Intellex Acquires Expert by Big Village

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Expert Details

Aerospace Propulsion Systems, Compressible and Incompressible Fluid Flow, Thermodynamics, Failure Review Board

ID: 726296 Missouri, USA

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He has worked for more than 31 years in the propulsion area, including both academic and industrial settings. Specific area of propulsion expertise include liquid rocket systems, high-Mach air-breathing propulsion systems, and solid rocket motors. The first 16 years of his experience were entirely in the industrial world, working for large aerospace companies (Aerojet and TRW) in the propulsion area. The last 16 years of his career, Expert has been involved with propulsion system research in an academic setting (award-winning teaching and research at the Missouri University of Science and Technology) while simultaneously providing propulsion system expertise to industrial clients on a consultant basis.

As his detailed record of experience shows, Expert has been involved in virtually all aspects of liquid rocket engine design and development, from purely analytical studies and simulations of new engine concepts to hardware development efforts such as the U.S. Peacekeeper ICBM Program. He has similarly been involved in two related areas: advanced, high-Mach propulsion systems and solid rocket motors. All three areas have, as a common goal, the generation of hot, high pressure, exhaust gases which generate the propulsion force acting on the vehicle of interest according to Newton's 2nd Law of Motion.

While employed by a solid propulsion corporation, Expert performed preliminary design and analysis of liquid monopropellant space propulsion systems. In support of this activity, Expert developed analysis tools in Matlab, Simulink, and VBA to model pressurization system transient behavior for blowdown and regulated gas pressurization systems as well as steady compressible Fanno Flow.

He taught classical thermodynamics at the Missouri university of Science & technology for 10 years (1997 through 2007). This includes all of the major concepts of thermodynamics, including states, properties, processes, equations of state, cycles, irreversibility, the first and second laws of thermodynamics, heat engines, refrigerators, etc.

Expert has been a member of many failure review boards (FRB) in defining the root cause of both component, and system non-performance failures. He is very familiar with the use and purpose of the FRB fault tree and related FRB tools.

August 2008 to present
Under contract to ATK Elkton Division through NTIS
Propulsion System Analyst/Preliminary Designer (contractor)
Provide technical analyses of Missile Defense Agency related, solid propulsion systems. Includes transient analyses of ACS systems, internal ballistics analyses, Monte Carlo evaluation of concepts, etc. Use Matlab/Simulink and VBA programming languages
July 2006 to March 2008
Under contract to Jackson & Tull, Washington, D.C.
Propulsion System Analyst/Business Development Support
Provide ongoing technical support and business development services under the auspices of the ARES II (Advanced Research and Engineering Services) contract to the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) at Edwards Air Force Base.
January 1997 to May 2008
Adjunct Assistant Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering Professor
Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly the University of Missouri – Rolla), Missouri
Teach courses in Aerodynamics, Aircraft and Space Vehicle Propulsion, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics (compressible and incompressible), and conduct FE/PE Review Courses. Earned School of Engineering Teaching Awards in 2005 and 2006.
April 2006 to January 2007
Under contract to CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville, Alabama
Propulsion System/Vehicle Performance Analyst (consultant)
Developed propulsion system models and generated vehicle performance comparisons for a combined cycle powered Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) application. Concept included use of SLV launch aircraft.
January 2006 to April 2006
Under contract to Jackson & Tull, Washington, D.C.
Business Development (consultant)
Provided technical support of ARES II proposal to AFRL at Edwards Air Force Base.

Education

Year Degree Subject Institution
Year: 1997 Degree: PhD Subject: Aerospace Engineering Institution: Missouri University of Science & Technology
Year: 1977 Degree: M.S. Subject: Mechanical Engineering Institution: BYU
Year: 1977 Degree: B.S. Subject: Mechanical Engineering Institution: BYU

