Experience

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  Firefly Aerospace

  • Vandenberg AFB, CA

  • Launch Engineer, Vehicle Integration

    • Dec 2019 - Nov 2021
    • Vandenberg AFB, CA

    Summary: Mechanical engineer at SLC-2, Vandenberg AFB, CA, responsible for integration, processing and launch preparations of the Alpha space launch vehicle as well as the Alpha payload element. Provided support, design development and operational execution of the construction and activation of the new launch pad and affiliated facilities for Alpha. (Firefly Aerospace is a New Entrant in space launch.)● Led teams of technicians in receiving, assembly, testing and final launch preparations of the Alpha launch vehicle.● Conducted payload integration operations for the Alpha flight 1 payload.● Acted as engineering focal for pad structural systems during build-up and commissioning of the Alpha launch pad at SLC-2W; conducted activation tasks for pad hydraulic systems.● Devised concepts of operations (CONOPS) for launch site Alpha payload integration.● Developed and executed written procedures for the build-up and processing of facility, MGSE and launch vehicle systems; acted as primary launch site interface with Range Safety for procedure review and approval.● Performed as primary explosive ordnance focal for the launch site, managing the receipt, tracking, storage, handling and final installation of launch vehicle ordnance.● Occupied role of RP (Responsible Person) for Firefly’s explosives license with BATFE (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives).● Acted as recovery team member for collection and cataloguing of launch vehicle debris after Alpha first flight anomaly.

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  ManTech, Int'l.

  • Vandenberg AFB, CA

  • Launch Site Operations Engineer, ManTech Int'l Corp.

    • Aug 2016 - Aug 2019
    • Vandenberg AFB, CA

    Summary: Systems Engineering and Technical Assistant (SETA) contracted to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) for launch base operations at Vandenberg AFB, CA. Provided expertise and advice for, and planning and operational execution of, all tasks for the processing of satellite payloads at Vandenberg AFB. Areas covered include: satellite vehicle (SV) transportation from factory to launch base, commissioning and preparation of payload processing facility, planning and executing SV propellant loading, requirements tracking, interfacing with launch vehicle provider and overall administrative, scheduling and technical support to DoD customer and NRO Vandenberg commanders.● Provided SETA (Systems Engineering Technical Advisor) support to the National Reconnaissance Office in all phases of planning and execution of satellite to launch-vehicle integration at the launch base.● Performed operational readiness assessments of commercial and government-owned payload processing facilities.● Formulated defensible recommendations for the government on complex programmatic/technical issues in a fast-paced environment.● Conducted integration and operational tasks for high value spacecraft transportation operations by land and air. Tasks included planning, forecasting, coordination, logistics and interfacing with local governments, other military departments and payload contractors.● Tracked, adjudicated and verified a wide range of requirements imposed by satellite programs on launch site operations, including: satellite transportation dynamic environments, payload processing facility environments, communication requirements, satellite fueling requirements and radio frequency (RF) monitoring requirements.● Assessed engineering changes of government-owned systems for operational impacts on NRO launch base operations.● Researched and compiled requirements documents for launch site processing of SmallSat/CubeSat payloads.

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  United Launch Alliance

  • United Launch Alliance, Vandenberg AFB

  • Operations Systems Engineer​ ​5

    • Jan 1996 - Jun 2019
    • United Launch Alliance, Vandenberg AFB

    [McDonnell Douglas, 1995­-1998; Boeing, 1998-­2006; United Launch Alliance, 2006-­2016]● Led teams of technicians in the assembly and processing of Delta II and Delta IV core launch vehicles and payloads. (Acted as Lead Engineer for payload operations from 2001 through 2007.) ● Authored detailed procedures for the processing, handling and assembly of Delta II, Delta IV and Atlas V launch vehicles and payload processing and integration. ● Troubleshot and resolved anomalies in mechanical/structural systems encountered during all launch processing; Engineering Material Review Board (MRB) member. ● Conducted transportation operations of large rocket hardware and satellite payloads using specialized transporters. ● Developed and executed procedures to integrate CubeSats and their unique dispensers to the Centaur upper stage. ● Created and gave presentations to launch customers and other support organizations on project and schedule status, technical issues, processing conops (concepts of operation) and a variety of subjects relevant to launch base activities. ● Developed new payload processing conops from beginning to end, including specifying requirements for MGSE to support those operations. ● Developed and performed pathfinder/trailblazer operations with simulated and actual flight hardware in order to prove out MGSE and validate processing concepts in advance of their use on actual missions. This was performed for both launch vehicle and payload systems. ● Developed, designed and built instrumentation systems for monitoring speeds, accelerations (for loads & dynamics analysis), levelness and temperature/RH environments for movement of high value flight hardware. ● Performed technical review of HVAC and building structural systems in the construction proposals for the initial build-out of SLC-­6 for launching Delta IV.

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  McDonnell Douglas Corporation

  • Long Beach, CA

  • Production Development / Liaison Engineer

    • Jan 1992 - Jan 1996
    • Long Beach, CA

    ● MRB / Liaison Engineer responsible for the disposition of non-conformances occurring during aircraft assembly and test, including the analysis and development of repairs for aircraft structural, hydraulic and mechanical systems.● Provided engineering direction to Manufacturing in the assembly, rigging, testing, operating and troubleshooting of aircraft systems in final assembly and flight ramp operations. This included interfacing with Company and customer pilots in order to resolve anomalies uncovered during test flights and pre-delivery test and checkoutoperations.● Performed design of primary and secondary aircraft structure from initial layout through final drawing release.● Performed the above duties for the C17 military transport, and the DC9/MD80 & DC10/MD11 commercial transports .

• 

  McDonnell Douglas Corp.

  • MRB / Liaison Engineer

    • Oct 1986 - Dec 1991

    ● MRB / Liaison Engineer responsible for the disposition of nonconforming parts and assemblies for commercial and military aircraft (DC9/MD80,DC10/MD11, T45 ,C17 and F15)● Devised and dispositioned repairs for metallic, NC and conventionally machined parts, sheet metal parts, plastics, composites and other nonmetallic parts and assemblies.● Provided support for the production of, and disposition of nonconformances for, spares for older military aircraft, including the A4 Skyhawk and F4D Skyray.