Bob Bitmead is Distinguished Professor 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 has held faculty positions at the Australian National University and James Cook University of North Queensland. 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 was President of the IEEE Control Systems Society for 2019. He was a member of the IFAC Council from 1996 to 2002 and was Foundation Editor-in-Chief of the IFAC Journal of Systems & Control 2017-2022. He is Fellow of IEEE, IFAC and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. Bob brews his own beer and is an accredited and active Australian Rules Football umpire training with the San Diego Lions Australian Football Club.