Andrew Tykol Email & Phone Number

Huntsville, Al, Us

Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Space Launch System (SLS) Booster Element Office (BEO) (XP10) Project Management Detail:Selected for a competitive three-month project management development detail with the BEO, which oversees the flight and development of SLS solid rocket boosters (SRBs), including the next-generation Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) program.• Gaining hands-on experience in project management while being mentored by an experienced project manager to enhance understanding of PM principles for complex flight programs• Contributing to BOLE Preliminary Design Review (PDR) through document reviews, discrepancy screenings, and collaboration with multiple Integrated Product Teams (IPTs)• Managing new and existing issues and risks for the pyrotechnic devices subsystem, facilitating coordination across diverse engineering teams at MSFC and the SRB contractor, Northrop Grumman (NG)• Collaborating with the NG team on hardware and manufacturing overviews and participating in development and flight motor processing activities

Huntsville, Alabama

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC): Solid Propulsion and Pyro Devices (ER62) BranchMars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) 2nd Stage Propulsion Lead:The MAV is part of an ambitious mission, Mars Sample Return (MSR), to retrieve samples from Mars and return them to Earth. The MAV is a two-stage vehicle powered by solid rocket motors that will launch from the Martian surface and place the samples into Mars’ orbit.• Responsible for the design, development, test, and evaluation (DDT&E) of the 2nd stage main propulsion system, spin motors, and de-spin motors as well as their systems engineering and integration (SE&I) into the vehicle• Proficient in developing concept of operations (ConOps), requirements development, conducting trade studies, performing technical reviews, and verification and validation (V&V)• Regularly interface with several contractors, NASA centers, and test facilities while leading collaboration across diverse and multi-discipline teams to ensure subsystem integration and mission success• Coordinate and participate in cross-discipline analyses of propulsion systems and provide technical recommendations to management while managing team assignments, mitigating risk, and maintaining program cost and schedule• Manage technical risks by identifying issues, developing mitigating actions, assessing the level of effort to resolve issues, and communicating recommendations to project leadership• Undertook responsibilities beyond my core role to ensure project success during a pivotal MAV redesign effort• Contributed to a successful propulsion subsystem and vehicle-level System Requirements Reviews (SRR) and Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR) as well as a successful 2nd stage flight test SRR• Contributed to a successful Development Motor 1 (DM-1) hot-fire tests of the 2nd stage main propulsion system and spin/de-spin motors

Huntsville, Alabama

Past Projects:Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV):• Contributed to the early development of a hybrid rocket motor grain for the single-stage-to-orbit MAV concept. Participated in the manufacturing process of the MAV hybrid fuel grain, including propellant mixing, casting, and assemblySpace Launch System (SLS) and Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE):The SLS will bring humanity back to the moon and beyond. The SLS has had a successful first test flight in 2022. BOLE is the next generation solid rocket booster (SRB) to be used on the SLS. It will have higher performance and a lighter composite structure, allowing for a higher payload capacity.• Supported SRB case and nozzle design and analysis• Conducted a trade study to inform the BOLE composite fiber downselect• Achieved a successful BOLE SRRSolid Rocket Test Motor X (SRTMX):The SRTMX is a subscale 24” diameter test motor used to test new insulations and higher performance propellant. Data collected from this testing is used to inform design of the next generation SLS booster, BOLE.• Designed and analyzed O-ring seals for motor and nozzle joints• Three successful motor hot-fire tests to dateSolid Fuel Torch (SFT):The SFT is a small-scale hybrid motor also used for insulation testing.• Supported mixing and casing of hybrid fuel grains• Provided motor hot-fire test conductor supportLow Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID):LOFTID supports the development of a Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD), which inflates to create a large area heat shield for landing large payloads on Earth and other planets.• Collaborated with Langley Research Center (LaRC) and private industry to develop a novel solid fuel gas generator to inflate a HIAD

