Dr. Ajay Kumar

(PHD/AE/1974)

Dr. Ajay Kumar earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee in 1968, a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 1970, and a doctorate in aerodynamics from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 1974. He taught at IIT from 1973-75 before joining NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA under a National Research Council (NRC) fellowship in 1975. He later earned a master's degree in engineering administration in 1984 from George Washington University.

Profile

Profile Dr. Kumar began his NASA career at NASA Langley in 1975 as a NRC Associate to develop computational tools for predicting aerothermal environment over earth and planetary entry systems. He joined NASA civil service in 1981 in the Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion Branch to develop computational tools for the analysis and design of SCRAMJET engines. He progressed to serve as the Director, Aerodynamics, Aerothermodynamics, and Acoustics Directorate from 1998 to 2004 where he directed theoretical, computational and experimental research and technology development in these areas. In 2004, he took over as the Director, Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate till his retirement in 2012. In between, he also served as the Acting Director, Engineering Directorate from Feb 2009 to April 2010. His personal research interests are in areas of computational fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, and hypersonic airbreathing propulsion. Dr. Kumar is the author or coauthor of 130 technical publications and has co-edited four books on topics related to transition, turbulence, combustion, and advanced numerical algorithms. He served on the editorial advisory board of the International Journal of Computers and Fluids, the Technical Advisory Committee of the European Hypersonic Database, and co-chaired two AGARD working groups (1997-2002) on hypersonics.

For his distinguished service to NASA, he received NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2007 and again in 2012, the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive in 2007. He was inducted in the NASA Langley Hall of Honor in 2022.

Achievements and Honors

• Inducted in the NASA Langley Hall of Honor (2022)
• Recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Roorkee (2018)
• NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (2007 and 2012)
• Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive (2007)
• Recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Kanpur (2005)
• Recipient of Engineer Alumni Achievement Award from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1992) and George Washington University (1995)
• NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (1992)
• Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (1992)