William H. Heiser
Post Office Box 428
USAF Academy, CO 80840
(719)481-9572
heiser@propulsion.com
 
Background An outstanding career of leadership in the research and development of propulsion and energy conversion technology, featuring a balance of experience in business, government, and education.
     
Experience    
     
1996-present  

Professor Emeritus
Department of Aeronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO

Chairman of several standing aircraft engine technical committees, including the F-22, the Joint Strike Fighter, and Propulsion Product Group Manager Executive Independent Review Teams. Member of several national technical review committees, including the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of the National Academy of Engineering and the DoD ODDR&E Technical Area Review and Assessment Team. Director of airbreathing propulsion short courses presented for the USAF, the USN, the NASA Glenn Research Center, and on behalf of the AIAA. Visiting Professor at the University of Cambridge Whittle Laboratory during January-June 1998. The first civilian Professor Emeritus of the USAF Academy.

     
1993-1996  

Professor
Department of Aeronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO

The first full professor contracted in the new faculty civilianization program. Responsible for teaching upper level courses in airbreathing propulsion and expanding opportunities for related research. Member of the Faculty Personnel Council and the Faculty Forum.

     
1989-1993  

Distinguished Visiting Professor
Department of Aeronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO

Responsible for teaching upper level courses in aircraft design and hypersonic flight, and principal author of the successful AIAA Education Series textbook Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion. Directing the expansion of activities associated with aircraft jet propulsion into such areas as research and sponsored short courses.

     
1988-1989  

Visiting Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Davis, CA

Responsible for teaching the propulsion track in the combined aeronautical/mechanical engineering curriculum, including courses in advanced thermodynamics, gas turbine power cycles, and aircraft engine design. Managed the development of a new department Industrial Affiliates Program.

     
1988-1989  

Aerospace Propulsion Specialist
Roseville, CA

Consultant for the National AeroSpace Plane Joint Program Office and the Aerojet TechSystems Company. Course director and/or lecturer for AIAA and ASME, and such universities as UCLA and UTSI.

     
1985-1988  

Vice President/Director
Aerojet General Corporation
Sacramento, CA

Directed the establishment of the new Aerojet Propulsion Research Institute, a world-class, visionary, company sponsored organization dedicated to the pursuit of a broad spectrum of breakthrough propulsion technologies for the 10 to 30 year future.

     
1983-1985  

Distinguished Visiting Professor
Department of Aeronautics, U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO

Taught the fundamentals and design principles of airbreathing engines and co-authored the popular AIAA Education Series textbook Aircraft Engine Design. Supported the successful advocacy of a general curriculum revision and a major expansion and modernization of the Department of Aeronautics Laboratory.

     
1978-1983  

Manager
General Electric Aircraft Engine Group
Cincinnati, OH

Directed all advanced technology work in the areas of rotating machinery, combustion, engine controls, acoustics, and engine installations. Responsible for significant progress in the computer-aided design of compressors and turbines, understanding of stagnation stall, digital electronic controls, reduction of engine noise, and the improvement of nacelle design and integration. Also served as head of technology and operational planning for the Vice President of Engineering.

     
1975-1978  

Chief Scientist
Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center
Arnold Air Force Station, TN

Principal assistant and advisor to the Center Commander on scientific and technical matters. Contributed to the solution of many facility problems, participated in the first serious competition for the Center support contract, and a key figure in all advocacy activities leading to Congressional approval for construction of the Aeropropulsion Systems Test Facility (ASTF), the most advanced aircraft engine ground test facility in the free world.

     
1971-1975  

Chief Scientist
Air Force Aero Propulsion Laboratory
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH

Principal assistant and advisor to the Laboratory Commander on scientific and technical matters, and director of the in-house research program. Contributed to basic research, exploratory and advanced development of airbreathing, electric, and exotic propulsion, fuels and lubricants, and aerospace power. Created an innovative team to attack basic problems of the airborne high-power laser program. Headed the investigation of many engine failures, leading to a new, usage-based, durability-centered, production development process and much more reliable aircraft engines.

     
1966-1971  

Head of Turbine Technology
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft
East Hartford, CT

Directed all aerodynamic and heat transfer research and development as well as component testing for aircraft gas turbines. Introduced modern computational methods for compressible potential flows, boundary layers, and axi-symmetric flows. This made it possible to confidently design "controlled-vortex" turbines, which produce more power per stage at high efficiency and have become the standard of industry.

     
1962-1966  

Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, M.I.T.
Cambridge, MA

Taught on both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and carried out research on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and gas dynamics. Scientific assistant for the J.A. Shercliff/National Committee for Fluid Mechanics Films movie "Magnetohydrodynamics," and the Stanley Kubrick/MGM movie "2001: A Space Odyssey." Authored one of the most fundamental and frequently cited papers in its field, "Thrust Augmentation."

     
Education    
     
1956   The Cooper Union (BSME)
     
1957   California Institute of Technology (MSME)
     
1958   Braunschweig Technische Hochschule, FRG
     
1962   Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhDME)
     
Honors and Awards    
     
1999   Summerfield Book Award for the best book recently published by the AIAA, with D.T. Pratt, for the textbook Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion
     
1996   Outstanding Career Civilian Service Award
     
1996   Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award in recognition of distinguished performance as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board
     
1995   U.S. Air Force Academy Nominee for the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
     
1990   Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
     
1989   Magnar Ronning Teaching Award as the outstanding teacher in the UC Davis College of Engineering
     
1988   AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of jet engine technology
     
1988   AIAA Sacramento Section Distinguished Service Award
     
1987   Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award in recognition of distinguished performance as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board
     
1985   Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
     
1984   Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
     
1974   Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award in recognition of superior performance as Chief Scientist of the Aero Propulsion Laboratory
     
1968   ASME Gas Turbine Power Award for the outstanding gas turbine technical paper of the previous year, "Compound-Compressible Nozzle Flow," written with A. Bernstein and C. Hevenor.
     
1960   Ford Foundation Fellowship, M.I.T.
     
1957   Fulbright Exchange Grant to the Braunschweig Technische Hochschule, FRG
     
1956   Howard Hughes Master of Science Fellowship, C.I.T.