Rob Redfield
Engineering Mechanics
U. S. Air Force Academy
Now that I know a little about you, I would like to tell you a bit about myself. I will start with the professional and then talk about the personal.
I’ve been here at the Academy, wow, this is my 11th year and I’ve always been a civilian. If I had it to do again, I think I would go military. Air Force officers are great folks to work with.
Before that I spent nine years at Texas A&M in Mechanical Engineering. I can’t believe I’ve been teaching that long. I still picture myself like you guys.
Remote Manipulator System
I went to school at U.C Davis, did all three degrees in ME. I worked on bicycling biomechanics and electronic vehicle suspension control for my degrees. Since then I’ve worked on rehabilitative robots, space shuttle experiments on the RMS, the robotic arm. Do you know what RMS means? Remote Manipulator System. Did you see them using the arm on the most recent flight? They positioned the astronauts under the shuttle to inspect the tiles with the RMS.
I worked at the Association of American Railroads test facility, just out of Pueblo. Did you know they have miles of test track and they run and crash trains? They have a huge dynamometer to test engines, just like our dyno in the lab that we use for cars.
I’ve done missile guidance work with Texas Instruments. I’ve spent a couple summers at the Naval Postgraduate School and a year at the Naval Academy.
This past summer was cool. I was on a mini-sabbatical with SRAM, a bike component company here in town. I’m doing bike suspension simulation for them. The guys who work there are amazing riders. I’m doing dynamic research on mountain bikes now.
So I teach dynamics, modeling, vibrations, mechatronics, machine design etc.
Personally, I’ve been married for 24 years to one wife. I have two girls and two boys. My oldest son is a senior at CSU, he’s your age. My oldest daughter is starting college this year.
Life Happens To All Of Us
Growing up, I didn’t have such a stable family. My mom was married four times. The first dad was an alcoholic and died from it. My second dad was a wife and child abuser. My third dad had an affair and left when I was about 20. The fourth dad also was an alcoholic and died from it.
I say these things so you can know where I come from, that life happens to all of us. I want you to know me as more than just a professor of engineering.
Also, I am into mountain biking as you probably know and I play racquetball. If you ever want to ride or play a game, let me know. I may be getting older but I do OK, even against students. I am into the out-of-doors. I am a Scoutmaster and my sons are scouts, the oldest being an Eagle as I am. Any Eagle Scouts in here?
Well that’s about it but the most important thing to know is that I am a Christian, a Christ follower. I became a Christian just about your age and it is the most important thing to me.
Don’t worry if you have other worldviews. Your religion or lack of has nothing to do with how well you will do in this class or how we will get along. I am very fair with all my students, just ask anyone who has had me before. I do require respect, however.
Like I said, I want you to know who I am and where I come from.
Let’s move on to some of the logistics of the course …
(c) 2007 Rob Redfield
[Photo Courtesy NASA]