College Station, Texas

I was a graduate researcher in the Petersen Research Group, where I conducted research with a focus on combustion and propulsion sciences. The laboratory concentrated on research related to solid, liquid, and hybrid propellants. Energetic propellant formulations were created through refined preparation methods with specific additives to tailor their performance. Combustion experiments were typically conducted at a wide range of pressures and temperatures. Research into solid rocket propellants was a core interest. Nano- and micron-sized additive research involved mixing these particles with a variety of solid propellants, including AP/HTPB, to tailor burning rates and other combustion characteristics. I was the lead researcher on a project that partnered with industry sponsors and dealt with automotive airbag gas generator propellants. Propellant formulations (guanidine nitrate and basic copper nitrate) with different nano- and micron-sized metal oxide additives were studied for specific combustion characteristics. This research also included several different mixing methods for increased performance. Throughout this effort, I gained experience in experimental test formulation and setup. Additional research was conducted with hybrid rocket motors containing Paraffin, HTPB, aluminum/HTPB, and Paraffin/HTPB blended fuels with gaseous oxygen oxidizer to analyze regression rates. Furthermore, the lab dealt with solids research related to propellant AP size, aging, curing, mixing, temperature sensitivity, etc. Other government and private research was conducted on a variety of solid, liquid, and hybrid propellants.

College Station, Texas

I taught and coordinated several sections of the Materials and Manufacturing Laboratory (MEEN361). My work included teaching three lab sections (60 students) pragmatic engineering practices and acting as the main trainer for three other teaching assistants. This experimental lab focused on materials characterization and manufacturing processes with an emphasis on material mechanical properties, microstructure evolution and control, and manufacturing processes for producing various shapes for mechanical parts. Students gained hands-on experience with machine tools, welding, 3D printing, hardness and impact testing, cold working and annealing, steel heat treatment, fatigue testing, metal and polymer tensile testing, and microscopy. Additional duties included accurate and fair grading of technical lab reports and papers.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

I designed instrumentation and control systems for the chemical and petrochemical industry while working in a collaborative, multidisciplinary office. Responsibilities included instrument design basis, formation and upkeep of databases and datasheets, instrument specification development, cost estimation, carrying out requisition of specified instruments, and assisting with location and wiring plans for their installation. Clients included Honeywell (Line 4: Shreveport, LA), Ineos (C-Train: La Porte, TX), OxyChem (4CPe: Geismar, LA), etc., for which work was done in various stages of the project, including Front End Engineering Design (FEED) as well as detailed design and construction. Instruments were carefully specified to precisely measure and control pressure, temperature, flow, and level of important processes. This was all done following industry and client standards while working closely with the client to ensure that all their requirements were met.

Covington, Louisiana

Developed enhanced marketing skills and assisted customers' concerns by making sales, answering questions, and solving problems. Required personable customer service, technical knowledge, and punctuality.

Ruston, Louisiana

Worked under the mentorship of Dr. Niel Crews fabricating and experimenting with novel microfluidic chips formed solely from Thiol-Acrylate polymer. Tested the viability of Thiol-Acrylate as a replacement for the traditional Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer commonly used in microfluidic chips. This new polymer could become the standard for microfluidic chips, as it does not require expensive equipment to fabricate and has many advantageous chemical properties.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Worked independently using a machine press to form tablets required for bio-fuel experiments and research projects.

New Orleans, Louisiana And Yarmouth, Iowa

Safely set up professional firework displays on the 4th of July for the city of Biloxi, MS. Required wiring of complex electrical connections to a main switchboard and handling of explosives. Fireworks were shot synchronized to music from a barge for viewers on the beach and at the casinos.

Covington, Louisiana

Performed commercial and home electrical installations and repairs. Work experience ranges from installing lighting at a commercial business to wiring houses up to 5,000 square feet.

Master Of Science (M.S.), Mechanical Engineering, 3.63 Gpa

Graduate Teaching Assistant - Materials and Manufacturing Graduate Research Assistant - Combustion and Propulsion Course of Study.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Biological Engineering, 3.69 Gpa

Related Coursework: Process Design, Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Mechanical Design, Statics, Dynamics and Vibrations.

Bachelor'S Of Science

Studied abroad full time during the Australian fall semester