Rhett W. Jefferies, PhD

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 Rhett has 36 years of leadership and management experience, that includes 31 years in research and development. Previous to founding Avante Aero LLC, he served as Technical Director of the Office of Naval Research Global (ONR Global) from Feb 2020 – Jul 2024 leading command technical experts to discover innovative global science and technology, facilitate international research collaborations and accelerate technology transition to the naval fleet and force. Prior to joining ONR Global, Rhett conducted fundamental and applied research spanning a wide range of technology areas including renewable energy production, propulsion, multi-phase flows, flow control and marine vehicles as an Associate Research Professor at The Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory. He also served as an ONR Global Science Director in Santiago Chile from Jul 2018 - Feb 2020.  From Nov 2009 – July 2013 Rhett implemented and managed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program to accelerate technology development in partnership with the aviation industry, to reduce fuel burn, emissions and noise of commercial aircraft.  Prior to the FAA, he served over 20 years in a variety of technical and staff positions in the US Air Force.  These included three assignments as program manager in the Air Force Research Laboratory developing aerodynamic technology to improve aircraft, turbine engine and missile performance, and managing basic fluid mechanics research.  He was Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of the Aeronautics Laboratory in the Aeronautics Department of the US Air Force Academy. 

Rhett is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. 

· Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA 1996

· B.S., M.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 1988, 1989

Journal Publications

1. Truong, C., Hinkle, S., Harris, J., Krane, M., Sinding, K., Jefferies, R., Camp, T., Fontaine, “Multiplane Particle Shadow Velocimetry to Quantify Integral Length Scales,” Experiments in Fluids, Mar 2018

2. R. Jefferies & D. Rockwell, “Interactions of a Vortex with an Oscillating Leading Edge”, AIAA Journal, Vol 34, No. 11, November 1996, pp. 2448-2450.

Conference Technical Publications

1. S. Hinkle, R. Jefferies, “Characterizing Length Scales in the Near Wake of a Circular Cylinder using  Particle Shadow Velocimetry,” AIAA2019-0076, AIAA SciTech Conference, Jan 2019.

2. Jonson, M., Goldschmidt, M., Jefferies, R., McEntee, J., “Radiated Sound from a Cross-flow Turbine with Pitching Hydrofoils,”, Proceedings of the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (MECE2017, November 2017

3. Hinkle, S., Truong, C., Sinding, K., Jefferies, R., Harris, J., Krane, M., “Application of Multi-Plane Particle Shadow Velocimetry to obtain velocity fields through an optically clear object”, APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Conference, Nov 2016.

4. Walters, G.S., Kane, T.J., Jefferies, R.W., Antonelli, L.,”Statistical Characterization of the Optical Interaction at a Supercavitating Interface,” Paper No. 9827-3, SPIE Defense and Commercial Sensing, Baltimore MD, 17-21 Apr 2016

5. Andrus, D.E., Jefferies, R.W., Krane, M.H., “Force Due to Vortex Ring Impact,” D. E. Andrus, R.W. Jefferies,

M.H. Krane; 68th Meeting of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics, Boston MA, Nov 22- 24, 2015

6. Jefferies, R.W., “Overview of the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program”, AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference, Atlanta GA, July 31, 2012

7. Jefferies, R.W., “Technology Development of Ceramic Matrix Composite Aircraft Components”, 4th International Congress on Ceramics, Chicago IL, July 18, 2012

8. Jefferies, R.W., “FAA Technology Development of Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Aircraft Components”, USACA Conference, Cocoa Beach FL, January 25, 2012

9. Jefferies, R.W., “Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program Overview”, ASME International Gas Turbine Institute Turbo Expo, Vancouver Canada, June 9, 2011

10. Jefferies, R.W., “Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program Overview”, UC Davis Symposium, Tucson AZ, March 1, 2011

11. Jefferies, R.W., “Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program Technology Development”, AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Orlando FL, January 4, 2010

12. Z. Schaffer, M. Olson, R. Jefferies, “Helmholtz Piezo-Electric Power Generation”, AIAA 2003-0688

13. K. Bales, R. Jefferies, P. Khoo, “Flow Control of a NACA 0015 Airfoil Using a Chordwise Array of Synthetic Jets”, AIAA 2003-0061

14. J. Kelly, J. Evers, R. Jefferies, “Technologies and Design Approach for an Advanced Airbreathing Dual Range Missile (AADRM)”, AIAA Missile Sciences Conference, November 17-19, 1998, Monterey, CA.

15. C. Galloway, M. Pinney & R. Jefferies, “Cost Effectiveness of a Robotic Air-to-Air Combat Vehicle”, Proceedings of the 1990 AIAA Missile Sciences Conference, November 13-15, 1990, Monterey, CA; Vol. 3.

16. R. Jefferies & M. Pinney, “Robotic Air-to-Air Combat Vehicle: A Combat Force Multiplier", AIAA 90-3283.

17. F. Finaish & R. Jefferies, “Influence of a Rotating Leading Edge in Accelerating Starting Flow Over an Airfoil”, AIAA 90-0583.