SCHWARTZ, Robert T. Age 92 of Fairborn formerly of Kettering passed away Thursday, July 2, 2009. Robert Schwartz retired in 1973 as Deputy Director of the Materials Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He received a B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington University (St. Louis) and M.S, in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Mr. Schwartz’s career began as a chemist at Jos E. Seagram & Sons 1938-39.  In 1939 he became a Materials Engineer at the Air Force Materials Laboratory  and spent the rest of his career there. In 1942, he became Chief, on the Non-metallic Materials Unit.  In 1947, he became Assistant Chief, Structural and Mechanical Test Branch.  In 1951, Chief, Structural Design Data Branch, In 1954 Chief, Organic Materials Branch.  In 1959, Chief Nonmetallic Materials Division.  He later became Deputy Director of the Air Force Materials Laboratory.

Mr. Schwartz was involved in the original development of composite structural materials for Air Force aircraft. His foresight in sponsoring development of boron and carbon fibers in the late 1950s provided the basis of advanced composite materials now widely used as the backbone of aircraft and spacecraft capabilities in our modern Air Force. This work led to the formation of the National Composite Center. Annually, the Air Force Materials Laboratory gives a highly coveted engineering achievement award in his honor. Mr. Schwartz devoted his outstanding technical and management leadership to building one of the most highly regarded research groups in the government service. This became the foundation for much of the composite and materials research strength so valuable to the Dayton Area today. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth E. Schwartz who died in 1991, and he is survived by his current wife Meta Whitt; 2 sons, Ronald A. Schwartz who resides in Viola, ID, Richard W. Schwartz and wife Jane of Kettering; four grandchildren: Christine (Christopher) Schwartz of Madison, WI, and Andy Schwartz of Olympia, WA, Amy (Brady) Kress of Centerville and Jennifer (Jon) Schmidt of Denver, CO. He is also survived by 4 great-grandchildren.