Prof. Robert Bitmead from University of California, San Diego, visited us on Oct. 11, 2018.  Bob Bitmead occupies the Cymer Corporation Endowed Chair in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. He holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and Electrical Engineering from Sydney University and Newcastle University, both in Australia. He is a control theorist with a long experience in control applications in many industrial sectors. His theoretical work is strongly informed and guided by these applications. He was the recipient of the 2014 ASME Rufus Oldenburger Medal and of the 2015 IEEE Controls Systems Transition to Practice Award. Bob is President Elect of the IEEE Control Systems Society. He was a member of the IFAC Council from 1996 to 2002 and is Editor-in-Chief designate of the new IFAC Journal of Systems & Control. Bob brews his own beer and is an accredited and active Australian Rules Football umpire. Bob gives a seminar on Aircraft Engine Certification: The role of Theory in Practice. Immediately after this visit to Purdue, he heads to Racine, Wisconsin, to officiate at the 22nd (and Bob’s 16th) National Championships of the US Australian Football League.