Robert Bruce Lee AO PhD (1943 - 2018)

Born 24 Sep 1943 in Australia

Died 27 Apr 2018 at age 74 in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

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Biography

Robert Lee AO PhD is Notable.

Group Captain Doctor Rob Lee AO PhD FRAeS was an international consultant on human factors, systems safety and accident/incident investigation, working with airlines, airports, regulators and air safety investigation organisations. In addition to aviation, he worked in other transport modes, such as rail, and in high technology industries including nuclear power, and healthcare.

Robert Bruce Lee was born on 24th September 1943 in Australia. ^[1]

Rob graduated from the Australian National University in 1970 with First Class Honours in Psychology, winning the Australian Psychological Society Prize. ^[2]

In 1974 he completed his PhD in Psychology at the University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. His research was concerned with human performance in complex man-machine systems, with particular reference to aviation. ^[2]

Career

Robert Lee AO PhD is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Air Force 1976-2000
Headquarters Operational Command; RAAF Specialist Reserve

In 1976, Rob was appointed Staff Officer, Psychological Services (SOPSYCHS), Headquarters Operational Command (HQOC), 'Royal Australian Air Force' (RAAF). He became the first RAAF psychologist to serve as a human factors specialist on RAAF accident investigations involving F-111, Mirage and Iroquois types. After leaving HQOC in 1983-84, Rob joined the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve (RAAFSR), attaining the rank of Group Captain. ^[2]

In 1983, Rob joined the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) as the Bureau’s first human factors specialist. He established and developed the human factors, systems safety, data analysis and research capability within BASI. He became the Director of BASI in 1989, a position he held until 1999. ^[2]

Rob co-authored in 1995, with Reason, Maurino, and Johnston, the book Beyond Aviation Human Factors. He was an associate editor of the international journal Human Factors and Aerospace Safety. ^[2]

In his RAAFSR capacity he acted as a consultant, and also provided training, in human factors, systems safety, safety management systems, air safety investigation, crew resource management (CRM), risk management, safety information systems and maintenance resource management (MRM). ^[2]

From 1999 he co-developed and lectured on the annual European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP) courses on human factors in flight Safety, SMS, risk management and safety investigation. ^[2]

He established his own consultancy company in November 2000, becoming an international consultant in human factors and systems safety, in aviation and in other high technology industries. ^[2]

From April 2011 to March 2012 he served as Technical and AirSafety Director of the Australian Region of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN). ^[2]

Honours and awards

• Rob was a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (ARAeS) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
• In 1989, he won the Henry Wigram Award of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
• In November 2000, Rob was awarded the Aviation Human Factors Achievement Award by the Australian Aviation Psychology Association. In 2010, he was awarded the Australian Bi-Centennial Award by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) in recognition of 'an outstanding individual contribution to Australian Aviation'.

AO ribbon

• Robert was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2012 for 'distinguished service to the aviation industry, to the development of air safety and accident investigation standards, and to national and international professional associations'. ^[3]
• He was inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2018. ^[4]
• In September 2014 at the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP) Conference in Malta, Rob received the EAAP Award 'for outstanding achievements in aviation psychology'. In November 2015, he received the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Specialist Gold Award 'for exceptional work that has led to substantial advances in specialist disciplines in the aerospace industry'. The award was accompanied by the Roger Green Medal, which is conferred for 'a significant and lasting contribution to the theory or practical development of human factors as applied in aerospace'.

Rest in Peace

Aged 74 years, he passed away on 27th April 2018 in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, following a brave battle with cancer. Following his funeral, his remains were cremated as per his wish. ^[5][6] He is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Amanda, grandchildren Raphael and Annabelle, and brother Barry. The funeral notice read: ^[1]

"Group Captain Dr. Robert Bruce Lee AO 24 September 1943 - 27 April 2018

"Loving partner of Sue. Cherished father of Amanda. Adored grandpére (papi) of Raphael and Annabelle. Loved brother of Barry.

"Family and friends are warmly invited to attend the funeral service celebrating Rob's life which will be held at RMC Chapel, cnr Robert Campbell Rd and Miles Rd, Duntroon ACT on Friday 4th May 2018 commencing at 11.00am.

"In lieu of flowers a donation in Rob's memory may be made to Rise Above, Capital Region Cancer Relief."

The eulogy at his funeral was delivered by his close friend, Brent Hayward, who stated in part that 'On first meeting, Rob, impressed with his intelligence, knowledge, enthusiasm, energy, passion and optimism. Those who knew him professionally, or personally, will understand that those qualities were tangible, genuine, constant and never left him'. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Legacy.com funeral notice. 'Robert Lee'; accessed 25 Oct 2022
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} Frawley, Gerard. 'Aviation Human Factors Expert Dr Rob Lee Remembered'. Australian Aviation, 1 May 2018; accessed 25 Oct 2022
3. ↑ Australian Honours: accessed 25 Oct 2022
4. ↑ Australian Aviation Hall of Fame; accessed 25 Oct 2022
5. ↑ 'In Memoriam: Rob Lee'. Flight Safety Foundation, 31 May 2018; accessed 25 Oct 2022
6. ↑ Isabelle. 'Remembering Dr Rob Lee AO'. Integrated Safety Support, 27 Aug 2019; accessed 25 Oct 2022
7. ↑ Hayward, Brent. 'Dr Robert Bruce Lee AO'. Hogrefe; accessed 25 Oct 2022

See also

• Australian Aviation Hall of Fame; accessed 25 Oct 2022.
• Frawley, Gerard. 'Aviation Human Factors Expert Dr Rob Lee Remembered'. Australian Aviation, 1 May 2018; accessed 25 Oct 2022.