Dr. Robert Joslin is an associate professor of practice in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. A recognized leader in flight deck technology, aviation safety and human factors, he brings decades of experience spanning military aviation, government service, flight testing and academia.
Before joining Embry-Riddle, Joslin served as the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Flight Deck Technology and as an FAA flight test pilot. Before his FAA career, he served as a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he flew as a military test pilot and as a Marine One pilot supporting President George H.W. Bush. He was also a finalist for NASA's 1994 Astronaut Candidate program and previously served as an assistant professor of aerodynamics and aviation safety at the Naval Postgraduate School.
Joslin's research focuses on human factors in aircraft design, certification of advanced cockpit technologies, and certification flight-test risk management. He has served on numerous national and international committees responsible for developing aviation regulations and certification standards for emerging technologies. He has authored more than 60 publications in aviation and aerospace journals.
An accomplished aviator, Joslin holds FAA Airline Transport Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor and Remote Pilot certificates, along with military pilot qualifications across fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, tiltrotors and uncrewed aircraft systems. He has accumulated more than 8,000 accident-free flight hours across more than 100 aircraft types, including large transport aircraft, military and business jets, seaplanes, gliders, powered-lift aircraft, lighter-than-air aircraft and remotely piloted systems.
Joslin is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, an Associate Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, a Full Member of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators and a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Raised in Latin America, he is fluent in both English and Spanish and brings a bicultural perspective to his teaching and research.
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
M.S. - Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School
B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida
Airline Transport Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
Remote Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
Flight Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
RQ-20A PUMA AE Operator Course - Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS)
RQ-12A WASP IV AE Operator Corse - Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS)
ICAP Federal Aviation Safety Officer Training - General Services Administration Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP)
Engineering Test Pilot course - U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (Naval Warfare Center Aircraft Division)
Professional Research Experience:
-FAA Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Flight Deck Technology Integration - The FAA’s recognized expert for flight deck technology issues responsible for defining and advancing new concepts in the field of navigation, communication, surveillance, flight guidance and flight management both nationally and internationally and establishing and maintain FAA leadership in these dynamic technical fields.
-FAA Aircraft Certification Flight Test Pilot for emerging technologies directly involved in aircraft and systems certifications participating in developmental evaluations, issue papers, certification plans, test reports and final certification. Direct experience with emerging technologies such as Synthetic Vision, Enhanced Vision Systems, Enhanced Flight Vision Systems, Electronic Flight Bags, Runway Advisory and Alert Systems, Very Light Jets
-Commanding Officer-Defense Contract Management Agency-Bell Helicopter for the initial Development, Test and Evaluation, Production Acceptance and Deliveries of the first Tilt-Rotor aircraft (MV-22) in the world.
-Military Developmental Test Pilot/Chief Pilot planning, directing and coordinating technology development and operational activities for Head Up Displays, Forward Looking Infra-red, Night Vision Goggles, Advanced Communication/Navigation systems, Electronic Countermeasures, at Naval Air Warfare Center-Aircraft Division, Patuxent River MD and Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division, China Lake CA
-Aircraft Mishap Investigator- Provided expert aerodynamic analysis for 10 aviation mishap investigation boards, Naval Safety Center. (1987-1990)
-Aviation Expert Witness-called upon to give deposition regarding factual information on unanticipated right yaw in helicopters-Avant V. Briley, Central Helicopters and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. (Sep 1989)
Doctoral Dissertation Committees
-Dissertation Committee Chair- Ph.D. in Aviation (2020), Cory Trunkhill, “Public Acceptance of Health Screening Recommendations, Safety Risks, and Implied Liabilities for Space Tourism Participants”
-Dissertation Committee Chair- Ph.D. in Aviation (2020), Sarah Talley, “Behavioral Intention Factors for Prescription Deliveries by Small Unmanned Aircraft in Rural Communities”
- Dissertation Committee Member-Odisho, E., Truong, D., Esser, D., Joslin, R., & Maxson, R. (2019). Determining Pilots’ Misperception of Runway Excursion Risk Through Predictive Modeling of Flight Data. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
- Dissertation Committee Member- Myers, P., Truong, D., Robbins, J., Joslin, R., & Kerns, T. (2019). A Behavioral Research Model for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Data Gathering Operation. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.
- Dissertation Committee Member-Techau, T., Hampton, S., Truong, D., Cortés, A., Joslin, R., Stolzer, A., Craig, P., & Moeller, L. (2018). General Aviation Pilot Acceptance and Adoption of Electronic Flight Bag Technology). Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.