Work History

Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2015 to Present Employer: Undisclosed Title: Propulsion System Subject Matter Expert Department:
Responsibilities:
Same contract under new management, continue serving as a Propulsion System SME for a large DoD
activity. Responsibilities involve evaluation of test activities, risk management, review and evaluation
of design documentation, participation in failure review boards, on-site supplier visits, extensive
hardware evaluation, etc.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2015 to 2015 Employer: Jacobs Technology Title: Engineer Department:
Responsibilities:
Served as Propulsion System Subject Matter Expert (SME) for a large DoD program. Also developed
models of several airbreathing propulsion systems including both turbine-based cycles (turbojet and Air
TurboRamjet or ATR) and non-turbine based systems (Ramjet).
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2009 to 2011 Employer: ATK Elkton Division Title: Space Propulsion System Analyst/Preliminary Designer Department:
Responsibilities:
Performed preliminary design and analysis of liquid monopropellant space propulsion systems.
Developed systems analysis models in Matlab, Simulink, and VBA programming languages. Models
developed included 3-D “coning” motion of aerospace vehicles using ideal sinusoidal thrust profiles as
well as non-ideal sinusoidal profiles and pulsing thrust profiles, pressurization system transient
behavior for blowdown and regulated designs, Fanno Flow analysis model, generic two-stage aerospace
vehicle performance, ATR (Air Turbo Rocket) design point analysis code, 3-D model of vehicle
thruster-generated torque prediction, etc. Also developed transient model to enable Monte Carlo
analysis of aerospace vehicle motion-damping maneuvers. Propellants included hydrazine and new
“Green” monopropellants. Model development required understanding of spacecraft control systems,
interface between spacecraft control and propulsion system control systems, spacecraft processing
activities, including hazardous propellant loading procedures, and spacecraft structures.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 2008 to 2009 Employer: ATK Elkton Division Title: Contractor, SDACS Propulsion System Analyst/Preliminary Designer Department:
Responsibilities:
Provided technical analyses of Missile Defense Agency related, solid propulsion divert and attitude
control systems (SDACS). Developed VBA code for transient analyses of ACS systems. Provide
validation & documentation of Simulink controller model. Performed Solid Rocket Motor (SRM)
igniter transient analyses, heat transfer analysis of ACS cold gas lines, and internal ballistics analyses.
Developed spacecraft preliminary design and analysis model, poppet valve transient behavior model,
and Monte Carlo analysis of predicted pressure and thrust vs time.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1992 to 2008 Employer: KC Consulting Engineering Title: President Department:
Responsibilities:
Earned $472,000 in consultant fees over 16 year period (1992 - 2008) for propulsion system modeling,
vehicle aerodynamic characterization and trajectory analyses and thermodynamic cycle analyses. Also
performed power plant thermodynamic evaluation and optimization.
 Management of consulting engineering firm with overall responsibility for marketing, contract
negotiation, and payroll administration.
 Research consultant in research, design and development of liquid rocket propulsion systems. Also
provide proposal development support and technical presentations.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1990 to 1992 Employer: Aerojet Propulsion Division Title: Sr. Engineer Department:
Responsibilities:
 Performed engineering research for propulsion study contracts requiring the analysis, evaluation and
computer simulation of advanced liquid rocket and air-breathing propulsion systems. Research
performed for various government and industrial concerns. Specific research topics (and customer)
included:
o Nuclear propulsion systems for Mars missions (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
o Generation of propulsion system data for hypersonic air breathing propulsion systems
(classified contract)
o Determination and evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of gelled liquid propellants in
missile propulsion systems (USAF Wright-Patterson Propulsion Lab)
o Evaluation of Japanese upper stage cryogenic liquid rocket engine, LE-7 (NASDA, Japanese
Space Agency)
 Project Engineer for superconducting motor research project
 Developed PC based code for steady state and transient simulation of a pulsing solid grain, multi-wafer,
solid propellant grain gas generator
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1988 to 1990 Employer: Aerojet Huntsville Operation Title: Engineering Specialist Department:
Responsibilities:
 Performed engineering research and provided project management for the analysis, evaluation and
computer simulation of advanced liquid rocket and air-breathing propulsion systems. Research
performed for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM),
both located in Huntsville, Alabama. Specific research topics (and customer) included:
o Dynamic and steady state computer simulation of ALS (Advanced Launch System) engines
(NASA Marshall).
o Retrieved J-2 rocket engine data from to support development of transient liquid rocket
simulation code (NASA Marshall)
o Generation of STV (Space Transfer Vehicle) engine performance data (NASA Marshall)
o Developed analysis, preliminary design and computer simulation of candidate ALS (Advanced
Launch System) liquid rocket engines (NASA Marshall)
 Member of original Huntsville Operation engineering staff.
 Conducted job interviews and represented company in technical symposiums & trade shows.
 Authored/coauthored two conference papers dealing with ATR development.
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1983 to 1988 Employer: Aerojet Techsystems Company Title: Sr Engineer Department:
Responsibilities:
 Performed engineering research for propulsion study contracts requiring the analysis, evaluation and
computer simulation of advanced liquid rocket and air-breathing propulsion systems. Research
performed for various government clients as well as in-house efforts. Specific topics (and customer)
included:
o Main (combined cycle) and auxiliary (rocket) propulsion systems for NASP (USAF)
o Variable mixture ratio effects on existing Titan engines; Titan vehicle built by LockheedMartin;
engines provided by Aerojet (in-house)
o Performance analysis, including trajectory simulations, of advanced earth-to-orbit or "Trans
Atmospheric Vehicles" (USAF Wright-Patterson Propulsion Lab)
o Performance analysis and evaluation of Small ICBM liquid rocket stage concepts (USAF
Ballistic Missile Office)
o Analysis, including trajectory simulations, of high performance orbit transfer vehicle
(classified, non-chemical rocket project for government agency)
o Performance analysis and comparison of ERIS, HEDS, and HEDI liquid rocket engines (U.S.
Army Strategic Defense Command; "Star Wars" research contracts)
o Analysis and preliminary design of NASP Single Stage-to-Orbit combined propulsion system
(joint effort with General Electric for NASP Program)
o Performance evaluation of Space Station attitude control engines (NASA Johnson Space Flight
Center)
 Performed test data analysis and reduction for solid fuel ATR test program
 Authored/coauthored 5 ATR conference papers
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1982 to 1983 Employer: TRW Ballistic Missile Division Title: Hardware Engineer Department:
Responsibilities:
 Responsible hardware development engineer on storable, pressure fed, bipropellant propulsion systems
for Stage IV of MX (Peacekeeper) missile system. Technical oversight of contractor (Rocketdyne)
activity and progress.
 Specific hardware included:
o main propulsion and attitude control engines
o helium pressure vessel (cryoformed stainless steel fabrication)
o thrust vector control actuators (electro mechanical ball screw mechanism)
o two stage mechanical pressure regulator,
o bipropellant torque motor valve
Years Employer Title Department
Years: 1977 to 1982 Employer: Aerojet Liquid Rocket Engine Company Title: Sr Engineer Department:
Responsibilities:
 Performed engineering research for propulsion study contracts requiring the analysis, evaluation and
computer simulation of advanced liquid rocket propulsion systems. Research performed for NASA
centers, NASDA, and in-house projects. Specific research studies/topics (and customer) included:
o Plug cluster engine evaluation for Orbit Transfer Vehicle application (NASA Glenn [Lewis]
Research Center)
o Conventional cryogenic engines for Orbit Transfer Vehicle application (NASA Marshall and
NASA Glenn)
o Analyst on classified project which included evaluation of foreign submarine launched ICBMs
(classified contract and customer)
o Unconventional (plug cluster) Nozzle Tradeoff Study
o Phase A OTV Engine Study and Extension (NASA Marshall)
o Japanese N-II cryogenic 3rd stage engine (NASDA, Japanese Space Agency)
o Low Thrust Chemical Rocket Engine Study (NASA Glenn)
o OTV Engine Point Design Study (NASA Marshall)
o Advanced OTV Design Study (NASA Marshall)
o Development of computer models for generating liquid rocket engine performance data; codes
included power balance calculations for pump fed systems (gas generator cycles, staged
combustion and expander cycles) (in-house)
 Project Engineer for Spaceplane classified project; responsibilities included tracking and use of manhours
and funds.
 Authored/coauthored four papers and magazine articles dealing with advanced liquid rockets and
computer code development

