CV: Consultant Engineer

Nationality	Italian
Date of birth	25th October 1978

Oct 2003 – present day	Control Engineer in Mechanical Department European Space Agency (ESA), Estec center, Noordwijk	The Netherlands
	In 2003 I was hired by AOES BV for the European Space Agency, where I have been working on several space projects providing new capabilities and new expertise that have been found essential in supporting the next future missions. My activities were focused on providing not only technical support to European space projects, but “mainly” coordinating and reviewing the industries and the national space agencies. More in detail the major ones: VEGA (Launch Vehicle): o         Since 2003, focal point for the Flight Dynamics support activities. Significant confidence and trust have been gained from the project team. o         Strong contributions to the whole development process from design to validation phase not only by technical cross-check activities, but also by being a key member during the programmatic subsystem and system reviews. o         Similar computation capabilities were successfully exported to similar feasibility studies (Heavy Liftoff Launch Vehicle). ATV(Spacecraft): o         Key person for the qualification of the docking phase to International Space Station (ISS). This activity consisting not only in heavy technical analysis, but also in coordinating and interfacing with the RSC-Energia (The largest Russian aerospace company). o         Several acknowledgements on this activity were made by industries and different space agencies including NASA and Russian Federal Space Agency. Swarm(Spacecrafts): o         Important contributions to the project during the selection of the launch vehicle (VEGA, Rockot, Dnper). o         Key person in a very complex study on the multi-satellites dynamic separation from the launch vehicle. The whole work was so much appreciated that several analyses were performed for similar case. FlyWheel (ISS payload) o         Key person for the qualification of the whole system by NASA. Even if there were several concerns by NASA, the main results was that the FlyWheel experiment was launched by the Space Shuttle (STS-122) in February 2008 and the astronauts are using it in orbit. o         Technical industrial activities coordination during the testing phase. MARES(ISS payload) o         Technical industrial activities coordination during the testing phase and analysis phase. o         Key person during the Critical Design Review. R&D activities o         Significant improvements to ESA Multibody software (DCAP) in terms of computation capabilities, including operational user friendliness, have been provided and important efforts were mainly done in order to advertise the software capabilities. A tangible result: the number of projects, which use DCAP increase from only 2 in 2003 up to 15 in 2008. o         I have been involved in several Research and Development activities in numerous dynamics and control for aerospace mission at European level (Launcher Thrust Vector Control, Advanced Space Multibody Software, Electro Active Polymers, … ). During this long period, I have been working with all different European industries/national agencies and I have had to cope with different cultures/attitudes. This very challenging environment has deeply stimulated me.
Apr 2003 – Sep 2003	Flight Dynamics Engineer European Space Agency (ESA), at Estec center, Noordwijk	The Netherlands
	My work strongly contributed to DCAP (Dynamics and Control Analysis Package) development and testing. In a short time, I managed to build a robust and now quite popular procedure (MATDCAP) to import DCAP model in Simulink/Matlab environment. Several software (C++, Fortran, Matlab) were involved. In parallel, I was directly involved in developing and testing VEGA-DCAP simulator, particularly, the Thrust Vector Control. Moreover, a quite important and helpful investigation analysis has been made on a real time simulation using MathWorks xPC-Target for the control and DCAP for the Launcher dynamics.

Sep 2002 – Sep 2007	Teaching Assistant “Sapienza”, University of Rome	Italy
	As an assistant of Prof. Salvatore Monaco, I supported his activities on Fundamentals of Automatics at the Engineering faculty. I was in charge of helping undergraduates to better understand the theory and the subjects of the course. In addition I gave some lectures on aeronautic-space practical applications and on fundamentals of Matlab/Simulink. Since 2005, I have regularly given some dedicated lectures on Launch Guidance Navigation and Control in the frame of the Satellite Control at the Aerospace Engineering faculty.
Feb 2002 – Jul 2002	Control Engineer CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales - French space agency), Toulouse	France
	My activities were focused on planning the scientific operations of Mars NetLanders payload, characterized by 4 landers linked to the Earth by a data relay orbiter. Several software were therefore updated, tested and validated (such as MOST ROSETTA (Mission Operations Scheduling Tool), DEVIL (DEtermination of Visibilities for Interplanetary Links) or BILI (BIlan des LIaisons - Link Budget)). This study ended in a thesis: “Mars NetLander Mission: Analysis and planification of the operative modes of the playload”

