Richard H. Gallagher (November 17, 1927 – September 30, 1997) was an American civil and aerospace engineer, researcher and president of Clarkson University from 1988 to 1995.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, he studied civil engineering at New York University, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees.

[2] After graduating from NYU, he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Company, before joining Bell Aerosystems in the Buffalo, New York area.

[2] Gallagher was a leader in developing methods for finite-element analysis that utilized the capabilities of computers to design complex structures.

"[2] During his time at Bell, Gallagher taught and studied for his doctorate at the State University of New York (SUNY)-Buffalo.

[2] In 1978, he became dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Arizona, where he would again be a professor in residence after retiring from academic administration in 1995.

Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (1995) Honorary Fellow, Swansea University (1987).