James E. Bluman

Colonel James E. Bluman, PhD, PE, serves as the Research Program Director for the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Previously, he directed the Center for Innovation and Engineering and held an associate professorship in Civil and Mechanical Engineering at West Point. His Army career included operational roles as an Aviation Officer, Acquisition Corps officer with Level III DAWIA certification, and Assistant Product Manager for the Armed Scout Helicopter Project Office.

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - University of Alabama in Huntsville
• M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - Penn State
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - U.S. Military Academy

His research focuses on robotics, military applications of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), flapping wing micro-air vehicles, insect flight dynamics, drone autonomy, image classification, automated target recognition, and generative AI in undergraduate research. His recent publications emphasize algorithmic advancements for aerial search patterns, including Lissajous curves and deterministic flight planning.

Scientific recognition includes the American Society of Mechanical Engineering’s Donald N. Zwiep Award for Innovation in Education and the USMA’s 2024 Dean’s Mid-Career Award for Scholarship Excellence.