- Dissertation Committee Member- Baker, E., Cuevas, H., Dattel, A., Cortés, A., Joslin, R., Stolzer, A., Still, D, & Hickey, M. (2017). Comparative Analysis of Conventional Electronic and OZ Concept Displays for Aircraft Energy Management. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.
Professional Academic Experience:
-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, Associate Professor, Department of Graduate Studies instructing accredited college courses in aerodynamics, human factors, safety, and unmanned aircraft systems (2019-present).
-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, -Associate Program Coordinator for Ph.D. in Aviation Program. (2019-2022).
-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, Adjunct Assistant Professor Instructing accredited college courses in aerodynamics, human factors, safety, and unmanned aircraft systems (2013-2019).
-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Instructor for “Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems-Key Concepts”- Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), Feb, 2017.
-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Instructor for “Unmanned Aerospace Systems (UAS) - Key Concepts for New Users”- Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), January 11-24, 2016.
- FY14 Real World Design Challenge- Judge for Unmanned Aircraft System Challenge: Precision Agriculture, November 15, 2014
-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University- Industry Advisory Board for Ph.D. in Aviation Program (2014-2019).
-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Instructor for “The Human Factor in Aviation”- Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), April-May, 2014.
-Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA. Assistant Professor Instructing accredited college courses in aerodynamics and aviation safety to approximately 1000 aviators from the U.S. Armed Forces and allied countries.
-U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River MD. Experimental/Developmental Test Pilot Academic and Flight Instructor at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School training experienced pilots, flight officers and engineers from all U.S. military services and foreign nations. Instructed on the processes and techniques for developmental test planning, conducting performance and flying qualities tests, analyzing performance data, assessing systems functionality and test report writing to determine compliance with military standards
Invited Panelist/Presenter/Lecturer/Keynote Speaker:
Presenter of a Project Brief on “Evaluation of a Pilot Intervention Rating Scale” at the 2025 Boeing Center for Aerospace and Aviation Safety Research Symposium-January 23, 2025
Panel Member on "The Aircraft and Beyond: Autonomy at the Systems Level” at the 5th Annual ASTM Autonomy in Aviation Symposium, - November 12-13, 2024, Santa Clara CA
Presenter of a Research Technical Brief on “Certification Flight Test for Aircraft with Artificial Intelligence” at the ERAU AI Aviation and Aerospace Summit-November 19, 2024, Daytona Beach FL
Joslin, R. (2024). Presentation on “Fitting the Cockpit to the Future Pilot” provided to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) “New and Emerging Aviation Technologies” (NEAT) virtual presentation series, March 5, 2024 (zoom)
Joslin, R.. (2023). Advanced Aviation. Guest Lecturer for AAE/IE 59000 Aerospace Human Factors graduate course at Purdue University-School of Industrial Engineering, March 28, 2023, West Lafayette IN
Joslin, R.. (2023). Situation Awareness and Controls. Guest Lecturer for AAE/IE 59000 Aerospace Human Factors graduate course at Purdue University-School of Industrial Engineering, January 26, 2023, West Lafayette IN
Terwilliger, B. (Producer). (2021). Research Scholars Workshop: Formulating Your Research Vision [webinar video; Joslin, R. contributing guest speaker]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6jHhNdhIpI
"Valid Flight Control Forces for Aircraft Design" (September, 2018) presented at the 62nd Annual Symposium-Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium, Anaheim, CA
“Training Considerations for New Cockpit Technology”(August, 2018) presented at the 2018 National Training Aircraft Symposium, Daytona Beach FL
"Test Hazard Analysis for Unmanned Aircraft Systems" (May, 2018) presented at the 2018 Flight Test Safety Workshop-Flight Test Safety Committee, Arlington TX
“Hazards of Excessive Flight Control Forces” (January 2018) presented at the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP) Federal Aviation Safety Officer Workshop, Oklahoma City OK
"Hazards of Excessive Pilot Flight Control Forces" (August 2017) presented at the International Society of Air Safety Investigators Symposium, San Diego, CA. https://www.isasi.org/Documents/library/technical-papers/2017/Wed/6.%20Hazards%20of%20Excessive%20Pilot%20Flight%20Control%20Forces.docx
“History of Anthropometrics in Aviation Design” (July 2017) presented at EAA Airventure, Oshkosh WI
“Unmanned Aircraft System Collision Avoidance” (January 2017) presented at the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP) Federal Aviation Safety Officer Workshop, Oklahoma City OK
"Rotorcraft/VTOL/ Multirotor UAS Accidents and Incidents." (March, 2016) presented at the 2016 Rotor Safety Challenge, Helicopter Association International Exposition, Louisville KY
"Situation Awareness Issues in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Accidents and Incidents" (October, 2015), International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Los Angeles, CA
"Test Hazard Analysis considerations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems" (September, 2015) presented at the 59th Annual Symposium-Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium, Anaheim, CA
“Examination of UAS Accident and Incidents” (May, 2015) presented at the 2015 Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, Orlando FL
“Anthropometric Flight Safety” (March, 2015) presented at the 2015 Rotor Safety Challenge, Helicopter Association International Exposition, Orlando FL.
