X-57 Maxwell

Role: GRC Systems Lead

NASA Glenn Systems Lead for X-57 Maxwell all-electric experimental aircraft (9-person team) providing analyses, mission- planning, hardware development and testing for motor, inverter, cabling, and battery performance and thermal design. Led the design and fabrication of a several PMSM electric motors, and internal flow paths for motor and inverter cooling.

Convergent Aeronautics Solutions

Role: Center Integration Lead

I plan, guide, and review novel research development across 37 FTE locally and 107 FTE total across the agency. Interdisciplinary teams spanning solid state battery development, embedded battery sensors, megawatt class hybrid electric turbofans, quiet electric propulsors, weather tolerant operations, digital flight operating modes, power beaming, airport electrification, sustainable composites, aerial carbon capture, aerial emergency response, air ambulance operations, climate resilience modeling, green cryogenic fuels, GPS-denied navigation, quantum networking.

I've been working in project management since 2021, responsible for the introduction of new and potentially game-changing aeronautics research content across multiple NASA centers. I was selected for this role given my knack for identifying compelling research avenues, forming & leading teams of researchers, and comfort dealing with the uncertainty that accompanies new ventures. My responsibilities included reporting, resource management, project planning and scheduling, technical review, and process development. Combined with my programming skills, I've been able to bring a new level of analytical complexity to many NASA processes. Below are two example data visualizations from workforce data. Additional work included building out full-stack applications to better combine research efforts across hundreds of employees and building out tools to integrate AI (Large Language Models).

Battery Package Optimization

Role: Principle Investigator

Battery optimization research (5-person team) on performance and thermal modeling at multiple fidelity levels as well as developing an experimental testbed for validation. Introduced solutions using heat pipes, metal foams, aerogels, and phase change materials, and developed analysis tools that continue to be utilized by various other agency projects.

AQUIFER

Role: Motor Systems Lead

"Aqueous, quick-charging battery integration for electric flight research" combines a nano-electric fluid aqueous flow battery that eliminates the fire and explosion hazards of conventional batteries and fuel cells with a rim-driven motor to reduce weight, noise and charge time. The rim-driven motor concept could enable motors that are more efficient both electrically and aerodynamically. I served as motor lead, responsible for modeling, prototyping, and techinical monitor for a subcontracter.

Adaptive Cooling for Electric Propulsion

Role: Principal Investigator

Independent R&D award (5-person team) for research and testing of a passive shape memory alloy adaptive cooling system for electric propulsion. Designed for high reliability, low system weight, power, and drag.

Autonomously Navigated Experimental Lander

Role: Co-PI & Avionics Lead

Autonomously Navigated Experimental Lander (11-person team). A high-altitude balloon flight project to improve recovery rates of multi-million dollar scientific payloads, introducing a commercial variant of military tech.

Quadrotor Design Optimization

The following data visualizations show a sample connection diagram for a model with hundreds of design variables, along with a simple cartoon to show tracked vehicle states over the span of the mission. Click the blue rectangles to zoom into subsystems, or hover over the grid to view forward or feedback connections.

NASA Glenn's Innovation Lab & Makerspace

Role: Founder & Manager

Identified the need for a collaborative, hands-on space for rapid prototyping and founded the Innovation Lab and Makerspace at NASA Glenn. I grew the community to over 100 members, equipping them with the tools and environment to bring their innovative ideas to life.