Christopher Saldaña Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

As a member of the Senior Executive Service, leading the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the US Department of Energy (DOE). AMMTO is the lead within the DOE for research, development, and demonstration of next-generation materials and manufacturing technologies needed to increase U.S. industrial competitiveness and to drive economy-wide decarbonization. This includes support of the national plan to revitalize American manufacturing, secure critical supply chains, and develop diverse innovation ecosystems leading to new manufacturing jobs and increased economic strength of the nation. AMMTO provides planning, management, and direction necessary for a balanced program of research, development, demonstration, technical assistance, and workforce development to support domestic manufacturing that is critical to achieving a clean, decarbonized economy. As Director, responsible for the development and execution of the office's technology portfolio strategy, budget and staffing. This includes: (1) managing a large, multi-functional team across technology programs focused on Next-Generation Materials and Processes, Secure and Sustainable Materials and Energy Technology Manufacturing and Workforce, (2) developing technology roadmaps in these areas to focus nation-wide research and development efforts to achieve clean energy goals, (3) coordinating technology development in these areas with national research laboratories, universities, state/local governments, consortia and industry, (4) developing annual budget and investment strategy in these areas in collaboration with other offices/agencies within and outside of DOE, and (5) managing relationships and communications with DOE senior management, the White House, OMB, GAO, and Congressional committees and subcommittees in these technology areas.

Atlanta, Ga Usa

As a faculty member in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, established and managed a successful research and development program for federal agencies and large/small corporations in the areas of additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and smart/digital manufacturing. Led cross-disciplinary teams to secure extramural funding and develop new technologies with direct relevance to the pulp/paper, aerospace, biomedical, automotive, construction, and raw metals industries. Established large-scale research and development programs, with major investments from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Defense and DARPA. Also led undergraduate and graduate education efforts in the areas of design and manufacturing. Drove major course development efforts for large section (250+) undergraduate courses and professional graduate-level courses, and secured resources to expand laboratories and technology scope of courses into areas of digital fabrication, advanced microcontrollers, augmented and virtual reality. Currently on leave of absence from GA Tech.

Wright Patterson Afb, Oh

Led technology development efforts while affiliated with the Manufacturing & Industrial Technologies (ManTech) Division of the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (RX) at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in the areas of: (1) qualification methods for additive manufacturing and (2) manufacturing process development for high-strength, high-performance low alloy steels. Developed state-of-the-art inspection technologies and process qualification for manufacturing systems for the US Air Force and defense manufacturers. Collaboratively developed new approaches for traceable metrological certification of x-ray computed tomography inspection of additively manufactured components, including advanced surface determination and geometric segmentation approaches. These methods currently are being leveraged for model-based aeroengine turbine design and determination of model-optimal assembly configurations. Established new materials characterization and production analysis approaches to determine manufacturability of advanced low-alloy steel alternative materials for lower-cost, high performance military system applications.

University Park, Pa Usa

As a tenure-track faculty member in the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, established a successful technology development program for federal agencies and large corporations in the areas of precision manufacturing and materials development. Research focused on development of fundamental processing science and machine/platform development for fabricating functionalized surfaces by hybrid surface severe plastic deformation and modulation-assisted surface texturing.

Lafayette, In Usa

As an R&D engineer, led technology development efforts in precision medical manufacturing devices, including direct support for driving technical client sales, business proposal development and intellectual property activities. Technology development for retrofit of CNC machine tools to enable high-precision, high-rate gun drilling of biomedical components at over 4X faster production operations above industry baseline. Responsibilities included: (1) technical product evaluations and economic analyses for potential customers, including in-house process development and technology installations at client sites, (2) execution of research and development teams and projects for US federal government agencies, (3) support of business and technology operations through proposal development, business plan competitions, and technical sales.

West Lafayette, In Usa

Research and development in the area of next generation material systems and manufacturing methods. New material development included a focus on high-strength, ultrafine-grained and nanostructured alloy systems. Developed new manufacturing routes for producing densely nano-twinned microstructures using low-temperature high rate severe plastic deformation. New manufacturing system development included focus on use of low-to-medium frequency applied vibrations to control tribological contact conditions in precision machining configurations. Developed new experimental capabilities and process models to investigate impact of applied vibrations to process energy efficiency, tool wear, and overall productivity.

Bangalore, India

Visiting researcher in the Department of Materials Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) working with Professor A. H. Chokshi's and T. G. Murthy's research teams. Primary focus on: (1) characterization of performance of nanotwinned materials produced by pulsed electrodeposition and (2) understanding fundamental mechanics of flat punch indentation in strain hardening materials.

Hosur, India

Technical consulting with TVS Motors at their Hosur, India manufacturing facility. Focus on process baseline development and manufacturing process improvement for production and assembly of two-wheelers, including process flow analysis, strategic inventory reduction, process streamlining.

Albuquerque, Nm Usa

Researcher in the Ceramics and Glass (14192) and Micro/Meso Manufacturing (02455) departments focused on developing methods for manufacturing high strength alloys for energy applications. Focus included: (1) manufacturing of high strength micro-scale components from nanocrystalline Inconel 718 and (2) low temperature consolidation of nanocrystalline aluminum particulate produced by severe plastic deformation.

Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Technical consulting with Hylsamex focused on development of process simulation and monitoring software tools for steelmaking processes.

Blacksburg, Va Usa

Research focused on development of lean manufacturing assessment tools and best practices for center members.

Cincinnati, Oh Usa

Multiple work rotations through Product Test Center (Test Engineering Department), Manufacturing and Quality Technology Department (M&QTD - Laser Applications) and Global Supply Chain Groups. Highlights included: (1) test sensor development, test stand application and sensor computer aided design for multiple legacy and new engine programs (GE90-115B FETT, CF6 family, CF34 family, TF39), (2) laser cladding and laser hole drilling process development for turbine airfoils, and (3) strategic inventory reduction dashboard development for globalwide rotable inventory parts.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Master'S Degree

Bachelor'S Degree, Summa Cum Laude