Aerospace innovator and executive Bob Mitchell has been responsible for many major contributions to the advancement of unmanned air vehicle technology. Born in England in the Yorkshire village of Wortley in 1944, Mitchell spent much of his youth building model airplanes. Fortunately, he was able to advance his early aviation passion when, at just 16, he joined the Royal Air Force as an aircraft apprentice. Mitchell received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, and, after graduation, was commissioned as an RAF pilot, flying the English Electric Lightning interceptor. Shortly thereafter, he was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, earning a Master's Degree with distinction in Astronautical Engineering. Upon retiring from the RAF, Mitchell initiated his long, distinguished career in the aerospace industry in the United States, eventually named President and CEO of Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical in San Diego. At Ryan, he initiated an innovative, major realignment of the company, integrating several Teledyne divisions, and revitalizing Ryan's Unmanned Systems programs. Ryan's most recent successful project, the Tier II Plus ATDC, latter re-named the Global Hawk, has established many unmanned systems records, including range, altitude, endurance, and world-wide autonomous deployment and operation. Mitchell's superior leadership and vision, and the success of Ryan's unmanned aircraft programs, led to Teledyne Ryan's acquisition by Northrop Grumman Corporation in 1999. Mitchell has received many awards for his contributions to the aerospace industry. Among those, in 2002 he received the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Reed Award, which is the highest award an individual can receive for achievements in the field of aeronautical science and engineering. The AIAA credits Mitchell as "the nation's single most important figure in building the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle revolution into reality."
Inducted in 2010.
Portrait Location: Modern Jet

Induction Video