Leon Robert

Professor of Engineering Practice

FRNY 1060B
Purdue University
School of Chemical Engineering
Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering
480 Stadium Mall Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100
(765) 494-4065 (office)
(765) 494-0805 (fax)
Joined Purdue in 2021
B.S., State University of New York at Potsdam
M.Ed., State University of New York at Potsdam
M.S., Old Dominion University
Ph.D, Texas A&M University
M.S.S. U.S. Army War College

Teaching

Professor Robert teaches:

CHE 59700, Introduction to the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry

This course provides a practical overview of current engineering technologies and practices to identify, drill and complete hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs. The oil and gas (O&G) industry seeks to achieve long-term energy security with a balanced, diversified, and sustained investment in both traditional energy sources and lower-emission solutions throughout the energy transition in this century. Access to reliable and affordable energy is essential to our daily lives and is a major underpinning of social and economic progress in the U.S. This course incorporates practical examples and applications to progressively give the student an introduction to advanced knowledge of upstream O&G exploration and production.

CHE 59700, Introduction to Petroleum Engineering (being developed)

This course will provide the student with a working knowledge of the current concepts and methodologies used in petroleum engineering to include, but not limited to, fundamental terminology and concepts from geology, geophysics, petrophysics, drilling, completions, production, and reservoir engineering. It primarily covers the upstream industry with introductions to midstream and downstream operations. This course will be particularly useful to chemical, mechanical, materials, electrical and environmental engineers, as well as geoscientists, interested in learning about the production of oil and gas.

Topics studied include the current and future energy landscape, properties of reservoir rocks and fluids, well drilling and logging, completion techniques, well testing, and production/reservoir performance. Specific topics in the discipline of reservoir engineering will be presented and applied to each of the topics listed above including basic petrophysics, petroleum geology/reservoir characteristics, , as well as drilling and logging components, and finally understanding reservoir and production management. Midstream and downstream operations topics include surface facilities, pipelines, process facilities, and refining.

Research Interests

Professor Robert’s major area of research is defense manufacturing optimization of energetic compounds and munitions. His thrust of research is using digital twin models and systems engineering to optimize munitions production. Professor Robert is also passionate about his contributions to the Purdue Military Research Institute and his research into advanced STEM education for military officers. Another major thrust is the use of new energetic compound mixing and production techniques and strategies, such as acoustic mixing and advance manufacturing, to enhance production efficiency and throughput. He has broad experience in upstream hydrocarbon production technologies developed by earlier work in the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico.

Research Group

Graduate Students

    • Noah Hosaka (co-advised)
    • Sam Angus (co-advised)
    • Mikal Willeke (co-advised)

Awards and Honors

  • Distinguished Service Medal – Recognition of 30+ year distinguished Army career
  • St. Lawrence Academy Medal for distinguished and exceptional contributions in education, School of Education Alumni Assoc., SUNY Potsdam, NY
  • Leadership Excellence Award as Vice Dean, National Military Academy of Afghanistan
  • Order of Military Medical Merit, Office of the US Army Surgeon General
  • Gold Medal Award and Honor Graduate, US Army Management Staff College
  • Scientific Excellence Award from U.S. Army Surgeon General
  • Phi Kappa Phi, Texas A&M University (top 10% of class)

    • Selected Publications

    1. Cornel, J., L.L. Robert, L, Long and C. Olsen. “U. S. Military Pest Management Trends in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Army Medical Department Journal (2025), In Press
    2. Robert, LL, M. Hill, R. Moore, M. Deubler, J. Bast, J. Cornell, and A. D. Gondhalekar. “A New Department of Defense Contingency Pesticide Usage Database (CPUD) for Collecting and Reporting Overseas Pest Management Operations,” Army Medical Department Journal (2025), In Press
    3. Leon L. Robert and Carl J. Wojtaszek. Closing the Gap: Officer Advanced Education STEM+M (Management),” Parameters, Summer Edition, 54(2):111-127 (2024).
    4. N. Hosaka, L. Robert, J. E. Dietz, K. Yaddof, and E. Hoover. “The Use of Digital Twins to Achieve Military Manufacturing Excellence,” (2024) Purdue Military Research Institute Symposium.
    5. L. Robert and C. Wojtaszek. Keynote Address. “Closing the Gap: Officer Advanced Education STEM+M (Management),” (2024) Purdue Military Research Institute Symposium.
    6. L. Robert. Keynote Address. “An Introduction to Military Technology Innovators,” (2024) Purdue Military Research Institute Symposium.
    7. L. Robert, N. Hosaka, J. Eric Diets, C. Yaddow, and E. Hoover. “The Use of a Digital
    8. Twin to Achieve Military Munitions Manufacturing Excellence,” Digital Twin for Manufacturing Sustainability, Safety, and Resilience Conference, (2024), Purdue University.
    9. L.L. Robert, D.R. Hall, J.M. Raab, S.L. Lowell, J.J. Sabatini, and J.D. Moretti. 2014. “Physical and Chemical Analysis of Demilitarized Magnesium: Teaching the Next Generation of Energetics Professionals,” Proc. 40th International Pyrotechnics Society Seminar, 40:392-397 (2014).
    10. J.J. Sabatini, J.D. Moretti, D.R. Hall, and L.L. Robert. “Recover, Recycle, and Reuse: Prove-Out of Pyrotechnic Illuminants Containing Demilitarized Magnesium,” Proc. 40th International Pyrotechnics Society Seminar, (2014) 40:398-405.