William H. Robbins

William H. (Red) Robbins (November 3, 1926 – August 22, 2009) was an American engineer who worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). During his long career at NASA, he worked on the NERVA nuclear rocket engine, NASA wind turbines, communication satellites, and the Shuttle-Centaur program. He accepted an Emmy Award in September 1987 on behalf of NASA for the contributions of satellite communications to the television industry.

Early life William H. Robbins was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 3, 1926, the son of William and Agnes Robbins. He was nicknamed "Red" for his hair color. He graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School in 1944 and served in the US Navy for three years from 1944 to 1947.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy he joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the forerunner of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), at what was then the Flight Propulsion Research Laboratory in Cleveland. It was renamed the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in 1948, the NASA Lewis Research Center in 1958, and the NASA Glenn Research Center in 1999. Robbins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1948, and a Master of Science in aeronautical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 1952. and a 200 KW one in Clayton, New Mexico. He was survived by his wife Lucille and sons Jeffrey and James Robbins. He was buried in Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Seville, Ohio.