Career Accomplishments

Associations / Societies
Senior Member AIAA (American Institute of Astronautics & Aeronautics)
Licenses / Certifications
Professional Engineer (PE) License issued State of Missouri
Awards / Recognition
University Outstanding Teaching Awards
Publications and Patents Summary
He has written over 30 professional papers for conference presentations, and peer-reviewed journals, as well as national and international magazine articles.

Additional Experience

Expert Witness Experience
Expert served as an expert witness in an industrial liability case in the St Louis area from July 2014 through August 2015. He was initially assigned to do research on the case that involved an industrial incident that injured a customer and spent about 42 hours in this effort. This effort included a visit to another industrial site that utilized some of the same kind of equipment as the industrial facility in St Louis. As a result of this research he was able to identify the essential cause of the accident. In 2015 he discussed the specific details of this cause in a deposition made to the opposing attorney. This deposition, which lasted for about an hour and a half, was also attended by the legal team that hired him and a stenographer. Later he was asked to review the stenographer record. More importantly, as a result of this deposition, the opposing legal team revised their approach to the case. It appeared that their new approach required less information on the actual technical cause of the accident and more attention to the judgement of different people that witnessed the incident. In any case, after that his services were no longer required.
Training / Seminars
He conducted FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) Exam and PE (Professional Engineer) License Exam review courses for students and working professionals in Thermodynamics and Power & Refrigeration Cycles 1999 – 2002
Vendor Selection
In 2005 he defined the state-of-art of bipropellant and monopropellant liquid propulsion engines for a station keeping function for the customer-provided spacecraft. Customer followed his advice in selecting vendor to provide needed engines.
Marketing Experience
He has spent over 30 years in the aerospace business, generally working for government defense and/or aerospace contractors. He is very familiar with the political consideratons that can override technical considerations in the awarding of large value contracts. He is also aware of the influence of the "boom or bust" nature of this business, having personally experienced several of these cycles.
Other Relevant Experience
He also speaks fluent Italian.

Language Skills

Language Proficiency
Italian He served a fulltime mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Italy from Nov 1969 through September 1971. These almost-two years were spent speaking at length every day with native Italians from Napoli (Naples), Torino (Turin), Milano (Milan), and Roma (Rome). He became so proficient in speaking Italian that he was mistaken in Rome, by his accent, as being from Milano!

Fields of Expertise

space propulsion, solid propellant rocket engine, liquid rocket propellant, cryogenic rocket propellant, dual-thrust rocket engine, gas compressibility, hydrodynamics, kinematics, classical dynamics, kinetics, rocket engine, rocket propellant, rocket propulsion, refrigeration thermodynamics, boiling thermodynamics, condensing thermodynamics, failure analysis, fluid system dynamics, aerospace engine, combustion efficiency, heat engine, missile, internal fluid mechanics, gas mechanics, aeronautical propulsion, ballistic projectile, Bernoulli equation, jet propulsion, jet engine, hybrid propellant, gas generator propellant, fluid mechanics, fluid dynamics, dynamics, angular momentum, air flow

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