Riley M. Fitzgerald

Riley M. Fitzgerald serves as an Assistant Professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace & Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech. He earned his Ph.D. (2021) and S.M. (2018) from MIT's Aeronautics and Astronautics department, preceded by a B.S.E. (2016) in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University. His research focuses on orbital mechanics, guidance systems, and space mission design, with particular expertise in spacecraft navigation, planetary system analysis, and atmospheric measurement technologies.

• Ph.D., 2021 - MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics
• S.M., 2018 - MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics
• B.S.E., 2016 - Princeton Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

His research spans multiple domains including:

• Orbital mechanics and trajectory optimization
• Spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control
• Multi-planet system orbit determination
• Atmospheric measurement and remote sensing
• Space mission design and implementation
• Spacecraft safety and proximity operations

Research trends in his 15 most recent publications focus on: 1) celestial mechanics and trajectory optimization, 2) planetary system analysis, 3) atmospheric measurement technologies, and 4) spacecraft navigation systems. His work integrates aerospace engineering principles with astrophysics applications, particularly in characterizing planetary systems and developing space instrumentation.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Ryan and Krista Frederic Junior Faculty Fellowship
• Draper Doctoral Fellowship
• Draper Masters Fellowship

Professional service includes membership on the AIAA Space Systems Technical Committee and peer review activities for aerospace engineering journals.