Wesley Ryan Email & Phone Number

Merritt Island, Fl, Us

Titusville, Florida, United States

Leader of a joint Government/Contractor team providing liquid rocket engine technical expertise and fleet insight for multiple launch vehicles, including Antares (RD-181), Atlas V (RD-180/RL10), Falcon 9/Falcon Heavy (M1D/MVacD), and Vulcan Centaur (BE-4/RL10), New Glenn (BE-4/BE-3U), and New Shepard (BE-3PM). Responsible for managing the execution of engineering technical assessments of hardware design changes, build documentation, acceptance testing, launch vehicle integration issues, and in-flight system performance.• Monitored qualification and certification of Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine for the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle. Compiled an engine familiarization package, witnessed factory integration, participated in integrated vehicle testing, and executed in-depth first flight system assessment.• Spearheaded an expedited build/acceptance test data review for a replacement engine during the vehicle maintenance campaign of a high-profile planetary mission, enabling continued vehicle processing with no impact to the launch date.• Co-led initiative to streamline post flight assessments for SpaceX launches, eliminating non-value-added telemetry evaluation to achieve an average 48% reduction in file size and 80% reduction in completion time.• Led the hardware build review of the first RL10 upper stage engines used for manned spaceflight on Atlas V. Coordinated with NASA's Commercial Crew Program leadership to ensure multidisciplinary review and delivered out brief to supplier senior management team.• Recognized as the November 2021 KSC Engineering Employee of the Month for streamlining the Atlas V Completed Vehicle hardware review process, and for support of critical Falcon 9 stage acceptance testing for Commercial Crew missions.

Titusville, Florida, United States

Leader of a contractor workforce providing technical expertise in liquid propulsion, solid propulsion, ordnance & energetic systems, and contamination control supporting NASA's Launch Services Program. Responsible for coordinating technical assignments, engaging in frequent communication with the customer to ensure technical products exceeded expectations, and delivering monthly summary of technical support activity to prime contractor program office. Experienced with various additional elements of personnel management, including timecard approval, overtime coordination, training compliance, travel & expense report approval, annual performance re-views and salary adjustments, performance improvement plans, and employee onboarding/offboarding.• Hired a diverse contractor workforce to fill critical skill vacancies, recruiting an industry-recognized Subject Matter Expert in solid rocket motor ballistics, negotiating/retaining ordnance Subject Matter Expertise, and hiring (2) Liquid Propulsion engineers to meet emerging needs.• Partnered with launch vehicle provider to efficiently resolve an error in performance parameter calculation methodology, eliminating need for recurring hardware waivers.• Executed qualification assessment of phenolic exit cone changes on multiple solid rocket motor families.• Recipient of the Exceptional Customer Service Award, recognized by NASA LSP Chief Engineering for delivering outstanding technical evaluations while resolving multiple issues, exceeding program expectations.

Titusville, Florida, United States

Senior Solid Rocket Propulsion Engineer supporting NASA Launch Services Program, with experience in solid propulsion systems on multiple launch vehicles, including Atlas V (AJ-60, GEM-63, STAR 5F), Vulcan Centaur (GEM-63XL), and Pegasus XL (Orion motor family). • Actively participated in the development and qualification of the GEM 63 and GEM 63XL solid rocket motors.• Led assessment of a high-visibility incident involving flight critical hardware, leveraging a multidisciplinary team to develop hardware inspection protocol and conduct analyses needed to clear assets for flight.• Assisted launch vehicle provider in resolving a flight hardware escapement, ensuring installed hardware was properly bounded by qualification environments.• Generated launch site hardware walkdown checklist to support launch site hardware integration, check-out, and flight certification efforts for Atlas V Solid Rocket Motors. • Developed Excel tool to compare post flight motor performance data with pre-flight ballistic predictions and evaluate statistical variations in pressure, thrust, and burn time.• Recognized by NASA Commercial Crew Program for insight regarding composite case damage detection methodology.

Denver, Colorado, United States

Lead Engineer for the Atlas V solid rocket propulsion systems (AJ-60, STAR 5F Retro Motors). Responsible for leading weekly supplier meetings, coordinating hardware acceptance reviews, reviewing build documentation, design changes, nonconformances, test data, and approving contractual data submittals. Supported launch vehicle integration & checkout, provided console support for launch, and executed post flight data reviews.• Hand-selected team member responsible for evaluating potential suppliers of next-generation solid rocket motors for Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur. Coordinated with multiple analytical disciplines to develop specification requirements for the GEM 63 and GEM 63XL solid rocket motors.• Led a joint team to re-design and re-qualify flight hardware to resolve a high-visibility flight anomaly, driving aggressive schedule to complete test objectives and deliver modified hardware to the launch site in under 2 weeks with no impact to launch schedule. Delivered technical out brief of delta-qualification and flight readiness to internal and supplier senior management teams.• Streamlined motor acceptance review process, eliminating non-value-added content while arranging for digital package delivery, eliminating travel costs, and achieving a 75% reduction in labor hours.• Compiled thorough technical evaluations of supplier proposals for rocket motor production, leveraging knowledge of manufacturing process and expected learning improvements to drive down unit price for follow-on hardware procurements.

Denver, Colorado, United States

Propulsion engineer supporting the Atlas Retro Motor contract and serving as technical liaison for the AJ-60 solid rocket motor final assembly. Responsible for executing installation/workmanship reviews of flight hardware and coordinating all ordnance component nonconformances to responsible engineers for evaluation.• Engaged in multiple ordnance component anomaly investigations alongside NASA/USG counterparts, executing causal analyses, presenting fishbone findings/corrective actions to the technical community, and working with suppliers to implement corrective actions.• Led Failure Mode and Effect Analyses (FMEAs) at motor supplier facility to improve manufacturing processes and lot-to-lot product consistency.• Championed recompete of motor production contract, ultimately resulting in improved performance reliability and reduced cost. Collaborated with supplier to resolve multiple technical and programmatic challenges during development and qualification, ultimately meeting schedule demands for the first flight on a NASA mission.• Recognized by program leadership for implementing an innovative design modification that reduced solid propellant combustion products while preserving system performance characteristics.

Littleton, Colorado, United States

Intern supporting the Atlas V Launch Vehicle program's Ordnance team.• Spearheaded design change to kit critical launch vehicle hardware for mission-specific use, achieving a positive return on investment after two launches through inventory preservation and touch labor reduction.• Conducted technical evaluations of design proposals for helium isolation pyro valves.• Developed test plans for Atlas V ordnance components and witnessed component testing.• Revised procurement specifications for Atlas V ordnance components and solid rocket motors.

Arvada, Colorado, United States

Designed HVAC and plumbing system solutions for multiple commercial projects, including new build and facility modifications. Generated permit/construction plans and coordinated design with other engineering firms.