Jacob Chung was awarded for work on advanced propellant systems
Source: UF News
By Emily Hinds and Benjamin Crosbie
On this Fourth of July, University of Florida professor Jacob Chung, Ph.D., stands as the epitome of the American Dream.
In 1971, at age 23, he moved to the United States from Taiwan with one suitcase and $1,000. He had earned his bachelor’s degree from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and planned to become an aerospace engineer in America. He entered the master’s program in the nuclear engineering department at the University of Missouri.
“The feelings that I had at that time basically were excitement, hope and thankfulness about the opportunities ahead,” recalled Chung.
Now an esteemed professor with the UF’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Chung was awarded the Exceptional Public Service Medal from NASA in late June. The award is among the highest honors bestowed by the NASA Glenn Research Center Awards Office and is “an acknowledgement of significant contributions to NASA’s mission and purpose,” according to the award letter.
“As an immigrant, I have been telling myself that I need to pay back my adopted country,” Chung said. “With this award, I feel that I have done my share of making contributions toward NASA’s mission and purpose, and also my patriotic work has been recognized.”
Chung earned the award due to his “exceptional, sustained, and multi-faceted contributions advancing NASA’s in-space cryogenic fluid management science and technologies over multiple programs and 30 years.”
“Dr. Chung’s exceptional research and his contributions to NASA are shaping the future of space exploration, bringing new possibilities to human discovery and tremendous pride to Gator Nation,” said UF President Ben Sasse. “As we continue to explore the moon, Mars, and beyond, innovators like Dr. Chung will drive us forward.”
“We are tremendously proud of Dr. Chung’s extraordinary contributions to NASA’s mission and purpose, epitomizing dedication and excellence in advancing in-space cryogenic fluid management over three decades,” said Forrest Masters, Ph.D., interim dean for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. “This prestigious award not only recognizes Dr. Chung’s illustrious career but also underscores the significant impact he has made at the University of Florida.”
Chung’s work is primarily centered on in-space thermal-fluid management of traditional chemical rocket propulsion systems. He and his students have been conducting research for NASA on space thermal-fluid management technologies since 1992.
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