Richard Wahls Mission Integration Manager, Sustainable Flight National Partnership, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate NASA

Dr. Richard Wahls is the senior technical and strategy advisor to the Director of NASA Aeronautics’ Advanced Air Vehicles Program. He leads, manages, and technically contributes to multidisciplinary fundamental and integrated systems research advancing the energy efficiency and environmental compatibility of advanced transport aircraft, and to applied research and development of tools, technologies, and concepts for all vehicle classes from subsonic through supersonic speeds.

Dr. Wahls is a leader and technical authority in aerodynamics, ground testing, and the development of advanced aircraft concepts and technologies. His personal research has emphasized high Reynolds number aerodynamics and scale effects utilizing the unique capabilities of the US National Transonic Facility, and the study of innovative aerodynamic technologies and integrated aircraft configurations. He is the author or co-author of 78 technical publications and has given invited presentations around the world. During his 29+ years at NASA Langley Research Center, Dr. Wahls has served in increasingly broad, influential leadership positions in national aeronautics programs.

Dr. Wahls is a Fellow of the America Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where he is currently a member of the Forums Advisory and Emerging Trends/Technologies Committees, and a charter member of the AIAA Drag Prediction Workshop Organizing Committee currently planning DPW-VII for June 2022. He was a 2017 recipient of the AIAA International Cooperation and Sustained Service Awards.

Dr. Wahls earned his B.S. (1984), M.S. (1986), and Ph.D. (1989) degrees from North Carolina State University in aerospace engineering.