
Ph.D. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2000, Fire Protection Engineering)
MS Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1993, Fire Protection Engineering)
BS Rutgers (1987, Mechanical Engineering)
Robert Till, Ph.D is an Associate Professor in the Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management. He teaches in the Bachelor of Science Fire Science program and the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services Administration. He also teaches in the Protection Management Graduate Program. He has taught Fire Dynamics, Water Based Suppression Systems, Building Codes, and Fire Department Hydraulics classes, in addition to his courses in Fire Detection, Suppression, and Notification at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In addition to his PhD in Fire Protection Engineering, Till is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). Before coming to John Jay, he worked in life safety on many rail and road infrastructure projects, including work on the Conceptual and Preliminary engineering phases of the Second Avenue Subway in New York City and also early work on transforming the historic Farley Post office building into the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, also in NYC. His work included exploring passenger and rail worker evacuation routes for these underground spaces, specifying fire detection and suppression systems, and exploring smoke control solutions.
He continues to serve as a special expert (SE) member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems (NFPA 130).
Till also serves as a member of the International Association For Fire Safety Science (IAFSS) Committee on Professional Development Offerings (webinar series, the development of educational material, and the sharing of teaching resources) and as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Metro Chapter of The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE).
Till was awarded two Fulbright Scholarships, one in Recife, Brazil (2013-2014) and one to Brasilia, Brazil (2020-2021 – (awarded - Visitation Canceled Due to COVID).
Till and J. Walter Coon published Fire Protection: Detection, Notification, and Suppression, 2nd Edition in 2019.
- Theory and Design of Fire Protection Systems (Graduate)
- Fire Dynamics
- Hydraulics
- Fire Protection Systems
Professional Associations
- International Association For Fire Safety Science (IAFSS)
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)
- SFPE NY Metro
Committees:
Special Expert - NFPA 130 - Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems
Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) – State of Connecticut
Two Fulbright Scholarships were awarded to Professor Till to study fire service operations in Brazil (2013 and 2022)