Leading team of 20 mechanical engineering analysts, structural, thermal, dynamics, and loads development. Reporting to VP of Engineering, guiding air vehicle development through minimum and sufficient analysis to ensure Kratos Unmanned Aerial systems remains the industry leader for low cost, fast development efforts.

Functional manager of 15-20 mechanical engineering analysts. Lead a diverse team of entry, mid, and senior level analysis staff, as well as contractors working on site, and remotely. Guided the stress, thermal, dynamics and loads development disciplines. Established mechanical engineering analysis intern program at Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, recruiting, training and mentoring 2-3 interns each year. Provided stress team leadership for XQ-58A Valkyrie redesign efforts for ease of production.. Developed pseudovelocity analysis and requirements from aircraft enviornmental data, establishing a new in house capability, presented method and results to prime contractors and external customers such as DARPA and AFRL. Use these methods to complete transient and random vibration NASTRAN analysis to ensure payloads meet shock and vibration requirements. Provided technical oversight for AFRL OBSS new air vehicle development: airframe structural, thermal, and loads development analysis. Hired and established structural analysis team at newly opened Kratos Arlington, Texas site. Ensured teamwork and communication between all site analysis team members and other functional groups. Recruited and hired a highly skilled and hard working analysis team to meet the changing needs of Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, as the team moves into the tactical air vehicle field, requiring more advanced analysis for air vehicle increased technological capability. Develop BOE (basis of estimates) and planned flow charts and schedules for analysis efforts and estimated hours for proposals for new projects.

Guided team of 10-15 structural and thermal analysis mechanical engineers. Developed in house analysis tools using Bruhn, Shigley, Roark. Trained team members in Nastran, Sinda Thermal Analysis. Project Engineer and mechanical design lead of whiffle tree wing load test fixture. Lead project from requirements development, loads analysis, structural analysis, component selection, to a successful critical design review CDR. Project on schedule and on budget. Whiffle tree test fixture is currently in constant production use. Coordinated with out of state production site team to ensure their needs were met. DARPA Gremlins Airframe Analysis Lead. Developed aircraft structural loads, interfaced with prime contractor Dynetics. Oversaw team of 2-3 stress analysts to analyze aircraft, support equipment, and structural test fixtures. Trained mechanical engineers new to stress analysis to be successful team members. Implemented novel technologies for KUAS Kratos unmanned aerial systems, a rotating wing and a retracting recovery mechanism, leading to significant structural analysis and sizing challenges that were accomplished leading to a successfull flight demonstration Conducted SINDA lumped capacitance thermal network modeling of DARPA Gremlins air vehicle to develop engine cooling strategies. Quick turnaround flexible radially symmetrical model enabled evaluation of heat shields, natural convection, forced convection in order to size airflow vents. Developed in house thermal code libraries and established standard analysis methods for the analysis team. Presented results to prime contracor Dynetics team and DARPA external customer.

Structures analyst for high performance aerial target systems. Structural sizing using classical hand calculations and FEA (Finite Element Analysis) for 5GAT composite unmanned air vehicle. Thermal Analysis of empennage using hand calculations and matlab simulations. Guided successful redesign efforts of overheating avionics components, using Patran / Sinda lumped capacitance thermal network model. Led material characterization effort for carbon fiber laminate and bonded joints per ASTM methods and developed strength allowables. Developed in house tools for bonded joint shear strength calculator. Quick turnaround production support stress analysis for composite air vehicle discrepancies and damage. Led aircraft structural loads development for SSAT BQM-177 Navy Aerial target. Interfaced with flight sciences and developed loads from 6DOF simulation and CFD.

Performed thermal analysis for the thermal protection system for Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle using Pro/ENGINEER, FEMAP and Thermal Desktop.Responsible for thermal analysis of Space Shuttle external fuel tank to prevent damage from ice formation and high temperatures during launch. Used SINDA/FLUINT, SINDA/G, FEMAP, and in-house analysis tools. Provided thermal analysis support during Space Shuttle launches. Provided production support for Space Shuttle external fuel tank. Analyzed defects for potential thermal risks during launch. Wrote technical reports and presented engineering results.Wrote procedures and training materials for engineering analysis methods and software. Trained teammates in the use of thermal analysis methods and reviewed work for technical accuracy.

Responsible for quality control testing of spray-on foam insulation, ablators, solvents, cryogenic adhesives and primers. Wrote laboratory analysis procedures. Supervised new analysts, provided training and reviewed analysis results for accuracy. Operated and repaired equipment such as gas chromatographs and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopes. Performed troubleshooting for laboratory equipment computer interface software.

Analyzed soil and water samples for pollutants using gas chromatographs following EPA methods. Performed instrumental maintenance and repair. Reviewed and approved data reported by other technicians.

Assisted with research to determine the chemical mechanism of plant hormones. Performed biochemistry tests such as gel electrophoresis and PCR. Propagated and maintained genetically modified plant lines. Prepared test seedlings, exposed specimens to a broad range of chemicals and observed the effects on hormone expression.