Resume

Education

M.S. Aerospace Engineering
Penn State Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence, University Park, PA

B.S. Aerospace Engineering
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA

Research Experience

2013-2015 Penn State VLRCOE, University Park, PA
Experimental Validation of Tiltrotor Whirl Flutter Analytical Methods

Used finite element-based analytical model to guide design and fabrication of physical model
Designed and fabricated composite rotor blades using classical laminated plate theory and finite element model with cubic-spline interpolation of linear elements
Fabricated assembly and subassembly components using lathes, water jet, and three-axis knee mills
Designed, fabricated, and tested a small-scale tiltrotor whirl utter wind tunnel model
Performed wind-on damping tests using wall-mounted six-channel load cell and moving-block method to analyze wing modal damping as a function of tunnel speed
Recorded experimental data with NI cDAQ chassis and modules for analysis
Correlated analytical predictions with experimental results

Research areas: Structural dynamics, aeromechanics, aeroelasticity, component design/fabrication/testing, composite mechanics, composite processing, wind tunnel testing, data analysis, ANOVA analysis, finite-element modeling, vibration testing

2012-2013 Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA
Design and Fabrication of a Wind Tunnel Gust Generation System for Aeroelastic Research

Designed, fabricated, and tested a mechanically-driven gust generation system capable of generating gusts of up to 20 Hz
Designed drive system for gust generation system using COTS components
Fabricated gust generation system components using three-axis mill, lathe, splining, and broaching equipment
Tested gust generation performance using an alpha-beta probe, pitot-static probe, and Hall effect sensor to correlate gust generation frequency with size and magnitude of gust
Recorded test data using NI myDAQ, utilizing pre-amplifiers and hardware filters designed and built in-house

Research areas: Aeroelasticity, wind tunnel testing, machine design & fabrication, wind tunnel testing, data analysis

Selected Professional Experience

2017 IOMAX USA, Mooresville, NC
Aerospace Engineer (Contractor)

Served as Certification Lead for FAR23 certification efforts for an enhanced horizontal stabilizer, developing test plans and verifying finite element analyses using classical methods and developing substantiation reports for review by FAA Designated Engineering Representatives.
Designed structural modifications for a custom-built strike aircraft using Solidworks, which were then analyzed for operational and crash loading using classical methods.
Designed and analyzed composite structures for wingtips, external stores, and secondary structure. Performed material selection and layup schedules for composite parts based on loading and RF transparency requirements; analyzed composite parts using CLPT and Autodesk Helius, and wrote substantiation reports detailing design features, analysis results, and minimum margins of safety.
Assisted in the management of a million-dollar landing gear redesign effort, coordinating with vendors to ensure proper requirements flow-down and verifying CNC processes via prototype parts.
Wrote statements of work and coordinated with Supply Chain Management to ensure on-time delivery of correct prototype and production parts.

2015 - 2016 Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD
Aerospace Engineer

Design and analyze performance models of rotorcraft using standard software packages, including NDARC (NASA Design and Analysis of Rotorcraft), AIDEN (An Integrated Design Environment for NDARC), and MATLAB
Create and manage SBIR/STTR topics that leverage low-TRL and research-grade technologies to improve aircraft capability and readiness
Verify adequate structural margins for aircraft modi_cations and flight test hardware in accordance with AR-56 crash load requirements
Troubleshoot strength & fatigue incidents based on fleet reports
Coordinate with maintenance depots to verify repairs in accordance with Engineering Inspection reports and standard fleet support practice

2008 - 2013 National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Research Assistant

