Department of Mechanical Engineering
History
The Department of Mechanical Engineering builds on a long-standing tradition of academic departments specialising in materials engineering, manufacturing technologies, engineering mechanics, and machine design. The Department in its present form was established on 1 September 2005 through the merger of the Department of Materials and Special Manufacturing Technology and the Department of Mechanics and Machine Elements.
The Department thus continued the long-standing traditions of both predecessor departments, whose areas of expertise laid the foundations for its current educational, scientific, and expert activities. Over the following years, the Department further developed its professional and technical capabilities, modernised its laboratories, and strengthened cooperation with the Czech Armed Forces, industry, and research institutions.
The Department’s gradual development led to its present organisational structure, comprising the Materials Science, Manufacturing Technologies and Mechanics Group and the Military Technology Assessment Group. Together, the two groups are responsible for the Department’s educational, scientific, and expert activities.
Key Milestones
Year | Milestone |
2008–2014 | Completion of the reorganisation process and establishment of the Department’s present organisational structure. |
2006 | The Department of Mechanical Engineering was recognised as the best-performing department of the Faculty of Military Technology in the field of scientific activity. |
2005 | Establishment of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Defence through the merger of two specialised departments. |
1972 | Establishment of the Department of Materials and Special Manufacturing Technologies. |
1951 | Establishment of the first specialised units in the field of mechanical engineering at the Military Technical Academy in Brno. |
Heads of Department
Period | Head of Department | Department |
Since 2024 | Lt Col Assoc. Prof. Zbyněk Studený, Ph.D. | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
2018–2023 | Prof. Vladimír Horák, CSc. | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
2005–2018 | Col Assoc. Prof. Milan Chalupa, CSc. | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
1991–2005 | Col (Ret.) Prof. Vojtěch Hrubý, CSc., Dr. h. c. | Department of Materials and Armament Manufacturing Technology |
1975–1991 | Col Prof. Dalibor Růžička, DrSc. | Department of Armour |
1972–1975 | Col Prof. Ladislav Bezděk, DrSc. | Department of Armour |
1960–1972 | Academician Prof. Přemysl Ryš, DrSc. | Department of Materials Science and Non-Machining Technologies |
1951–1960 | Academician Prof. František Píšek, Dr. Mont. | Department of Materials Science and Non-Machining Technologies |