Dr. Richard Branam has been at the U.S. Air Force Academy since June 17th, 2024, Department of Astronautics. He is currently the Course Director for the Rocket Propulsion course and is diligently working to establish homegrown rocket and space propulsion testing at the Academy!

Dr Branam was on the faculty at The University of Alabama College of Engineering from 2014 to 2024. During this time, he collaborated with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and AFIT under formal Educational Partnership Agreements. Under this agreement, he was active on AFIT research committees. Dr. Branam added six new space-related courses to the University of Alabama’s curriculum and enjoyed every one of the 28 courses he had the opportunity to teach. At the University of Alabama, he established a world-class space propulsion research facility, producing substantial contributions to the community.

Dr. Branam served for 25 years in the Air Force (Lt Col (Ret.)) where he was a researcher and engineer. His Air Force career has provided him with many unique experiences in the areas of rocket propulsion, space propulsion, plasma dynamics, combustion, and space systems.

Dr. Branam has published over 80 refereed articles in the areas of rocket engines, combustion, laser diagnostics, hypersonics, space propulsion, and plasma dynamics.

Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, (August 2005).

M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, (December 1997).

B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, The Ohio State University, (March 1993).

Assistant Professor of Astronautical Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug 2024 – Present)

Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Aug 2020 – Aug 2024)

Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Aug 2014 – Aug 2020)

Faculty Fellow, Summer Researcher, NASA Marshall Space Flight Research Center, Huntsville, Ala. (May – Aug 2016)

Associate Professor and Director of Distance Learning Curriculum, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Oct 2010 – Aug 2014)

Adjunct Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio (Oct 2010 – Present)

Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio (Aug 2005 – Oct 2010)

Officer, U.S. Air Force (Sept 1993 – Sept 2014)

Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2008)

Meritorious Service Medal (2006, 2011, 2014)

RII Track-1: Future Technologies and Enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) (National Science Foundation Award Number 2148653, Gary Zank, UAH is the PD)

Novel Hybrid Rotating Detonation Engine Optimized with Aerospike Nozzle for Rocket Applications (NASA Grant 80NSSC20K0305)

Iodine Hollow Cathode (Plasma Control, SBIR from NASA)

Iodine Plasma (Electric Propulsion) Interaction with Spacecraft Materials (Air Force Office of Scientific Research)