Supervised a group of forty interns as an assistant researcher, including lending design expertise to NDARC groups, CFD groups, and NASA Aeronautics Academy teams
Instructed junior interns on fundamental aeronautics principles, including aerodynamics, strength of materials, flight mechanics, and flight testing
Led a team of three interns in the conceptual design of a 150-passenger, short-haul civil tiltrotor using NDARC (NASA Design and Analysis of Rotorcraft) software
Analyzed configurations using RotCFD computational fluid dynamics software with Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solution schema
Conducted an aeroelastic study of a 2DOF pitch and plunge wing model using MATLAB
Began modeling of automatic control system to alleviate simulated gust loads on wing model
Created a flight test plan for autonomous sense-and-avoid capabilities of UAVs for potential future integration into the national airspace system
Established test procedures and figures of merit based on current sense-and-avoid research and Federal Aviation Regulations
Designed a ship-launched, long-endurance, VTOL atmospheric research UAV
Performed regression analysis of small-aircraft powerplants to create a spreadsheet of powerplant sizing and required mission fuel
Co-authored a paper on the use of VSP for trade studies of aircraft configurations

2012 - 2013 Boeing Commercial Airplane Services, Long Beach, CA
Engineering Technical Services, KC-46 Avionics Group / 747-LCF Structures & Payloads Group

Verification of ATA chapters for Tanker DCUs and DPCs
Ensured avionics wiring was in compliance with ATA, ARINC, and STANAG standards
Engineering Technical Services, 747-LCF Structures & Payloads Group
Created solid models of lower lobe components for a modified 747-400 cargo freighter in CATIA V5
Performed general dimensioning and tolerancing of aircraft components and creation of TEDs in ENOVIA product data management software
Engineering Technical Services, 737-MAX Structures Group
Located installation sites for new stringer clips in CATIA V5 as part of airframe modification of a next-generation version of the 737 airliner
Coordinated with technicians and line supervisors in Puget Sound to verify feasibility of airframe modifications

2004 - 2011 Mechanical Drives & Belting, Los Angeles, CA
Project Manager

Designed and fabricated shop & field tools to assist with conveyor belt fabrication, including heavyweight cutting tables, finger splicing templates, and miscellaneous hand tools for on-site installation of conveyor belts
Created and implemented standardized procedures for conveyor belt fabrication, reducing average order turnaround time from four days to two
Created and distributed sales and marketing content via direct mail, online marketing, magazine articles, and on-site product demonstrations
Designed, fabricated, and tested a maintenance-free magnetic reduction drive system for use on almond harvesting equipment
Assisted sales personnel with component redesign for various customer equipment (e.g.hammer mills, Rapistan packaging systems, transfer printers, aggregate mills, food production machinery, corrugation machinery, V-screens)
Performed safe-life and operating cost calculations for power transmission components, including bearings, induction motors, chain drives, v-belt drives, synchronous belt drives, motor controllers, brakes, clutches, valves, pumps, couplings, etc.
Managed all returns & repairs for three years, increasing returns & repairs revenue tenfold and gross profitability by 27%
Implemented standardized returns/repairs processing procedures
Implemented Lean Six Sigma practices to reduce time to receive shipments, stock inventory items, and process buyout shipments by 50%
Managed a team of 60 to perform an inventory master count for home office (Los Angeles, CA) and two satellite offices (Fontana, CA and Bakersfield, CA) during software changeover
Assisted in the implementation of electronic bill pay capability for sales orders, reducing DSO (days sales outstanding) average from sixty days to twenty

Engineering Research Projects

2016-Present Penn State Formula SAE, University Park, PA
Aerodynamics & Composites

Redesigned front wing of Formula SAE race car for improved downforce and reduced drag at race speeds
Assisted in the redesign of the powertrain subframe to increase airflow over the aft wing
Designed fairings for exposed components (e.g. suspension arms) to reduce pressure drag
Assisted in the design of an all-composite monocoque chassis to be fabricated during the 2017-2018 season
Instructed undergraduates in basic composites processing (wet layup, vacuum bagging, and prepreg) and supervised fabrication of concurrent panels and sandwich core samples
Designed undertray (underbody diffuser) for 2017-2018 car
Advised on the alteration of the aft wing for the 2016-2017 car to increase downforce

