Ronald L. Panton

Ronald L. Panton is the J. H. Herring Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. After receiving a BA degree in Mathematics and a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University, he practiced five years in industry. His first employment was at North American Aviation followed by active duty with the U. S. Air Force where he was assigned to the X-15 Research Aircarft project at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Subsequently, he studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), M.S., and the University of California (Berkeley), Ph.D. Following graduation he was a professor at Oklahoma State University, 1966-71, and then the University of Texas at Austin, 1971-present. His research has been in a wide variety of fluid flow topics including turbulence, acoustic-flow interactions, and molten solder behavior. In 2008 he became an emeritus professor and in 2011 earned a pilots license for light sport airplanes.