Background
Roby, Richard Joseph was born on October 21, 1954 in Baltimore. Son of Robert Edelen Senior and Lorraine Teresa (McDonough) Roby.
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Richard Joseph Roby
Edit Profileeducator research engineering executive
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Cornell Univercity, 1977; Master of Science in Mech. Engineering, Cornell Univercity, 1980; Doctor of Philosophy in Mech. Engineering, Stanford University, 1988.
Career
Teaching assistant chemistry department, Cornell Univercity, Ithaca, New York, 1975-1977;
teaching assistant government department, Cornell Univercity, Ithaca, New York, 1977-1979;
research assistant mechanic and aerospace engineering department, Cornell Univercity, Ithaca, New York, 1977-1979;
research engineer fuels and lubricants department, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan, 1979-1983;
research assistant mechanic engineering department, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, 1983-1986;
from assistant professor to associate professor mechanic engineering department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, 1987-1992;
director combustion research, Hughes Associations, Inc., Columbia, Maryland., since 1992. Member program subcommittee International Symposium Combustion, 1982-1984, 86-88, 88-90, 90-92, 92-94, 94-96. Session chairman Eastern states section CombustionInst.
Meeting, Orlando, Florida, 1990. Member of advisory board chemical and thermal system disvn. National Science Foundation, 1991.
Adjunct Professor Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, since 1992.
Achievements
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Achievements include patent pending for plasma torch for ignition andstabilization of supersonic combustion. For dual frequency microwavetechnique for measuring solid propellant burn rates. For flame quality detector for gas turbine engines.
Research includes pollutant formation and control, alternate fuels, light off detector for gas turbine engines, cold start assist device for alcohol fueled vehicles, single station smoke detector, principles of fire protection chemistry, carbon monoxide, smoke yields, and window breakage from compartment fires, and dynamic turbine blade temperature measurement.
Membership
Firefighter Ithaca Volunteer Fire Department, 1973-1979, department instructor, 1976-1979, Lieutenant Neriton Fire Company, 1976-1979. Firefighter Belleville (Michigan) Volunteer Fire Department, 1980-1981. Member California Democrats for New Leadership, Los Angeles and San Francisco, 1984-1986.
Delegate Montgomery County (Virginia) Democratic Committee, 1987-1992. Member American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Association for Fire Safety Science, Society Fire Protection Engineers, Society Automotive Engineers (faculty advisor Virginia Technology student chapter 1987-1992), The Combustion Institute, Planetary Society, Sigma Xi (secretary Ford Motor Company chapter 1981-1982).
Connections
Married Jeanne Celia Busch, August 2, 1986.