“Insights into Unmanned Aircraft System Accident and Incidents 2009-2014” (January, 2015) presented at The Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace International Research (A³IR) Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
"Examination of Anthropometric Databases for Aircraft Design" (October, 2014), International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Chicago, IL.
"Valid Anthropometric Data for Aircraft Design" (September, 2014) presented at the 58th Annual Symposium-Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium, Anaheim, CA
"Valid Anthropometric Data for Aircraft Design" (June, 2014) presented at the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium, Wichita KS.
"NextGen Flight Deck Technology for Traffic Situation Awareness with Alerts." (February, 2014) presented at the 2014 Rotor Safety Challenge, Helicopter Association International Exposition, Anaheim CA.
"Human Factors Hazards of iPads in General Aviation Cockpits" (October, 2013), presented at the International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, San Diego, CA.
"Sonic Boom Awareness in the Supersonic Cockpit" (April, 2013) presented at the Flight Test Safety Workshop, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, New Orleans LA. http://www.flighttestsafety.org/images/stories/workshop/2013/sonicboomawareness.pdf
"Runway Incursion Awareness Systems." (March, 2013) presented at the 2013 Rotor Safety Challenge, Helicopter Association International Exposition, Las Vegas NV.
“ADS-B for Flight Testers” (2012). Presented at FAA/Industry Avionics and Flight Test Workshop, San Antonio TX.
"Electromagnetic Compatibility for Flight Testers" (2012) presented at the Federal Aviation Administration-Designated Engineering Representative Workshops-eight events across the United States.
"Runway Incursion Awareness Systems." (September 2011) presented at the International Society of Air Safety Investigators Symposium, Salt Lake City, UT.
"Electromagnetic Compatibility for Flight Testers" (2011) presented at the Federal Aviation Administration-Designated Engineering Representative Workshops-eight events across the United States.
"Anthropometric Discrimination." (April 2009) presented at the Flight Test Safety Workshop (Sponsored by Society of Experimental Test Pilots and Society of Flight Test Engineers), Ottawa, Canada.
"Flight Test Risk Management" (March 2009) presented at the Federal Aviation Administration-Designated Engineering Representative Workshop-Southwest Region, Fort Worth, Texas.
"Flight Test Risk Management" (March 2008) presented at the Federal Aviation Administration-Designated Engineering Representative Workshop-Southern Region, Atlanta, Georgia.
Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)-Fellow
Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP)-Associate Fellow
International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI)-Full Member
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)-Member
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)-Member
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)-Member
Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA)-Member
FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) –A-320, B-787, B-737, EMB-500, G-VI, G-V, DA-20, BE-200, SK-61, S-70, BV-107, SA-227, NA-265, CE-680, SK-92
FAA Category/Class Ratings-Airplane Single and Multi-Engine Land and Sea, Rotorcraft-Helicopter, Glider, Powered Lift and has flown Lighter-Than-Air aircraft [airship, hot-air balloon]
FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI,CFII, MEI-Airplane Single and Multi-engine, Rotorcraft-Helicopter; Instrument Airplane and Helicopter
FAA Remote Pilot-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Small Uncrewed Aircraft System Operator-USMC: RQ-12A WASP IV & RQ-20 AE PUMA
Small Ucrewed Aircraft System (sUAS) Operator: RQ-12A WASP IV & RQ-20 AE- (USMC)"Distinguished Alumnus 2021" (2021), Carol Morgan School, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
“Commencement Speaker” (2014), Embry-Riddle Worldwide, San Diego CA.
“Scribe of the Year” (1990), Rotor Review magazine, Naval Helicopter Association
“Grampaw Pettibone” (1990) recognition award for contributions to aviation safety through publications, National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola FL
“Navy Commendation Medal” (1990) for excellence in teaching Aerodynamics and Aviation Safety, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA
“Contributor of the Year” (1989), Approach magazine, Naval Safety Center, Norfolk VA