July 10, 2007 — Daniel A. Erwin has been named chair of the Viterbi School Astronautics and Space Technology Division, succeeding Professor Mike Gruntman, who has served as division chair since 2004.  Erwin’s three-year appointment became effective July 1, 2007.

Dan Erwin

Erwin is a professor of astronautics and aerospace engineering and director of the Astronautics and Space Technology Center at USC. His research interests include spacecraft propulsion, optics and optical instruments, gas kinetics and plasmas.

He joined the USC faculty as assistant professor of aerospace engineering in 1986.  In 1992 he was promoted to associate professor of aerospace engineering and, in 2007, to professor of astronautics.  He is a founding member of the Viterbi School’s Astronautics and Space Technology Division.

In addition to his academic appointments, Erwin has held positions at California Scientific Software, Sierra Online and the Aerospace Corporation.

Erwin received his B.S. degree in applied physics in 1981 from Caltech and his Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1986 from USC.