John R. Olds, Ph.D.

John R. Olds, Ph.D. Email and Phone Number

Managing Principal @ Tyger River Capital
Columbus, NC, US
John R. Olds, Ph.D.'s Location
Columbus, North Carolina, United States, United States
John R. Olds, Ph.D.'s Contact Details
About John R. Olds, Ph.D.

Dr. John R. Olds is currently Managing Principal at Tyger River Capital, LLC (TRC) and Chairman of the Board of Directors at SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI). He is a 34 year veteran of the aerospace sector, including positions in private consulting, large aerospace industry, academia, and small business. He is a strong advocate for the NewSpace revolution and the commercial development of space. Through Tyger River Capital, Dr. Olds and his family are active investors in a variety of space and non-space business opportunities. His interests include AgriTech, aerospace, space exploration, AI and energy. As an investor, he favors early stage private companies and university spinouts.Dr. Olds is co-founder of SpaceWorks Enterprises and served as the company's first CEO from 2000 to 2022. Prior to that, he served on the aerospace engineering faculties at NC State University and later the Georgia Institute of Technology. At Georgia Tech, he founded the school's Space Systems Design Lab (SSDL). While at SEI, he was on the founding teams for Generation Orbit Launch Services, Blink Astro, and Terminal Velocity Aerospace. Dr. Olds is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Georgia. He is currently a member of the NC State University MAE Graduate Advisory Board.In his professional and academic careers, Dr. Olds has been active in the field of advanced space transportation systems analysis and design with particular emphasis on the integration of automated software analyses using multidisciplinary design optimization and analysis techniques. He is author or co-author of over 100 technical papers since 1986 related to conceptual design of advanced space systems. He has led or participated in a wide range of aerospace concept design activities related to advanced launch systems, human exploration missions, LEO-based satellite constellations, lunar resource missions, small satellites, orbital debris remediation, space solar power satellites, and partially-reusable military spaceplane concepts.

