EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND January 2008 - Present
Master of Science in Space StudiesGPA 3.25/4.0

Thesis: Artificial Intelligence and Nanotechnology Applications for Commercial Mission Specialists

Courses: Space Studies Survey I and II, Extraterrestrial Resources, Management of Space Enterprises, Introduction to Orbital Mechanics, Commercial Space, and Artificial Intelligence 

Tri-State Business Institute, Erie, PA September 2003-November 2005

Courses: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, PC Technical Support, Networking, Oracle

Columbia University, New York, NY, January 1998 – May 1999

International and Public Affairs

Courses: Japanese 1, Macroeconomics, Japanese Politics, Chinese Foreign Policy

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA

Bachelor of Arts, English, Political Science, Pre-law, GPA 3.72/4.0

Course: Japanese I-IV, Chinese, Western Political Systems, Political Science Research Methods, Metropolitan Problems, Public Administration, Probability and Statistics

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

April 2011 – Present

Associate Member, Astronauts 4 Hire

March 2011

Laser Operator for Young Manufacturing, Grand Forks, ND

Tops and Quicktool engineering software to create programs for 4000 Watt C02 Trumpf dual pallet laser cutting center for mild steel, aluminum, and stainless steels

February 2010 – May 2010
Lab Helper in the Department of Biochemistry, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

DNA Ladder Assay, DNA Comet Assay, designed experiment to measure DNA repair of Deinococcus Radiodurans

October 2009 – December 2009

Space Grant Recipient for NDX-2of the Lunar Exploration Systems Project, North Dakota Space Grant Consortium, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

Assisted in Research related to systems for Lunar Exploration Systems Project Rover and web site development

May 2009 – August 2009

Programmer for  Department of Atmospheric Science, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND.

Converted Linux Csh to Bash for Saudi Arabia and Mali humidity data

March 2009 – May 2009

Washbay Attendant for John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

Cleaned and gained familiarity with Piper Warriors, Seminoles, and King Air Aircraft

August 2008 – December 2008

Quality Control Inspector, Plastek Group, Erie, PA

Assured quality of products using Inspec Microview, Visual SPC, and a variety of digital gages including digital micrometersand digital calipers

May 2008 – August 2008

Engineer Clerk, Quality Systems Engineer Clerk, Account Development Clerk, and CNC Machinist, Modern IndustriesInc., Erie, PA

Plotted drawings utilizing Mastercam 8 & X, edited GD&T on Process Instructions and used Statistical Process Control (SPC)analysis for Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)data

Issued Certifications including ISO 9001:2000, NADCAP, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and issuing Specifications

Aerospace research utilizing Sales Geniefor an aerospace account development strategy to match machining capability

Produced parts on LeBlond Machining Centers  

March 2001 – July 2001

Officer Trainee, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery AL

May 1998-August 1998

Intern, Japan Local Government Center, Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, to YamanakaTown School District, Ishikawa, Japan

May 1997 – August 1997

Intern, United States Mission to the United Nations, New York, NY

Military affairs advisor for USUN Military Staff Committee, US delegate to UN Security Council Resolution Committee, provided mission briefs to UN ambassador Bill Richardson and Millitary Staff Col Roan, writing cables to Peacekeeping headquarters at the Pentagon, setting up meetings for and escorting USUN visitors, formal briefing to MSC on UN Peacekeeping Missions UNTSO, UNOFIL, and UNDOF, assisted in research during the a Sierra Leone/Nigerian crisis that aissted in Ambassaodr Richardson’s policy toward the crisis, helped draft Security Council resolution S. Res. 1121to establish the UN’s Dag Hammarskold Medal, created widely distributed information charts about the mdel, helped with security during President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore’s visit to the UN for the Rio +5 Earth Summit. Drafted talking points for Ambassador’s speech to Security Council to introduce the Dag Hammarskold Meddal, sat in on Security Council and General Assembly meetings, filled in for USUN desk offices, relayed classified and unclassified information between the UN and J-5 in the Pentagon.

May 1996 – August 1996

Intern, Indiana County District Attorney

Legal research, attending courtroom proceedings, updating criminal database, conducted 1995-96 statistical crime research report to fulfill internship requirement.

Applications for Employment

Spring 2011

ISSAC Console Operator, Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

Top 12 finalist for Console Operator which would have involved communicating with NASA ground personnel with regards to imaging system operation and utilizing AGI's Satellite Took Kit (STK)

Training Activities

Received Mastercam 8 and X instruction at Modern, Inc. and ran online tutorials

Received ProENGINEER instruction at Modern, Inc. and ran online tutorials

Received FreeFlyer License and ran online tutorials

Received AutoCAD instruction at Modern, Inc. and ran online tutorials

Excel, Word, and Access training through Tri-State Business Institute and work instruction

Professional Skills

Familiarity with aerosol instruments (condensation nuclei counters, cloud condensation nuclei counters, optical particle counters).

Experience with statistical analysis of large data sets.

System Administration experience on Red Hat Linux, Fedora Linux, Solaris UNIX and Windows computers.

Proficient at scientific programming (IDL, MATLAB, perl, Shell scripting, C, C++, and Python).

Extensive working knowledge of office software (OpenOffice, MS Office)

Experience with satellite data (AVHRR, SSMI, and SAGE II) and in using image processing software (EDRAS, ENVI).

