Dr. Bob Wardle - Science and Technical Projects Lead

Dr. Wardle is the Director of Technical Projects for ACMI Properties, leveraging his expertise in energetic material facilities in the design and construction of ACMI’s campuses.

Before holding his current position, he was senior director of advanced programs at Northrop Grumman (NGC) and he spent 35 years at the research and development department at Northrop and predecessor organizations back to Thiokol Corporation.

In his role as Senior Director of Advanced Programs, he led the Propulsion Systems IR&D effort, built and commissioned a full-scale AP plant, led hypersonic glide body development and production, synthesis of energetic materials including CL-20, production of military flares and decoys, and a broad spectrum of propellant, explosives and pyrotechnics related R&D programs.

In addition, over his career Dr. Wardle has been:

• Meeting chairman for 1995 NDIA International Energetic Materials Symposium;

• On the National Research Council’s National Materials Advisory Board with co-authorship of the final report, 2001-2;

• A member of the National Academy of Engineering Board on the future of Munitions and Energetics with co-authorship of the final report presented to Congress, 1999-2000;

• Part of the Los Alamos National Laboratory External Review Committee for DX Division, 2002-2007;

• A Member and Panel lead for report “Energetics and Lethality: The Imperative to Reshape the U.S. Military Kill Chain” published June 2021;

• A Keynote speaker at 2022 NDIA Insensitive Munitions & Energetic Materials Technology Symposium; and

• Co-Chair for May 2023 JANNAF Specialist Session on HTPB

   

Dr. Wardle has published 120 articles in a variety of refereed journals, JANNAF, NDIA and similar publications and has Forty-four issued U.S. patents with many associated foreign patents.

Dr. Wardle graduated with B.S. in Chemistry from Utah State University and Ph.D in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology