J. Steven Brown

J. Steven Brown is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Senior Vice Provost at The Catholic University of America, where he also serves as Interim Dean of the College of Engineering, Physics, and Computing. He earned his B.S. (1987) and Ph.D. (1991) in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and MIT, respectively.

• Academic Leadership: Former Chairperson of Mechanical Engineering (1998–2016), Associate Dean of Engineering, and Senior Vice Provost since 2016.
• Research Focus: Specializes in low-GWP refrigerants, heat transfer optimization, and vapor compression cycles.

His recent publications analyze hydrofluoroolefins and binary blends for sustainable HVAC&R systems, with a focus on thermodynamic properties, pressure drop modeling, and energy efficiency. He has served as Associate Editor for Science and Technology for the Built Environment (2010–2018) and as an ABET Program Evaluator (2006–2018).

• Scientific Awards:
  • ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award (2015)
  • Best Paper Awards (ASHRAE Journal, International Journal of Refrigeration)
  • Fellow of ASHRAE
• Expertise: Thermodynamics, refrigeration technologies, and fluid mechanics.
• Consulting: Collaborated with NIST, NASA, Ford Motor Company, and law firms for patent-related expert testimony in IPR, PGR, and court proceedings.