Richard “Dick” Hill, age 76, passed away at home on Friday, 26 August 2022. Richard was born and grew up outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, in 1963, earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Wichita State University in 1971, and a Master’s of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 1977. Richard was a member of the engineering honors fraternity, Tau Beta Pi, and aeronautical honors fraternity, Sigma Gamma Tau.
Richard’s career in aeronautics spanned almost 50 years, including 33 years of civil service for the United States Air Force, where he advanced turbine engine technology, and authored or co-authored 28 publications on turbine engine technology and research across various Journals, international forums, and technical proceedings. Richard was the recipient of numerous awards and medals throughout his career including 18 Air Force Outstanding Performance Awards, the United States Air Force’s Meritorious Civil Service Medal, two citations for Excellence awards, the Air Force Research Laboratory Senior Leadership Award, he was an Associate Fellow for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and was the Air Force nominee for the Franklin Institute’s Bower Award for Business Leadership in 2002. His career efforts helped develop and lead innovative programs such as the US Air Force’s Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) and the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) program. Additionally, Richard was the US Coordinator for the Propulsion and Energetics Panel (PEP) to the North Atlantic Trade Organization’s (NATO) Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD) for many years and was also an active member on the NATO Applied Vehicle Technology Panel (AVT). Richard retired from the Air Force in 2003, as the Chief of the Turbine Engine Division, Propulsion Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory at WPAFB. He finished out his career as a Vice-President at Universal Technology Company (UTC) Dayton, retiring in spring of 2019 to spend more time with his family.
Richard enjoyed playing golf on courses around the world with his friends, and in 1989, hit a hole-in-one on his local course in Dayton. He enjoyed going to the theatre, swimming, and traveling with both family and friends. Richard was a loving husband, a devoted father, a doting grandfather (who always had ice cream on hand), a caring brother, and the always fun Uncle “Dickie”. He was also a dedicated civil servant, a mentor, and a friend who was respected and loved by many around the world.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents Annie E. and Gordon W. Hill. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Ann Hill; children, Erik (Kelly) Hill and Solveig (Adam) Irvine; his grandchildren, Lena and Derek Irvine, and Liam and Anika Hill; his brother, Edward (Leslie); his sisters, Alice and Virginia; and many nieces and nephews.
Richard’s intelligence, quick wit, kindness, and generosity will be missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at the Hope Hotel in Dayton, OH, on 8 October 2022.
His family appreciates all the prayers and support from his many friends and requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory be made to the United States Air Force Museum (https://www.afmuseum.com/givenow), to allow future generations the continued ability to learn about turbine engines and their history. Condolences, stories, photos, and other memories may be shared with family via richard.hill.memories@gmail.com.
