, M. “Experimentally Backed Bubbly Mixing Model for CNTR Using AI Analysis.” AIAA SciTech, 2026. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-0059

• Thomas, L. D., et al. “Addressing challenges to engineering feasibility of the centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket.” Acta Astronautica, 243, 462–474, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.05.007

• Schroll, M., et al. “Experimentally Backed Model of Bubbly Flow in a CNTP Reactor.” Acta Astronautica, 215, 426–438, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.12.012