Incoming Director, Center for Aviation Studies | College of Engineering | The Ohio State University

• Aug 2023 - Present

Currently transitioning into role with full-time responsibilities beginning January 1, 2024 Currently transitioning into role with full-time responsibilities beginning January 1, 2024

Associate Professor

• Jul 2023 - Present

Associate Professor & Graduate Studies Coordinator

• Jun 2020 - Jun 2023

Associate Professor & Engineering Program Coordinator

• Aug 2019 - Jun 2020

Tenured faculty member and engineering coordinator for the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. Coordinate and manage curricular actions in the college’s aerospace and mechatronics engineering programs. Teach and administer assigned courses. Conduct externally-funded engineering-related research.

Assistant Professor

• Aug 2013 - Jul 2019

Assistant Professor and founding faculty member of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Aeronautics & Engineering. Develop and implement the first engineering curriculum at Kent State University. Teach and administer assigned courses. Establish an aerospace research program.Significant Accomplishments. • Developed all curricular aspects of the aerospace engineering program, to include initial proposals, preliminary course syllabi, and academic equipment requirements. The aerospace engineering program began in Fall 2016.• As lead faculty of the aeronautical systems engineering technology degree, secured first-time accreditation of the program by the Accreditation Board of Engineering & Technology (ABET), the first ABET accreditation of a four-year program at Kent State University.• Managed a budget of start-up funding to establish research capabilities and kick-start aerospace technical research. Established eVTOL Propulsion Laboratory.• Taught graduate and undergraduate courses in aeronautics and aerospace engineering. Advised both graduate and undergraduate students in research projects. Show less

Distinguished Visiting Professor of Aeronautics

• Jun 2021 - May 2022

Sabbatical leave from Kent State University, assigned to the US Air Force Academy Department of Aeronautics for the 2021-22 academic year. Sabbatical leave from Kent State University, assigned to the US Air Force Academy Department of Aeronautics for the 2021-22 academic year.

Chief, Propulsion Division

• Nov 2011 - Aug 2013

Division chief in the Army Research Laboratory’s Vehicle Technology Directorate, located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland and the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Supervise a mix of civil servants and contractors. Manage resources for conducting basic and applied research in powerplant and power transmission technology for manned/unmanned ground vehicles, rotorcraft, and unmanned aircraft.Significant Accomplishments. • Supervised a compliment of 15-21 scientists and engineers, executing basic and applied levels of propulsion research, operating within an annual budget just over $5M.• Developed and refined division strategy, research goals, and manpower requirements, following the DOD’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) relocation of the organization from Ohio to Maryland.• Managed the buildup and commissioning of over $15M worth of new propulsion laboratory facilities. Assisted in securing $2.8M of external funds to acquire a state-of-the-art drivetrain laboratory.• Served as the head of the Army office at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, interacting with center managers to ensure streamlined Army business operations as a tenant organization on the NASA campus.• Fostered collaborative efforts to continue/enhance research with government, academic, and industry organizations to include Boeing, Bell Helicopter, NASA, Army S&T performing organizations, and numerous universities.• Mentored junior engineers recently hired into the federal service through professional development opportunities, including military and acquisition orientation courses, research facility tours, and one-on-one development sessions.• Briefed ARL’s propulsion research portfolio and combat science and technology efforts to senior officials at the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army levels. Show less

