Robert D. Braun

Dr. Robert (Bobby) D. Braun, an American aerospace engineer, is the David and Andrew Lewis Professor of Space Technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Braun received his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1987, his M.S. in Astronautics from George Washington University in 1989, and his Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1996 from Stanford University and worked on a variety of advanced planetary exploration concepts at the NASA Langley Research Center from 1987-2003. He worked on the Mars Pathfinder mission from 1992–1997.

In February 2010, Braun was named by NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr. as the Agency's Chief Technologist. In this capacity, he created and staffed the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist, formulated the NASA Space Technology program and advocated for the budget necessary to advance cutting-edge technology applicable to NASA's future missions. Braun announced his resignation as NASA's Chief Technologist on September 6, 2011 and left the Agency on September 30, 2011. He is now a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Honors and distinctions

 * AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award, 1999
 * National Air and Space Museum Trophy, 1998, presented to the Mars Pathfinder team
 * NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, 2004 and 1996
 * NASA Group Achievement Award (7 times)

Selected publications

 * Braun, R.D.; and Manning, R.M.; “Mars Entry, Descent and Landing Challenges,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 310–323, Mar-Apr, 2007.
 * Dubos, G.F.; Saleh, J.H.; and Braun. R.D.: “Technology Readiness Level, Schedule Risk, and Slippage in Spacecraft Design.” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 836–842, July-Aug, 2008.
 * Clark, I.M.; Hutchings, A.L.; Tanner, C.L.; and Braun, R.D.: “Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerators for Use on Future Robotic Missions to Mars.” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 340–352, Mar-Apr, 2009.
 * Korzun, A.M.; Braun, R.D.; and Cruz, J.R.; “A Survey of Supersonic Retropropulsion Technology for Mars Entry, Descent and Landing,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 929–937, Sept-Oct, 2009.
 * Theisinger, J.E.; and Braun, R.D.; “Multi-Objective Hypersonic Entry Aeroshell Shape Optimization,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 957–966, Sept-Oct, 2009.