Douglas E. Longman

Douglas Longman is a mechanical engineer and research leader at Argonne National Laboratory advancing engine technologies and power systems that improve energy efficiency and support the evolving needs of transportation and stationary power sectors.

Biography

Highlights

Douglas Longman manages Argonne’s Advanced Power Systems Research group, where he leads experimental programs exploring how internal combustion engines, microturbines, fuel cells, and hybrid power systems can be made more efficient, reliable, and adaptable. With over four decades of industry and national lab experience, he has contributed to technologies that reduce fuel consumption, meet evolving emissions standards, and shape future powertrain design. He has played a central role in long-running projects that support the freight rail sector and integrate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) into combustion research.

“I was very proud to be part of initiating Argonne’s computational fluid dynamics program for internal combustion engines. We were fortunate to find the right people, and it’s grown into multiple groups today.” — Argonne Research Scientist Douglas Longman

Research Focus

Longman’s work focuses on experimental research in internal combustion engines, microturbines, fuel cells, and combined heat and power systems. His group investigates fuel efficiency, emissions reduction, and system behavior under real-world conditions, especially for heavy-duty, off-road, marine, and rail applications. He also collaborates on projects involving renewable and low-carbon fuels, waste heat recovery, and advanced combustion concepts.

Impact

From one-of-a-kind locomotive testing to industry-informed powertrain modeling, Longman’s work has directly shaped how engines are developed and understood. His team’s data and insights have supported regulatory compliance strategies, improved fleet performance, and informed national energy policy. His leadership in cross-lab collaborations and stakeholder engagement has helped unify partners across research and industry.

Douglas Longman is the manager of the Advanced Power Systems Research group within Argonne’s Transportation and Power systems division. He leads a team of experimental researchers working on next-generation combustion engines, fuel systems, microturbines, and hybrid energy platforms. His career reflects a deep commitment to using engineering insight to advance energy efficiency and strengthen America’s energy systems.

Longman began his professional journey in the Midwest, growing up on a farm in western Illinois, where a fascination with machinery and mechanical systems led him to study engineering. After earning his degree in agricultural engineering with a focus on mechanical systems, he joined Caterpillar through a cooperative education program. There, he worked on diesel fuel injection systems and later took on technical roles at a petroleum-focused testing lab supporting engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and fuel additive companies. Through that role, he began working with Argonne as a subcontractor, an experience that sparked his interest in research and eventually led to a staff position at the lab.

At Argonne, Longman has contributed to engine development, fuel compatibility testing, and emissions research across a broad spectrum of transportation systems. One of his most enduring contributions has been to Argonne’s single-cylinder locomotive research engine platform, which he helped establish and operate beginning in the late 1990s. The platform has since operated continuously for nearly three decades, supporting industry efforts to meet increasingly strict EPA emissions regulations and serving as a trusted testing partner for the rail sector.

Another defining achievement in Longman’s career has been his role in building Argonne’s CFD capability from the ground up. In the early 2000s, a withdrawn project partner left a critical modeling gap. Longman responded by initiating internal CFD work; hiring and mentoring students, seeding internal expertise, and helping grow what is now a fully independent, thriving computational group supporting combustion and engine research across the lab.

In addition to his technical accomplishments, Longman has demonstrated a strong ability to collaborate across sectors. He served as stakeholder engagement lead and later market transformation team lead on the DOE-funded Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima) program, a nine-lab collaboration. His leadership helped establish industry trust, foster alignment across national labs, and increase the relevance and impact of the research conducted. He credits his earlier industry experience with giving him perspective on what partners value and how to align research with real-world implementation needs.

Longman’s work has consistently supported the U.S. Department of Energy’s focus on efficiency, innovation, and resilience. Whether the policy lens is emissions, energy independence, or efficiency, his engineering mindset and flexible approach keep the research rooted in practical impact. He received the Argonne Board of Governors Distinguished Performance Award in 2024 in recognition of his leadership and contributions.

Outside of the lab, Longman is a former avid marathon runner and continues to enjoy fitness and outdoor activity. He holds a bachelor’s in agricultural engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Read the latest Argonne news about Douglas Longman:

Argonne, Achates Power Break New Ground Developing Hydrogen-Powered Engine for Decarbonizing Long-Haul Commercial Vehicles

Argonne, Progress Rail, Test Low-Carbon Fuels on the Path to Decarbonizing the Rail Industry

Education

Professional Engineering License — Mechanical Engineering — State of Illinois (1993)
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering — University of Illinois Chicago (2006)
B.S. in Agricultural Engineering — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1982)

Honors and Awards

UChicago Argonne Board of Governors Distinguished Performance Award (2024)
Impact Argonne Award (2023)
Impact Argonne Award (2020)
Argonne EGS Excellence Award (2018)
Argonne Pacesetter Award (2007)

“Flexibility is key. Don’t be afraid to go back and learn new skills if your interests shift.” — Argonne Research Scientist Douglas Longman

Select Publications

R. Vijayagopal, S. Curran, D. Deter, and D. Longman, “Evaluating Class 6 Delivery Truck Fuel Economy and Emissions Using Vehicle System Simulations for Conventional and Hybrid Powertrains and Co-Optima Fuel Blends,” SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-1156, 2022, doi:10.4271/2022-01-1156.
A. Shah, S. Cheng, D. Longman, S. Goldsborough and T. Rockstroh, “An Experimental Study of Uncertainty Considerations Associated with Predicting Autoignition Timing using Livengood-Wu Integral Method.” Fuel, doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119025, August 2020.
G. Magnotti, C. Mohapatra, A. Mashayekh, S. Wijeyakulasuriya, R. Schanz, J. Blumreiter, B. Johnson, et al.“Development of an Efficient Conjugate Heat Transfer Modeling Framework to Optimize Mixing-Limited Combustion of Ethanol in a Diesel Engine.” Paper presented at the 2020 ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, , November 1, 2020 - November 4, 2020.
M. Kass, M. Biruduganti, D. Longman, B. Kaul, J. Storey, A. Elliott and D. Siddel. “Performance Comparison of an Additive Manufactured Bimetallic (Stainless Steel and Bronze) Engine Head with a Stock Cast Iron Head.” Paper presented at the 2020 World Congress Experience, , April 21, 2020 - April 23, 2020.
Ou, Longwen, H. Cai, H.J. Seong, D. Longman, J. Dunn, J. Storey, T. Toops, et al. “Co-optimization of heavy-duty fuels and engines: Cost benefit analysis and implications.” Environmental Science and Technology 53, no. 21 November 5, 2019: 12904-12913. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03690.
Kim, Joohan, R. Scarcelli, S. Som, A. Shah, M. Biruduganti and D. Longman. “Assessment of turbulent combustion models for simulating prechamber ignition in a natural gas engine.” Paper presented at the 2019 ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, October 20, 2019 - October 23, 2019.

Select Patents and Inventions

International Patent No. WO1993007378, Hydraulically-actuated electronically-controlled unit injector having stroke-controlled piston and methods of operation.
U.S. Patent No. 5697341, Fill metered hydraulically actuated fuel injection system and method of fuel injection.
U.S. Patent No. 5181494, Hydraulically actuated electronically controlled unit injector having stoke-controlled piston and methods of operation.
ANL-IN-05-129, Method for in-cylinder oxygen-enriched air injection to reduce diesel engine exhaust emissions.