Rachel Derbis

Lt Col Rachel Derbis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), part of Air University within the U.S. Air Force. She is based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where she contributes to advanced aerospace education and research.

Educational Background:

• BS, Aerospace Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2003
• MS, Research and Development Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2008
• MS, Astronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2008
• PhD, Astronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2023

Her research centers on astrodynamics and space situational awareness, particularly in cislunar space and multi-body gravitational environments. She integrates artificial intelligence techniques to enhance tracking and prediction capabilities in deep space domains. Her work supports next-generation space mission design and operational safety in increasingly congested and contested space regions. She teaches core courses in analytical dynamics and numerical orbit design, training future aerospace officers in high-fidelity modeling and trajectory optimization.

Lt Col Derbis is recognized through membership in several prestigious engineering honor societies: Tau Beta Pi (engineering), Eta Kappa Nu (electrical and computer engineering), and Sigma Gamma Tau (aerospace engineering).

She has no listed publications, awards, or advisees in the available text. There is no indication of part-time status, retirement, or former employment; she is currently active in her role. No email address is publicly displayed, though contact can be initiated via the institutional portal.