2012-2013 Conceptual Design of Jovian Atmospheric Research UAV
Team Lead

Led a seven-person team in the conceptual design of a Jovian atmospheric research UAV
Performed trade studies, modeling, and analysis for aircraft structure, aerodynamics, and thermal management using MATLAB, Simulink, Excel, and Solidworks
Oversaw requirements management and integration of components into CAD model
Coordinated with eight-person astronautics design team to ensure feasible launch and atmospheric insertion windows of the research aircraft

2012-2013 Wind Tunnel Gust Generation System
Subsystem Lead

Led a four-person team in the design, fabrication, installation, and test of a gust generation system for active aeroelastic research
Designed all components in Solidworks to ensure proper fit-up and clearances
Fabricated drive system for gust generator using COTS and custom-fabricated components as necessary
Selected and installed necessary sensors and data acquisition systems to test gust generation system performance, including Hall effect sensors, alpha-beta probe, and pitot-static probes
Performed all data reduction from tests to establish performance curves for gust generator

2013 Flight Testing of a Light-Sport Aircraft Rialto (L67), VFR Practice Area
Pilot in Command

Acted as pilot in command of an LSA equipped with Piccolo IMU used to measure pitch and roll rates for comparison with geometry-based stability and performance calculations
Assisted in the creation of flight test cards based on aircraft performance
Oversaw installation of temporary accelerometer and rate gyro mounts to aircraft
Briefed test engineer on flight procedures and aircraft operating limits
Performed standard flight test maneuvers, including coordinated turns, stick raps, pitch doublets, roll doublets, and rudder kicks
Assisted in data reduction for comparison to calculated stability derivatives

2011-2012 Genesis High-Power Rocket, Kohen Lake, CA

Fabricated a propellant manifold for an alcohol-fueled, acid-oxidized high-power rocket
Assisted in conducting water discharge tests to measure nozzle performance

2009-2010 AIAA Design-Build-Fly, Cal Poly Pomona

Designed and fabricated an empennage for a remotely-piloted aircraft
Designed and fabricated custom carrying case for competition aircraft
Assisted in flight testing and transport of aircraft to/from competition site

Publications

Design, Fabrication, Test, and Evaluation of Small-Scale Tiltrotor Whirl Flutter Wind Tunnel Models, Penn State M.S. Thesis, August 2015
Design, Fabrication, Test, and Evaluation of Small-Scale Tiltrotor Whirl Flutter Wind Tunnel Models, AHS Forum 71, May 2015
Conceptual Design of a 150-Passenger Civil Tiltrotor, NASA Ames Research Center, August 2012
System Identification and Aeroelastic Response of a 2DOF Pitch-and-Plunge Wing Model, NASA Langley Research Center, August 2011
Tuning a PID Controller, Power Transmission Engineering, April 2011
Reducing Electricity Cost Through use of Premium Efficiency Motors, Power Transmission Engineering, February 2010
Asset Analysis and Operational Concepts for Separation Assurance Flight Testing at Dryden Flight Research Center, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, August 2010
Reducing Electricity Cost Through use of Premium Efficiency Motors, Power Transmission Engineering, February 2010
Aircraft Conceptual Design Using Vehicle Sketch Pad, 48th Aerospace Sciences Meeting & Exhibit, AIAA2010-658
Validation Study of Grumman X-29 Linearised Aerodynamic Control Law Models in Analogue Regression Mode, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, 2008

Awards & Honors

MMOWGLI Commendation Medal, DON Chief of Strategy & Innovation, 2016
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, 2014-2015
Penn State STEM Fellowship, 2013 - 2014
American Helicopter Society Alfred E. Wolfe Scholarship, 2014
NASA Associate Administrator's Award: Design of a 150-Passenger Civil Tiltrotor, 2013
Cal Poly Pomona President's Honor List
Boeing Undergraduate Scholarship
NASA Student Ambassador, Cohort IV
Member, Sigma Gamma Tau
Rod Cable Aviation Scholarship
Aero Club of Southern California Bill Schoeneberger Memorial Scholarship
Second place, NASA University Design Contest: Commercial Supersonic Transport