George J. Eppright Chair Professor
of Aerospace Engineering

Texas A&M University

 

Education and Experience


Education:

 Ph.D. Engineering, UCLA, 1969 (With Distinction)
M.S. Engineering, UCLA, 1967
B.AE. Aerospace Engineering, Auburn University, 1965 (Outstanding Engineering Graduate)

Academic Experience:

 Dr. Junkins is a Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering and holds the George J. Eppright Endowed Chair Professorship. He has directed the research of over 50 graduate students, leading to the awarding of 28 PhD degrees and 18 MS degrees, 7 PhD students are in progress. He has directed the research of 10 post-doctoral researchers. He teaches with insight and enthusiasm across a spectrum of graduate and undergraduate dynamics, controls, robotics, and astronautics subjects. His teaching quality has been recognized by awards made at Department, College, University, and national levels. His technical descendants include several professors, three generations of PhDs, CEOs, and a substantial number of productive engineers in industry. His former students are widely recognized for balance between strong analytical ability and pragmatic insight into implementation of advanced technology.
  • 1985- Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas: TEES Distinguished Chair Professor (1985-89), George J. Eppright Endowed Chair Professor (1989-), Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering (1998-).
  • 1978-85 Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA.
  • 1974-78 Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
  • 1970-74 Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Professional Research and Development Experience:

 Professional non-academic positions:
  • 1966-70 Engineer/Scientist Specialist, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co., Santa Monica, California. Developed and applied optimization methods to the flight paths of Delta and Thor vehicles. Methodology supported Geocentric, Lunar, and Interplanetary missions.
  • 1965-66 Aerospace Engineer, NASA-Marshall Space Flight Ctr, Huntsville, AL. Dynamic analysis of Staurn I, IB, and Saturn V, with a focus on coupling between vehicle bending, propellant slosh and engine dynamics/control/thrust vectoring.
  • 1962-64 Engineering Aide (Co-Op student), NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama. Assist in dynamics and controls analysis, and reduce data from propellant slosh experiments to establish insight needed to suppress instabilities.

Consulting:

 Consulting experience includes:
  • 1975- Consultant with 21 governmental/industrial laboratories, serves on several corporate boards. One company, Digital Scanning Systems, Inc. of Santa Rosa, CA, formed in 1992 around a stereo laser triangulation concept patented by Junkins, et al.
  • He has taught over twenty professional short courses and workshops.
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