Robert Thacker Email & Phone Number

Cleveland, Oh

Pax River, Md

ESDP Training starting 06/2011, to last 5 yearsTurbine Component engineer for the past 4 years. I support CIP and S&T efforts for turbine components of gas turbine engines. I have worked closely as a federal employee with Pratt and Whitney, GE, and Rolls Royce. I have experience in turbine materials (HCF, LCF, creep, thermal cycles, etc), design methods, testing techniques, measurement techniques, and condition of hardware under austere environment interactions.Roles and responsibilities during my time as a project engineer (2 years):The Branch is responsible for the design, operational effectiveness, performance and reliability of turbo prop, turbo shaft, and intermittent combustion engines, and for full life cycle engineering management of those programs. The Branch executes all technical efforts associated with the research, development, qualification, and in-service engineering design requirements of the turbo prop, turbo shaft and reciprocating engines. The Branch translates operational needs statements and fleet metrics into technical requirements, tasks and plans. The Branch develops, and technically directs/administers the associated engine component improvement and reliability analysis programs for current and advanced propulsion systems. The Branch verifies all engine design and development parameters to ensure compatibility of physical and functional interfaces and to optimize system effectiveness. The Branch selects best value design options, evaluates contractors’ performance to requirements and establishes system-focused corrective action requirements. The Branch is also responsible for the support of related technology development programs including Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine, and initiatives to enhance their programs generated by the Joint Service Propulsion-Safety, Affordability, Reliability (PSAR). Rapid technology transition to relevant fleet engines is a prime focus of the Branch.

Volunteer WorkMentor of Autodesk Inventor Crew, Team 836 - The RobobeesDesign robotics work for FIRST Robotics Competition. First mentor to start a CAD design crew on the team.CAD design work includes structure, wiring, electronics, stress analysis, technical drawings, and animationsWorking with High Schoolers

Research in the design and fabrication of hovercraft design with Dr. Dennis McLaughlinDual ducted fan air vehicleStudy of how a streamlined front end effects the aerodynamic performance of an otherwise blunt front end modelDesigned a new streamlined front end via Solidworks, made using rapid prototyping, and used in a closed-return wind tunnel tests at Penn State's Applied Projects BuildingStudies found no advantage or disadvantage in drag or lift with a sharper increase in pitch with increasing wind tunnel and ducted fan air speeds.

Hydraulic work with valves and actuators. Designed brackets to fit valves with customer-ordered actuators. Design parts in SolidWorks and AutoCAD. Responsible for the engineering of company products in accordance to sales orders. Underwent project management training. Trained new employees.

Research in Ice Adhesion with Dr. Jose Palacios and Ed BrouwersOn a project that designed and contructed a airfoiled cantilever beam structure that held a piece of a Boeing wing to study how ice sheared off at Penn State's Icing ChamberStarted with Bernoulli beam bending equations and followed the design process into Solidworks (including design and stress analysis), ice propagation simulation on a wing (LEWICE) with a MATLAB written code to predict the shear force, benchtop testing and calibration, strain gauge attachment, and testing.

FIRST Robotics Team 103Leader of a four-time National Award Winning Design CrewTrained all new design team membersSmall group, with at most 4 peopleDirectly involved with winning the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 National Autodesk Inventor AwardDeclared Autodesk's Inventor of the Month - April 2006Alumni Status after 2006-2007 seasonReturned as an alumni in 2009 to mentor the design team

Master Of Science (M.S.), Aerospace, Aeronautical And Astronautical Engineering, 4.0 Gpa

Bachelor Of Science, Aerospace Engineering

Activities and Societies: USLI - University Student Launch Initiative, University Choir (Tenor I), Lion Ambassadors, PSU LV Honors Club.

Diploma

Activities and Societies: FIRST Robotics - Cybersonics Technology Team 103, National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, French.