Frank Chandler – Cal Poly Pomona Experts

Frank Chandler, Aerospace Professor, Cal Poly Pomona

Expertise:

Computational Fluid Dynamics, Aerospace Engineering, Space Launch Vehicles, Rocket Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics, Liquid Rockets, Commercial Utilization of Space, Aircraft Jet and Spacecraft Propulsion, Cooling Technology in Rockets

Frank Chandler is an aerospace engineer with vast experience in propulsion, liquid propellants and fluid dynamics. A former director of advanced vehicle subsystems and technology for Boeing’s Phantom Works, he has seven U.S. patents as well as two pending for propulsion system improvements, thermal protection systems and spacecraft servicing vehicles, remote cryocoolers and space depot resupply systems.

During his 25-year career with Boeing, Chandler also served as deputy director of the Lunar and Planetary Exploration, Advanced Network and Space Systems team, and program manager for the Cryogenic Propellant Depot Test Bed program, the Orbital Spaceplane Program, TA-8 MPS Cross-feed Demonstration test, Space Shuttle OMS/RCS LO2/Ethanol Upgrades programs and Cryogenic Upper Stage Program for EELV Alliant Techsystems, among other roles. While at Boeing, he received four “Outstanding Performance” awards.

At Cal Poly Pomona, Chandler is the founder and director of the Liquid Rocket Lab (LRL) working with students to develop the first student-built liquid rocket to reach the Von Karman Line, the altitude designating the boundary between the atmosphere from space. The research group is also working to become the first university to static fire a turboprop engine. The lab’s Bronco Launch Vehicle (BLV) team is developing a pressure-fed LOx/EtOH vehicle to reach 37,000 feet and prove crucial design aspects. The ZEUS team is developing a Z-1 engine and the Additive Manufacturing Project is involved in the characterization and testing of the Markforged MetalX System to support the BLV and ZEUS teams.

Off-campus, Chandler remains active in aerospace industry professional organizations. He regularly chairs sessions and presents papers at national conferences, principally the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) conferences. He was a Technical Area Organizer (TAOs) for the Propulsion and Energy Conference (P&E 2016-2021) of the AIAA and ASME. He is also active in SciTech Forum conferences, where he presents conference papers in the area of Additive Manufacturing for Propulsion.

Selected Publications:

“History of the Cal Poly Pomona LRL Program,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech CID:4353289, Jan. 2026 (forthcoming)
With C. Herrera and C. Johnston, “Progress in the areas of Additive Manufacturing and Turbopump Development of the Liquid Rocket Lab,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech CID: 4353322, Jan. 2026 (forthcoming)
With C. Herrera, “Development of a Small Turbopump-Fed Bipropellant Rocket Engine,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech, Jan. 2025
“The Preliminary Design Accommodations of Zeus, a Turbopump-fed Bipropellant Rocket Engine, for Additive Manufacturing,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech, Jan. 2024
With D. Lister, “Green Run Test of the Ablative Chambered Engine on the Mobile Rocket Engine Test Stand,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech, Jan. 2023
With M. Tan, “Zeus, the Preliminary Design of a Turbopump-fed Bipropellant Rocket Engine,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech Jan. 2023
With A. Bowen, “Development of Safety Processes for Design and Manufacture of Small Liquid Propellant Engines and Launch Vehicles,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, Aug. 2021
“Design and Testing of Advanced Vehicle System Additions for a Small Liquid Propellant Engine with Lessons Learned,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, Aug. 2020
“Design and Testing of a Low Thrust Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Methane Rocket Engine with Lessons Learned,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, Aug. 2019
“Design and Testing of a Small Launch Vehicle with Lessons Learned,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, Aug. 2019
With R. Montes, “A CFD Investigation of a Diverterless Supersonic Inlet of Ellipsoidal Entrance Shape,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, Aug. 2019
With E. Sichler, E. Gonzalez, J.D. Montes and R. Picard, “Development of a Regeneratively Cooled Low Pressure Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Methane Rocket Engine,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, July 2018
With E. Sichler and J.D. Montes, “One Dimensional Thermal Steady State Analysis and Procedure for a Low-Pressure Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Methane Rocket Engine,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, July 2018
With C. Truong, A.H. Lam, E. Sichler and R. Picard, “Student Development of a Liquid Oxygen / Liquid Methane Rocket Engine Injector,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, July 2018
With E. Betady, L. Ortiz, B.M. Younes, K. Villanueva, J. Barnum, N. Rozario, S. Rodas, R. Cors, R. Patel, A. Linares, S.K. Dobbs, A. Saikaly, R. Garcia, A. Bacani, R. Cook, C. Moreno, A. Colon and J. Johal, “Development of a Mobile Rocket Engine Test Stand (MRETS),” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, July 2018
With W. Morris. T. Danno, D. Edberg and T. Lin, “Solid Motor Flight Testing for the Development of the Bronco One Liquid Bi-Propellant Launch Vehicle,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Conference, July 2018
With E. Sichler and E. Gonzalez, “Design of a Cryogenic Liquid Rocket Engine,” American Association for the Advancement of Science Pacific Division Conference, June 2018
With E. Sichler and J. Montes, “Thermal Analysis of a Low-Pressure Rocket Engine,” American Association of the Advancement of Science Pacific Division Conference, June 2018
With C. Truong, A. Lam and E. Sichler, “Design of a Like-on-Like Impinging Rocket Engine Injector using Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Methane,” American Association of the Advancement of Science Pacific Division Conference, June 2018
With E. Betady, A. Saikaly, A. Colon, L. Ortiz, B. Younes, and S. Dobbs, “The Design of a Mobile Rocket Engine Test Stand (MRETS),” American Association of the Advancement of Science Pacific Division Conference, June 2018
With W. Morris, D. Edberg and T. Lin, “Initial Flight Testing for the Design of the Bronco One Liquid Bi-Propellant Launch Vehicle,” American Association of the Advancement of Science Pacific Division Conference, June 2018

Interviews:

“CPP engineers move on as finalists in NASA challenge,” The Poly Post, April 29, 2025
“Liquid Rocket Lab launches with grand opening,” The Poly Post, May 3, 2022
“Cal Poly Pomona Celebrates Opening of Liquid Rocket Lab,” CPP News, April 9, 2022
“This University’s Liquid Rocket Lab Preps for March Showdown,” PCMAG, Nov. 28, 2018
“$1.67 Million Gift Fuels Cal Poly Pomona Students’ Mission to be First to Launch Rocket into Space,” CPP News, May 30, 2017

Education:

B.S., Aeronautical Engineering; M.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Southern California

Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Southern California