Team Lead, Rotorcraft Propulsion & Drives Teams

• Aug 2009 - Oct 2011

Team lead in ARL-VTD’s propulsion division located at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Administer the execution of all Army rotorcraft-related basic and applied propulsion research. Develop and mentor a team of six engineers. Foster collaboration with and leverage test facilities along with the experience of scientists and engineers from NASA’s multi-million dollar rotary-wing project.Significant Accomplishments. • Developed a methodology to measure and evaluate the effects of gear-tooth crack propagation using natural crack initiation caused by gear-tooth bending fatigue.• Analyzed infinitely variable transmission concepts for future army ground vehicles, supporting new technology risk-reduction efforts.• Completed the development, baseline, and initial testing of a high-speed single gear-tooth bending fatigue rig to conduct fatigue testing of gear specimens of various materials. Verified rig’s capability for conducting ultra-high-cycle fatigue tests (> 1.0E8 cycles) and conducted preliminary tests validating that capability.• Managed the Surface Engineering for Propulsion and Transmission Energy-loss Reduction (SEPTER) research project, sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), to quantify surface efficiency and durability improvements available in gears, piston rings, and cylinder liners used in ground and air propulsion systems. Show less

Team Lead, Science & Technology Assistance Team

• May 2010 - Nov 2010

Led a three-man team, coordinating with various government agencies and operational units to identify technology shortfalls experienced by soldiers in a combat environment, and translate their needs into engineering requirements. Briefed senior government officials on the role of science and technology personnel serving in combat zones. Designed a “breakaway” seat concept for allowing rapid egress from a military humvee in case of rollover, resulting in a prototype scheduled for inclusion into future seat upgrades. Show less

Instructor and Assistant Professor

• Jun 2003 - Jul 2005

Taught undergraduate courses in introductory aerodynamics, aircraft performance and stability, and fluid mechanics. Advised senior cadets in their aerospace capstone courses. Managed the department’s flight laboratory program. Supervised the maintenance, safety, airworthiness, and scheduling of two Cessna airplanes, five pilots, on a constrained annual operating budget of $43,000. Taught undergraduate courses in introductory aerodynamics, aircraft performance and stability, and fluid mechanics. Advised senior cadets in their aerospace capstone courses. Managed the department’s flight laboratory program. Supervised the maintenance, safety, airworthiness, and scheduling of two Cessna airplanes, five pilots, on a constrained annual operating budget of $43,000.

Manager, Air Traffic Control Standards & Maintenance Office

• Oct 2000 - Jul 2001

Managed a six-man office responsible for the safety, standardization, evaluation, certification, and training of 259 air traffic controllers and 41 equipment repairers supporting 20 air traffic control facilities at 12 airfields in Germany, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo.Developed air traffic control plan to support army aviation 10-year projections in Europe through the realignment of operational and tactical services and capabilities. Proposed a plan to upgrade existing radars throughout Europe to save the Army $36M over eight years, which was adopted and implemented. Show less

Company Commander

• Oct 1999 - Oct 2000

Administered an organizational headquarters and staff, providing leadership and direction to 72 soldiers with organizational equipment valued at $3M.Planned and coordinated all aspects of relocating an organization 100 miles between military bases in a foreign country. Coordinated with losing and gaining community agencies to ensure the smoothest transition possible for soldiers and their families. Managed schedule of personnel flow from one location to the other.Successfully led the organization through its first external review in five years, receiving high marks in all areas.Streamlined property accountability by identifying and removing over $100K of unnecessary, outdated, and unused equipment. Show less

Manager, Human Resources Office

• Aug 1998 - Sep 1999

Served as the human resources manager and advisor to the chief executive for an organization of 395 military and 47 foreign national civilians.Greatly enhanced the efficiency of the human resources office. Decreased administrative processing from 10 days to 3 days. Improved the number of on-time evaluation submissions from 33% - 100%. Decreased status reporting from 4 hours to 45 minutes while increasing accuracy.

Deputy Administrator & Small Unit Leader

• Aug 1994 - Sep 1997

Supervised administrative and logistical functions for operational aviation organizations of 239 and 98 personnel. Led a small-unit organization of 11 pilots and maintainers operating four UH-1 helicopters, providing general aviation support to an organizational task force of 3,000 people. Supervised administrative and logistical functions for operational aviation organizations of 239 and 98 personnel. Led a small-unit organization of 11 pilots and maintainers operating four UH-1 helicopters, providing general aviation support to an organizational task force of 3,000 people.