Kim Strohbehn, who turned a childhood interest in the space program into a longtime career as a senior professional engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, died Sunday from bone cancer at Sinai Hospital.
The Ellicott City resident was 64.
Recruited out of graduate school, Dr. Strohbehn joined APL in 1979, and spent his entire career there until his death. In addition to his work at APL, he was a research professor at the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering.
“Over his career at APL, Kim became an expert in digital and analog integrated circuit design,” Mr. Mastandrea wrote in a profile of his colleague.
“He was a key contributor to the Space Instrumentation Group at APL for the design and fabrication of state-of-the-art instrument electronics for space missions to study the earth, planets and the sun,” he wrote.
In 1995, Dr. Strohbehn was promoted to principal professional staff, the highest engineering level at APL.
“His accomplishments include over 58 major patents and publications. Kim truly enjoyed being challenged to solve complex engineering issues,” Mr. Mastandrea wrote.
At his death, Dr. Strohbehn was the lead engineer for detector electronics for NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission.