Ojars Skujins

Dr. Ojars Skujins earned his BSAE from WVU in 1968 and his MSAE in 1970. He completed his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from WVU in May of 1973 and entered active duty in the Air Force at the Aerodynamics and Performance Branch of Wright-Patterson AFB. During his 4 year military career, he developed, modified and used computational fluids computer codes to support many Air Force projects. During this time, Dr. Skujins was involved in various aspects of simulation, testing and evaluation of components for the KC-135, the F-4E, and F-111 aircraft. He also worked on evaluation of the YF-16 and the YF-17 prototype aircraft. Which later became the F-16 and F-18 operational aircraft of today. He retired from the Air Force at the rank of Captain in 1977. Dr. Skujins rejoined the Aerodynamics and Performance Branch at Wright-Patterson where he began a distinguished Civil Service career with the U.S. Air Force. He was picked to serve on the Forward Swept Wing (FSW) Independent Review Team, a program that eventually produced the experimental X-29 research aircraft. He also served on a rocket/ramjet missile (ASALM) Independent Review Team. Dr. Skujins was the aerodynamics expert on the Source Selection team for the C-17 cargo/transport airplane. Meanwhile he became Leader of the Aerodynamics Group. In 1986, Dr. Skujins was assigned to the Top Secret Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) program as the Flight Technology Lead, with responsibility for a wide range of functions on the B-2 (ATB) Stealth Bomber. In 1997 Dr. Skujins was reassigned from the B-2 to the F-15S Saudi Foreign Military Sales program as Chief Engineer. He also served as Chief Engineer of the USAF F-15C/D programs, and also as Chief Engineer of the entire F-15 program office. In 2001 Dr. Skujins was promoted to Chief, Flight Mechanics Branch, in the Engineering Directorate at the Aeronautical Systems Center. Here he was responsible for supporting all USAF program offices, encompassing flight controls, stability & control, aerodynamics, air vehicle performance, CFD, and vehicle management systems. Dr. Skujins was selected to Chair the C-5 re-engineering and upgrade Executive Independent Review Team. Dr. Skujins has won numerous awards, ranging from individual recognition for Excellence in Engineering to leadership awards for Team Performance. He retired from U.S. Government Civil Service in 2012. His hobbies include bicycling, skiing, and building and flying model airplanes.