Expert Details
Aerospace Engineering: Ballistics & Explosives Testing, Structural/Debris Risk Analysis, Life Support Systems, Modeling & Simulation, Electromechanical Design
ID: 740822
Alabama, USA
Prior to this role, Expert served as a blast and debris engineer supporting risk assessment and structural analysis for a major national space launch vehicle program, developing debris impact models, structural component models, and fluid-solid interaction models, and supporting destructive and explosive testing programs on rocket motor components and related hardware. Expert's work has included simulation of launch abort scenarios and development of a software tool used to assess orbital debris and micrometeoroid risk to spacecraft, and Expert has received formal recognition for contributions to debris risk assessment work supporting a major NASA exploration program.
Expert holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering with a Space Engineering Track from Virginia Tech, where Expert also conducted research on reactive metal combustion dynamics using a shock tube facility. Expert is a co-inventor on a provisional patent related to an energy-efficient carbon dioxide capture method, and has generated engineering drawings contributing to issued utility patents. Expert has been mentored by an experienced patent litigation expert witness and holds relevant technical grounding for future expert witness work in engineering and patent-related matters. Outside of Expert's engineering career, Expert is an active cave and technical rescue volunteer, holding multiple search-and-rescue and emergency medical certifications.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2023 | Degree: BS | Subject: Aerospace Engineering | Institution: Virginia Tech |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2025 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Environmental Controls and Life Support Systems Test Engineer II | Department: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center |
Responsibilities:• Developed test stands for the Environmental Controls and Life Support Systems branch at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center• Supported on-orbit life support operations of the International Space Station • Worked on the 4-Bed Carbon Dioxide Scrubber, Brine Processing Assembly, Water Processing Assembly, and Vacuum Pump Endurance Test Stand • Developed both hardware and software for test stands • Generated engineering drawings and interfaced with machine shops |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2023 to 2025 | Employer: Linc Research Inc./Amentum Space Exploration Division | Title: Blast and Debris Engineer II | Department: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center |
Responsibilities:• Created and executed debris impact models for the NASA Space Launch System• Used modern engineering software to create models and perform risk assessments (LS-DYNA, Ansys suite, MATLAB, Python, Creo) • Developed Core Stage Attach ring model for Space Launch System Solid Rocket Motor • Developed unique fluid-solid interaction model for water impacting Space Launch System and presented findings to all relevant teams and the Space Launch System Engineering Review Board • Supported design and manufacturing of wind tunnel mass-spring damping system • Supported destructive testing of the Space Launch System Booster Separation Motor electrical covers at NASA Glenn Research Center • Performed explosive tests on liquid oxygen-liquid methane propellant mixtures • Burst tested a commercial inflatable space station • Intentionally destroyed a GEM46 composite Solid Rocket Motor during a static firing test to analyze blast wave data and characterize resultant debris field • Simulated Launch Abort System operations and debris field risk assessments in the event of a destructive abort scenario for the Space Launch System • Developed software application allowing NASA Marshall Space Flight Center to assess the risk space debris and micrometeoroids pose to spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2024 to 2024 | Employer: Virginia Tech | Title: Research Assistant | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Utilized the Virginia Tech Shock Tube Facility to determine properties of gaseous methane-oxygen explosions with injected reactive metals• Instrumented shock tube to gather required data • Rapidly prototyped fixtures using additive materials manufacturing |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2020 to 2020 | Employer: Dynamic Aviation | Title: Engineering Intern | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Designed and built test stand for landing gear actuators for Beechcraft aircraft• Combined Computer Aided Design (CAD), high-pressure hydraulics, brushless DC motors, single-board computers, and cost analyses • Developed engineering management system to facilitate communication between engineers, machine shops, and mechanics |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics • National Speleological Society |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| • National Cave Rescue Commission Level III: Cave Rescue Specialist, 2025 • National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B), 2025 • National Cave Rescue Commission Level II: Cave Team Leader, 2025 • National Cave Rescue Commission Level I: Cave Team Member, 2024 • Emergency Vehicle Driver Certification, 2024 • National Cave Rescue Commission Small Party Assisted Rescue, 2023 • Swiftwater Rescue I, 2023 |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| Outstanding Task Award, for analysis and coordination support on debris risk assessments for a major NASA space exploration program — Amentum Space Exploration Division |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Co-owner of a provisional patent (2019) related to an environmentally sustainable carbon dioxide direct air capture method, and has generated engineering drawings that contributed to issued utility patents in a professional engineering capacity. |