Air Force fuels researcher named among ten top women for 2010

  • Published
  • By Derek Kaufman
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
DAYTON, Ohio --  One of the leaders in the Air Force's efforts to shepherd in the use of alternative biofuels across the Department of Defense has been named among the Miami Valley's Ten Top Women for 2010.

Beatriz Rodriguez, chief engineer of the U.S. Air Force Alternative Fuels Certification Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, will be honored during a gala Dec. 1 at the Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton.

For 48 years, the Dayton Daily News has honored "outstanding community leaders who have made a significant impact on life in the Miami Valley." A total of 470 women have been honored since the award's inception.

"Betty was nominated by her daughter for this very prestigious honor, which was based not only on her breakthrough work on alternative fuels, but also on her commitment to family and community," said Lt. Gen. Tom Owen, Aeronautical Systems Center commander. "We're all very proud of her."

Ms. Rodriguez is charged with the test and certification efforts to enable Air Force aircraft to fly on a class of biofuels derived from animal fats and plant oils. These "Hydro-processed Renewable Jet" fuels are designed to be blended 50 percent with traditional petroleum-based JP-8 jet fuel and then dropped into the existing fuel infrastructure, without any modifications required to aircraft. The Air Force's certification efforts are being closely coordinated with other military components as well as commercial airlines and the entire aerospace manufacturing industry.

To date, the Air Force has flown the A-10, C-17 and F-15 platforms on biofuel blends derived from either the camelina plant or tallow oil, and has similar plans to fly the F-22A Raptor early next year. Ms. Rodriguez said the biofuel blends actually burn cleaner and have performance and safety specifications equal to traditional JP-8.

The Air Force Alternative Fuels Certification Office, part of Aeronautical Systems Center, has already certified nearly the entire U.S. Air Force fleet to fly on a synthetic fuel blends derived using a Fischer-Tropsch process from coal and natural gas.

Ms. Rodriguez, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in systems engineering from Wright State University and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton, said she was surprised, humbled, and very appreciative to receive the recognition.