Robert S. Fredell, Ph.D.
Baltimore, MD — ABET, Inc., announced that Robert S. Fredell, Ph.D., will become the Managing Director for Accreditation, effective August 1, 2010. Formerly known as the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, ABET is the global gold standard for applied science, computing, engineering, and technology program accreditation. In this position, Dr. Fredell will lead ABET’s accreditation activities, collaborating closely with its senior leadership to architect future accreditation strategies and policies on a global scale. He will be ABET’s principal interface to academic institutions, accrediting agencies, and ABET’s volunteer leadership.
Dr. Fredell has been named to this strategic position following an extensive search. “We interviewed several excellent candidates with stellar credentials,”
Dr. Fredell brings a diverse background to ABET. He is a seasoned educator, administrator, researcher, engineer, strategist, and leader. He spent several years teaching engineering mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy as an associate professor and dedicated the last few years to developing pre-college science and technology outreach programs for southern Colorado K-12 schools. Dr. Fredell has published over 30 journal articles and conference papers and authored several textbook chapters in the areas of aircraft structures and materials science.
A skilled strategist, Dr. Fredell co-authored the strategic energy plan for the Academy, capturing $18 million in federal stimulus funding for NetZero energy installation. As Chief Scientist and Director of Research, Dr. Fredell built and directed the largest multidisciplinary undergraduate research program in the country, engaging hundreds of undergraduate students and faculty members across 20 academic departments in collaborative research projects valued at over $55 million. As Director of Faculty Research, he grew by 10 times the amount of external research funding. The programs subsequently won prestigious science and engineering awards for their creativity and impact on fundamental research.
As the technical advisor to the Air Force Chief Scientist, Dr. Fredell provided private assessments on a wide range of scientific and technical issues including: hypersonics, aging aircraft structures, renewable energy, composite materials, and space launch. He also led the workforce development and continuing education of over 1,300 engineers, technologists, and computing professionals, sustaining structural and systems integrity as well as the safety of large aircraft.
Dr. Fredell has extensive international experience: he managed multiple international research portfolios in Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Africa, working closely with scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Fredell earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Delft University in the Netherlands and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University. He is a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), an ABET Member Society, and is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.