Nov 2004 – Dec 2007	Double PhD “Modelling, Control Design and Simulation for a launch vehicle: from linear to nonlinear methods”, from ”Sapienza”, University of Rome and ISAE (Institut Supérier de l’ Aéronautique et de l’ Espace), Toulouse	Italy / France
	While I have been working full time of the European Space Angency in The Netherlands, I managed to be fully graduated as a PhD student in two different important universities in the frame of “Italo-French University” agreement. Even in my complex condition of being a “part-time” PhD student, my thesis received several and important awards from both academic and industrial worlds. As a results the Italian-French committee graduated me with the highest mark (“excellent”). For information, no PhD student in the same department obtained a similar mark so far.
Sep 2002 – Sep 2003	“Satellites and orbital platforms” 2nd Degree Master (postgraduate) Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale, “Sapienza”, University of Rome	Italy
	Even if there was no final rank for this postgraduate master course, I have been the focal point for any communication between the master commission and the other students. Moreover I was the first student in the admission list.
Sep 1997 – Jul 2002	Aerospace – Engineering degree with high honours (110/110 cum laude) “Sapienza”, University of Rome	Italy
	Out of more than 400 students attending same courses, I was the first one graduating in less than 5 years with the highest grade possible (110/110 cum laude). For information, in Rome the average age of graduated aerospace engineers was 7-8 years at that time.
Aug 2001 – Jul 2002	Substitution year in Automation/Space studies SUPAERO (Ecole nationale supérieure de l’ aéronautique et de l’ espace – The French engineering school of Aeronautics and Space). Toulouse	France
	Although “Sapienza” University and SUPAERO had agreed for a long time on exchanging students, I was the 1st one seizing the opportunity of studying 1 year in France and managing to get different French courses approved by Italian professors (well-known for being traditionalists and against any foreign prospect).
Sep 1992 – Jul 1997	Leaving certificate “F. Severy”, Scientific High School, Frosinone	Italy
	1997       Ranked 3rd out of more than 1000 in a Regional Math Competition organized by Universita "Tor Vergata", Roma 1997       Participated in NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MATH OLYMPIAD organized by UMI (Italian Mathematical Union) and Scuola Normale Superiore (Superior Normal School) of Pisa 1996       Ranked 7th out of more than 250 in a REGIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD organized by SCI (Italian Society of Chemistry) 1996       Participated in REGIONAL PHYSICS OLYMPIAD organized by SIF (Italian Physical Society) 1996       Winner of competition in writing about alternative natural energy sources organized by S.G.M. (gas company in south Italy) 1992       Ranked 3rd out of more than 300 in a Microcitemia Regional competition organized by Universita "Sapienza", Roma

March 2008 (40 hours)	“Project Management Principles - Level 1” by Harrison-Associates at Estec/ESA, Noordwijk	The Netherlands
August 2007 (40 hours)	“Getting Things Done Fast” by David Allen – Audio Course	The Netherlands
Sep 2006 (40 hours)	“Launch Vehicle Systems Design and Engineering” by Dr. Marshall H. Kaplan Launcherspace, Inc. at Estec/ESA, Noordwijk	The Netherlands
Jun 2006 (40 hours)	“Identification and Control of Linear Parameter-Varying Systems”  Dutch Institute of Systems and Control, Koningshof, Veldhoven	The Netherlands
May 2006 (40 hours)	“Active Vibration Control” by Prof. André Preumont Micromega Dynamics, Liège (Angleur)	Belgium
Feb 2005 – Apr 2005 (100 hours)	“Multibody Dynamics” by Prof. Arend L. Schwab Delft University of Technology, Delft	The Netherlands
May 2005 (100 hours)	“Optimum Control” by Prof. Carlo Bruni “Control of Nonholonomic Systems” by Prof. Giuseppe Oriolo Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DIS) , “La Sapienza”, University of Rome	Italy
May 2004 (40 hours)	“Robustness and Optimum Control” by Prof. Daniel Alazard & Prof. Pierre Apkarian “SAE-Formation Continue” at SUPAERO, Toulouse	France

Languages Skills	Italian (Mother tongue) English (Fluent reading, Fluent writing, & Fluent verbal skills) French(Fluent reading, Very good writing, & Fluent verbal skills) Spanish (Very good reading, Poor writing, & Good verbal skills)
Computer skills and competences	Operating Systems: Linux, MS Windows, Unix Programming: C/C++, Fortran, Pascal, Visual Basic General Software: Ms Office, OpenOffice, Ms Project Technical Software: Matlab, Nastran, Patran, Catia, DCAP, AutoCAD, Adams, Samtech/MECANO, SimPACK
Driving licence(s)	Italian car driving licence Several pilot lessons for Ultra Light Machine (ULM) including the “first solo flight”
Personal Interests	Sport: water polo, swimming, volleyball
Social skills	For several years, I have been involved in “boy scout” association, being one of the leaders in the regional area