John R. Olds, Ph.D.'s Current Company Details
Tyger River Capital

Tyger River Capital

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Managing Principal
Columbus, NC, US
Employees:
3
John R. Olds, Ph.D. Work Experience Details
  • Tyger River Capital
    Managing Principal
    Tyger River Capital
    Columbus, Nc, Us
  • Spaceworks Enterprises, Inc. (Sei)
    Chairman Of The Board
    Spaceworks Enterprises, Inc. (Sei) Apr 2023 - Present
    Atlanta, Georgia, Us
    Dr. Olds provides overall strategic guidance and directions while working with the corporate leadership team at SpaceWorks. He supports the company's development, strategic partnerships, long-term growth, and return of shareholder value.
  • Spaceworks Enterprises, Inc. (Sei)
    Principal Engineer
    Spaceworks Enterprises, Inc. (Sei) Aug 2022 - Apr 2023
    Atlanta, Georgia, Us
    Dr. Olds served in a part-time role as one of the company's Principal Engineers with emphasis on NewSpace markets, commercial business relationships, industry consulting and advisory services, and business development. During this transitional period, he served as acting Lead for the SpaceWorks Commercial & Advisory business unit.
  • Spaceworks Enterprises, Inc. (Sei)
    Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
    Spaceworks Enterprises, Inc. (Sei) Aug 2000 - Aug 2022
    Atlanta, Georgia, Us
    Co-founded SpaceWorks in 2000 and served as the corporation's CEO from 2000 to 2022. Has supervised the growth of SpaceWorks from a small startup to today's diversified group of collaborative business units operating in space engineering services, custom aerospace software development, modeling & simulation, space market research and forecasting, systems engineering and safety support, independent aerospace cost estimates, small satellites, reentry systems, and suborbital and hypersonic flight platforms.As CEO of the overall SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. group of companies, Dr. Olds also acted as CEO for wholly-owned subsidiary units Generation Orbit (GO), Terminal Velocity Aerospace, LLC (TVA), and Blink Astro, LLC (Blink). He was a co-founder of GO in 2011, co-founder of TVA in 2012, and founder of Blink in 2015.
  • Tyger River Capital
    Managing Principal
    Tyger River Capital Jul 2023 - Present
    Dr. Olds serves as Managing Principal of Tyger River Capital LLC (TRC), a family-managed fund focused on early-stage and seed investments
  • Generation Orbit
    Chairman And Ceo
    Generation Orbit Dec 2011 - Aug 2022
    Atlanta, Georgia, Us
    Co-founded Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc. as a subsidiary unit of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) in 2011. He served as the subsidiary's Chairman since 2011 and served as its Chief Executive Office (CEO) from April 2012 to December 2016 and again from October 2018 to August 2022. Dr. Olds oversaw the company's various hardware R&D activities, including the development of the X-60 hypersonic research testbed, the company's flagship development activity.
  • Georgia Institute Of Technology
    Associate Professor
    Georgia Institute Of Technology Aug 1995 - Jul 2006
    Atlanta, Georgia , Us
    Began as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the School of Aerospace Engineering in 1995 and advanced to tenured Associate Professor in 2001. Founded the school's Space Systems Design Laboratory (SSDL) in 1997 and served as SSDL Director or Co-Director through 2006. Graduated 8 PhD students and 39 MS students from SSDL during this period. Regularly taught undergraduate and graduate courses including Astronautics, Advanced Orbital Mechanics, Rocket Propulsion, Advanced Design Methods II, Senior Design I and II (space track), Graduate Space Vehicle Design, and undergraduate Aerospace Design Competitions electives. Conducted a robust sponsored-research program in space transportation, space access, space exploration, space solar power, and space infrastructure development for NASA Langley, NASA Ames, and NASA MSFC. Key projects included Space Launch Initiative (X vehicles), Next Generation Launch Technologies (NGLT), SSP Exploratory Studies, Advanced Engineering Environments (AEE), and the Highly Reusable Space Transportation (HRST) study. Authored or co-authored over 100 technical papers and 8 refereed publications. Requested leave of absence in 2005 - 2006 to more fully pursue entrepreneurial activities. Resigned tenured faculty position in 2006.
  • North Carolina State University
    Visiting Assistant Professor
    North Carolina State University Aug 1993 - Jul 1995
    Raleigh, North Carolina, Us
    Held a non-tenured appointment as a visiting faculty member in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Was a key member of the Mars Mission Research Center, a joint NASA-sponsored program hosted at NC State in collaboration with NC A&T State University. Studied a variety of transportation systems for future human Mars missions including aerocapture options. Conducted additional sponsored research for NASA Langley Research Center's VAB (Howard Stone) in support of the Access to Space (ATS) studies. Taught undergraduate and graduate classes in the MAE department including Statics and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization.
  • General Dynamics
    Aerospace Engineer (Advanced Concepts Group)
    General Dynamics 1988 - 1990
    Reston, Virginia, Us
    Worked on a wide range of advanced space transportation projects for General Dynamics Space Systems Division (under Dan Heald, based in San Diego) and NASA MSFC including: liquid rocket booster (LRB) study to possibly replace SRBs for STS after Challenger, Advanced Launch System (ALS) and National Launch System (NLS), Personnel Launch System (PLS), Cargo Return Vehicle (CRV), and the Space Infrastructure Study for human exploration of the moon and Mars. Expertise included mission architecture planning, flight mechanics, trajectory optimization, database development (transportation system and supporting technologies), and systems engineering for robustness and resiliency.
  • Lockheed Martin
    Engineering Intern
    Lockheed Martin Jun 1987 - Aug 1987
    Bethesda, Md, Us
    Summer intern at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company working in the Structural Dynamics Group under the supervision of Greg Buliavac. Supported the development of thermal and structural loads models for future space tethers in low Earth orbit.
  • Nasa Langley Research Center
    Larss Student Intern
    Nasa Langley Research Center Jun 1986 - Aug 1986
    Hampton, Virginia, Us
    Member of the Langley Aerospace Research Summer Students (LARSS) program working in the Vehicle Analysis Branch (VAB) under the supervision of Dr. Alan Wilhite. Developed a fully-closed conceptual design for a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) reusable space station resupply vehicle using multidisciplinary design techniques and APAS, SMART, POST, and Consiz. A technical paper describing this design work subsequently won first place in the 1987 Region II AIAA Undergraduate Student Competition (Atlanta, GA).
  • Nasa Johnson Space Center
    Aerospace Engineering Intern
    Nasa Johnson Space Center Jun 1985 - Aug 1985
    Summer intern in the Mission Operations Directorate at NASA JSC and a member of the Ground Navigation Branch under the supervision of Dick Osborn and Jon Weaver. Assisted in the development of FORTRAN code to accurately update Space Shuttle Orbiter state vector using a combination of TDRSS and ground tracking station data. Provided back room mission simulation support to GUIDO for Space Shuttle missions STS-51-G and STS 51-F.

John R. Olds, Ph.D. Skills

Space Systems Aerospace Simulations Aerospace Engineering Systems Engineering Spacecraft Propulsion Satellite Program Management Military Orbital Mechanics Fortran Integration Aerodynamics Proposal Writing Engineering Analysis Optimization Defense Requirements Management Systems Design Dod Flight Test Avionics Security Clearance Composites System Design Aircraft Space Launch Systems Optimizations Fluid Dynamics Air Force Cfd Physics Aeronautics Business Development U.s. Department Of Defense

John R. Olds, Ph.D. Education Details

  • North Carolina State University
    North Carolina State University
    Aerospace Engineering
  • Stanford University
    Stanford University
    Aeronautics And Astronautics
  • North Carolina State University
    North Carolina State University
    Aerospace Engineering
  • Dorman High School
    Dorman High School

Frequently Asked Questions about John R. Olds, Ph.D.

What company does John R. Olds, Ph.D. work for?

John R. Olds, Ph.D. works for Tyger River Capital

What is John R. Olds, Ph.D.'s role at the current company?

John R. Olds, Ph.D.'s current role is Managing Principal.

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What schools did John R. Olds, Ph.D. attend?

John R. Olds, Ph.D. attended North Carolina State University, Stanford University, North Carolina State University, Dorman High School.

What skills is John R. Olds, Ph.D. known for?

John R. Olds, Ph.D. has skills like Space Systems, Aerospace, Simulations, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Spacecraft, Propulsion, Satellite, Program Management, Military, Orbital Mechanics, Fortran.

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