Dr. (Richard) Scott Erwin is a member of the Scientific and Professional Service (ST) cadre of senior executives, and Chief Scientist at Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Material Command, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Dr. Erwin is responsible for the technical quality of the more than $300 million-per-year science-and-technology investment in the Space Vehicles Directorate. Additionally, Dr. Erwin coordinates these space investments with other government agencies and industry internal research and development to establish new collaborations and improve the opportunities for technology transition into operational systems.
Dr. Erwin has been an employee of Space Vehicles Directorate from 1997 to the present. Prior to his current appointment, he served as Acting Chief Scientist and has been the Principal Investigator or Co-PI for six on-orbit flight experiments during his career at AFRL, including his most recent role as the PI for the United States Air Force EAGLE-Mycroft flight experiments. Dr. Erwin is the author or co-author of over 120 technical publications in the areas of autonomy, spacecraft communications, dynamics and controls. He is a Fellow of The Air Force Research Laboratory, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is the recipient of the 2016 IEEE Judith A. Resnick Space Award for “for outstanding contributions to spacecraft vibration isolation technologies and ultra-precision pointing of large flexible space platforms.”
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.
1993 Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
1997 Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1997–September 2000, Research Aerospace Engineer, Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2. September 2000–August 2002, Deployable Optics Program Manager, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3. August 2002–November 2005, Technical Advisor, Spacecraft Component Technologies Branch, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. November 2005–April 2009, Technical Area Lead, Command, Control, and Communications, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
5. April 2009–July 2011, Assistant to the Chief Scientist, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6. July 2011–December 2018, Program Manager, Guidance, Navigation, and Control, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
7. December 2018–December 2020, Principal Investigator, EAGLE-Mycroft Mission, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
8. January 2020–October 2021, Technical Director, Special Projects, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
9. October 2021–August 2023, Chief Scientist (Acting), Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
10. August 2023–present, Chief Scientist, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2001 USAF Science and Engineering Award, Exploratory or Advanced Technology Development
2006 13th Annual AFMC Engineering and Technical Management General Lester L. Lyles Award for Mentoring and Professional Development
2013 Air Force Civilian Achievement Award
2016 IEEE AESS Judith A. Resnick Space Award
2018 Space Vehicles Directorate Dr. Harold Gardiner Commander’s Cup Award (EAGLE Mission Team)
2019 AFRL Richard J. Neal Commander’s Cup Special Recognition Award (Combined Demonstration Team)
2023 AFRL Fellow
2024 Meritorious Civilian Service Award
PUBLICATIONS
“Geosynchronous Satellite Maneuvers Using Solar Radiation Pressure,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, February 2018
“An Introduction to Optimal Satellite Range Scheduling,” Springer International Publishing, April 2015
“Information Space Receding Horizon Control for Multi-Sensor Tasking Problems,” IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, June 2016
Computing Reach-Avoid Sets for Space Vehicle Docking under Impulsive Thrust,” Proceedings of IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, December 2016
“Model Predictive Control of Spacecraft Rendezvous and Docking," IEEE Transactions on Control System Technology, April 2015
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2022)
Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (2021)
(Current as of December 2024)