DR. DONALD B. PAUL

Dr. Donald B. Paul is Chief Scientist, Air Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The directorate is responsible for conducting Air Force research, exploratory and advanced development activities relating to flight vehicle integration and flight demonstration, flight vehicle structures, flight control, aeromechanics, survivability enhancement, thermal management and vehicle subsystems. The Chief Scientist is the directorate's principal adviser on scientific and technical matters, and the primary authority for technical content of the science and technology portfolio.

Dr. Paul began his career in 1968 as a materials research engineer at the Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, Calif. He played a key role in developing solid and ramjet missile structures and insulation materials. Dr. Paul joined the Flight Dynamics Laboratory in 1971 as an aerospace engineer in the Structures Division. The majority of his Air Force career he has focused on the conduct of basic research, and on exploratory and advanced developments in thermal structural analysis techniques and high-temperature structural concepts. This research and development led to more than 120 technical publications and four U.S. patents, and has been applied to the Air Force Airborne Laser Laboratory, the Advanced Strategic Air-Launched Missile, turbine engine technology, the Strategic Defense Initiative and the National Aerospace Plane. As technical leader of the NASP Airframe Structures and Materials Team, Dr. Paul was responsible for such technology advancements as the composite cryogenic tank, titanium metal and ceramic matrix composite structures, and actively and passively cooled leading edges.

Dr. Paul is a frequently invited speaker at universities and international technical symposia, a chair of technical committees and workshops, and a conference organizer.

EDUCATION
1968 Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, Michigan State University
1971 Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering, University of Southern California
1980 Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering, The Ohio State University
1999 Leadership for a Democratic Society, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1968 - 1971, materials research engineer, Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, Calif.
2. 1971 - 1985, aerospace engineer, Structural Integrity Branch, Structures Division, Flight Dynamics Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. 1985 - 1993, Senior Technical Adviser, Structures Division, Flight Dynamics Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. 1993 - 1995, Chief Scientist, Structures Division, Flight Dynamics Directorate, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. 1995 - 1996, Chief, Structures Division, Flight Dynamics Directorate, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. 1996 - 1997, Associate Chief Scientist, Flight Dynamics Directorate, Wright Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. 1997 - present, Chief Scientist, Air Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

AWARDS AND HONORS
1970 Naval Weapons Center Fellowship, University of Southern California
1982 General Benjamin D. Foulois Award, Flight Dynamics Laboratory
1983 Dayton Area Outstanding Engineer and Scientist Award, Affiliate Societies Council
1987 Senior Engineer of the Year Award, Flight Dynamics Laboratory
1988 Scientific Achievement Award, Air Force Materiel Command
1990 National Aerospace Plane Eugene Zara Award
1996 Outstanding Alumnus Award, The Ohio State University
1991 National Aerospace Plane Award for Innovative Management and Outstanding Technical Efforts
1991 Manager of the Year Award, Flight Dynamics Directorate
1997 NATO Structures and Materials Panel Award
2004 Meritorious Senior Professional Presidential Rank Award
2005 NATO Applied Vehicle Technology Panel Award
2006 AFRL Commander's Cup Award
2007 Distinguished Alumni Award, Michigan State University
2008 Distinguished Senior Professional Presidential Rank Award

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow, American Society for Mechanical Engineers
Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society
Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

(Current as of January 2009)