Bob Melton, professor of aerospace engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, will retire on July 1, leaving behind a legacy of service that includes decades of support to the University’s marshal corps. Here, he opens the commencement exercises for the College of Engineering's undergraduate commencement for the last time on May 9. Credit: GradImages
University marshal retires after 40 years of service to faculty marshal corps
Professor of Aerospace Engineering Bob Melton leaves a legacy of supporting students in their ultimate academic achievement
May 29, 2025
By Mariah Lucas
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Bob Melton, professor of aerospace engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, has attended, by his estimate, more than 300 commencement ceremonies during his 44 years at Penn State. When Melton retires on July 1, he leaves behind a legacy of service that includes decades of support to the University’s marshal corps, where he served first as a faculty marshal beginning in 1983, then as University marshal since 2004.
“For more than four decades, Bob has been a steady and dignified presence at commencement ceremonies, honoring and celebrating all Penn State graduates, but, in a special way, our graduates of aerospace engineering,” said Amy Pritchett, head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and professor of aerospace engineering. “We are grateful for his extraordinary service and lasting impact.”
As University marshal, Melton called each commencement ceremony to order in the Bryce Jordan Center for thousands of Penn State graduates, supporting the larger group of 23 faculty marshals as they processed into each individual college ceremony in the spring, as well as the all-University ceremonies in August and December and the ceremonies for the Fox Graduate School.
“It’s a lot of fun, a happy time for everyone, for students and their families and friends, who are there for a day of celebration,” Melton said. “I just helped things go smoothly, to go according to plan, and fixed problems in real time. I really enjoyed doing it and I think the other faculty marshals do, too.”
Melton’s first department head, the late Boeing Professor Emeritus Barnes “Barney” W. McCormick, served as University marshal when Melton was a new faculty member, and McCormick encouraged Melton to join the marshal corps.
“One thing led to another, and, in 2004, I was asked to be University marshal, following in his footsteps,” Melton said.
Stephanie Butler Velegol, teaching professor and associate department head of chemical engineering, served with Melton for several years as a faculty marshal in the College of Engineering.
“With thousands of graduates and their family and friends filling the Bryce Jordan Center, it is so important that things run smoothly,” Velegol said. “Bob’s attention to detail is remarkable. Whenever I had a question, he would patiently explain each step of the process. He will be greatly missed.”
Lisa Petrine, who coordinates commencement for the College of Engineering, agreed.
“Bob’s longevity in his volunteer role as a University marshal is a clear display of his dedication to the College of Engineering and to our students,” Petrine said. “While he takes the position seriously, his foremost thought is that the commencement is a ceremony for the students. His meticulous attention to detail, vast array of knowledge and years of experience make him an amazing resource.”
In addition to commencement, Melton was dedicated to his scholarship and teaching. He created the required third-year aerospace engineering course on aeronautics (AERSP 309), which describes the mechanics of space flight, and taught it almost every year for 40 years. He also taught the senior capstone design course on spaceflight design each fall and spring (AERSP 401), as well as a graduate-level course on astrodynamics.
“I found this department to be a great place to be in academics, with great collegiality and support from fellow faculty and the ability to collaborate with people in other engineering departments,” Melton said. “Though I’m still enjoying what I was able to do here, I’m to the point where I need to stop while I’m still young enough to do some other things I want to do.”
Melton’s research focused on astrodynamics, orbital mechanics and space mission analysis and design. He was named a fellow of the American Astronautical Society in 2002, won the international Dirk Brouwer Award from the American Astronautical Society in 2019, and was elected a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics in 2022. He also received the Penn State-wide Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2006. From the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society, he received the Lawrence J. Perez Memorial Student Advocate Award in 2001, the Premier Teaching Award in 1992, the Outstanding Advising Award in 1986 and the Outstanding Teaching Award in 1985.
In addition to serving as University marshal, Melton’s leadership roles included serving as director of the Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Program, as a faculty senator in the 1980s and 1990s and, most recently, as a member of the Faculty Senate’s curricular affairs committee from 2016-24, where he reviewed program and course proposals for all Penn State colleges.
Melton encouraged younger faculty to get involved in serving the University.
“It’s important to realize that in order for a university to work, faculty need to participate in lots of ways — not just research and teaching,” Melton said. “Choose things you find rewarding and enjoyable. You should think of service as pleasant necessity.”
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