Experience with STK

Medical Studies

Cetero ResearchStudy Participant

COURSES

Courses Completed

UND – Spring Semester 2009: SpSt 502:  Survey of Space Studies II, Professor Ron Fevig

Readings, discussion and integrative analysis of past and current issues in Space Studies. Emphasis is on a case study approach to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of space programs and initiatives. An individual project will build integrative and critical analysis skills and an appreciation for the interdisciplinary approach, while a team project will engender the interdisciplinary team work typical of the real world. Must be taken only after completing SpSt 501 and at least two other courses in the program.

 
UND - Spring Semester 2010:  SpSt 590:  Space Studies Colloquium, Professor Santhosh Seelan

A series of invited lectures presented by visiting lecturers and faculty. May be repeated up to 2 credits. Graded as pass/fail.

UND - Spring Semester 2010:  SpSt 541:  Management of Space Enterprises, Professor James Casler

Policy Course
This course investigates the management of space organizations. The focus is on private sector companies ranging from the large aerospace industry to the small, start-up and entrepreneurial space companies. You will learn the basics of management theory, its reality in the actual business and operating world, and through guest speakers from these business communities, how the space companies are actually managed. We discuss the value of management with an economic awareness, the risks and upsides faced by space business managers and more.

UND - Fall Semester 2010:  SpSt 500:  Intro to Orbital Mechanics, Professor Ron Fevig

Technical course
The objective of this course is to provide a basic introduction to astronautical engineering with a particular emphasis on orbital mechanics. Topics covered will include orbital motion, orbital elements, spacecraft maneuvers, interplanetary flight, spacecraft launch, spacecraft reentry, spacecraft attitude determination and control, spacecraft subsystems, and rockets. Prerequisites are vector algebra and trigonometry or equivalent. Some level of physics is recommended. Pre-requisite: SpSt 501

Courses Not Completed

UND – Fall Semester 2009: CSci 543 Artificial Intelligence, Professor Eunjin Kim

Study and application of advanced and recent topics drawn from two or more areas of Artificial Intelligence: problem solving, knowledge representation, expert systems, approximate reasoning, planning, machine learning, natural language processing and perception.

UND – Spring Semester 2011: ME 490 Introduction to Biomaterials Science and Engineering

Introduction to Biomaterials, Tissue response, Cell-biomaterials interactions, Type of Biomaterials – Metallic, Ceramic, Polymeric and Composite Biomaterials – Properties and Applications; Next Generation Biomaterials, Characterization of Biomaterials and, Current Challenges

UND- Spring Semester 2011: ME 439 Introduction to Robotics

A system engineering approach to robotics. Presents an introduction to manipulators, sensors, actuators, and end effectors for automation.  Topics covered include kinematics, dynamics, control, programming of manipulators, pattern recognition, and computer vision.

Courses Currently Enrolled

UND – Spring Semester 2011: SpSt 570 Commercial Space: 2011 & Beyond

With the new changes taking place in our national civil space program and policy given national, economic, budget, and deficit considerations here and globally, this class will examine and explore the evolving commercial space industry, including its potential and its risks for human spaceflight as well as cargo missions.  We will address what is meant by the use of the term "commercial."  This class will also examine the role of the entrepreneurial space community and NewSpace, its impact and potential contributions to our changing national space policy. As part of this examination, our class will undertake a realistic assessment of markets, space tourism, suborbital academic and scientific research programs such as the NASA CRuSR program, regulations, and rules to be issued by NASA and the AST.  Since the government remains the primary and in many cases the only customer, we will look at the two primary contracting forms, cost plus and fixed price contracting, to see how each method impacts the space program and why one is considered commercial and the other is considered a business as usual government model. We will also be assessing the risks of each contracting type for the contracting parties and stakeholders.  The expected outcome of having taken this class is for students to have an objective and comprehensive understanding of the business, management, financial, and marketing issues along with the technical and policy challenges facing our evolving space program.

COURSE PAPERS

Major Risks and Considerations for Lunar Enterprises

Introduction to Orbital Mechanics Final Project

Efficacy of Shuttle Launch Risk Management

Organizational Structure of SpaceX as a New Space Exploration Company

Dr. Zubrin Visit Summary

Bigelow Aerospace: Strategic Management

SpSt541 Midterm Exam

Transformational Leadership in Polar Explorations and Implications for Space Exploration

Rocket Based Combined Cycle Essay

SERVICE

Space Community

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)

Signed Petitionto Congress and White House regarding future of human spaceflight

University

Attended Space Studies Brown Bag Lunch Series, (2010).
 

Professional Associations

Member of the Planetary Society

Member of the National Space Society

Member of Space.com

Associate Member Astronauts4Hire

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS

Submitted (Does Not Include Submitted Pre-proposals)

Proposal Title:  Relative Humidity at the Edge of Clouds  Funding Agency:  North Dakota Space Grant Consortium Proposal Submitted:  October 1, 2009,  Proposed Project Period:  October 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009, Total Funds Requested:  $4000, Principal Investigator:  Jon Mason Co-Principal Investigators:  David Delene

Funded

Current Research Grants

Project Title:  NDX-2,   Supporting Agency:  North Dakota Space Grant Consortium, Principal Investigator: Pablo de Leon Co-Principal Investigator:   Project Dollar Value:  $3500 Project Duration:  October 1, 2009  - December 31, 2009.

HONORS

Member of the National English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta

Member of the National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha

Member of International Honor Society in Social Science, Pi Gamma Mu

Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities

RECOMMENDATIONS

Col. George Oliver

Indiana County Chief Detective Robert Fyock

Youngsville High School Spanish Teacher Mary Ann Clinton