Home » Robert F. Handschuh Ends 35-Year Career at NASA Glenn Research Center

Robert F. Handschuh Ends 35-Year Career at NASA Glenn Research Center

March 20, 2019

Dr. Robert F. Handschuh has retired from NASA, concluding a more than 35-year distinguished career as the Chief of the Rotating and Drive Systems Branch at NASA Glenn, directing the research efforts of over 20 NASA, ARL and contractor research engineers and technicians. His work at NASA Glenn included invaluable NASA and DoD research in rotorcraft drive system analysis and experimental methods. He previously served as the Drive Systems Team leader for the Tribology & Mechanical Components Branch at NASA Glenn for 20 years. This also included research in high-speed gearing — including windage, loss-of-lubrication technology, and hybrid gearing. Handschuh also successfully developed many experimental research test facilities, including: high-temperature ceramic seal erosion; blade-shroud seal rub test; planetary gear train test facility; spiral bevel and face gear test facility; high-speed helical gear train facility; single tooth bending fatigue test facility; and high-speed windage. Honors received over the years include: 2016 — Patent #9,296,157, Hybrid Gear; 2009 — Elected American Helicopter Society Technical Fellow; 2008 — NASA Silver Snoopy Award; 2004 — Elected American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow; and many others. A prolific contributor, he penned over 130 Formal, Referenceable, and other Publications (including Gear Technology), as well as over 30 International Conference Presentations. Not leaving the scene completely, he continues to serve on the ASME Power Transmission and Gearing and AHS Propulsion Committees.

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