University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering

Robert Beacham Dillaway

[title]
To Robert Beacham Dillaway, engineer, research director, industrial executive, government executive, for his original contributions and leadership in applying scientific knowledge to research and development efforts in industry and government.

Senior Vice President, Consolidated Diesel Electric Company, Old Greenwich, Connecticut

  • MS, Physics, 1951
  • PhD, Mechanical Engineering, 1953

Dr. Dillaway has made extensive original contributions to the design of rocket engines and nozzles, in particular on the Atlas program in the areas of component development, aerodynamics, heat transfer, and controls. Subsequently, as a technical manager, he organized design teams which carried out original research and development work in nuclear rocket, ion, and plasma space propulsion, heat transfer, and bearing technology. As a consultant, he successfully applied advanced aerospace technology to significantly improve operations in the chemical and food-processing industries. In government service, he organized projects in the areas of combustion, explosives, ballistics, guided projectiles, helicopters, and radars. Dr. Dillaway exercises technical supervision over all Army laboratories. He is presently on leave from Consolidated Diesel to hold the position of senior consultant, head of oversight task team, Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives. As a member of professional societies, he drafted the international rules for certification of manned space flight records, and he has played a leading role in organizing sessions and conferences in advanced technical areas, such as the Intersociety Transportation Conference.

He has received the Donovan Scholar Award and the NAA Editorial Award. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Current as of 1976.