Craig Kowald
Mountlake Terrace,WA
Summary
Results-oriented, versatile Electrical Engineer with extensive experience in Aerospace Electrical and Communications Systems design, management, planning, operations, and maintenance. Committed leader able to support both immediate requirements and strategic objectives. Customer focused with excellent communication, presentation, critical thinking, and supervisory skills.
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
Work History
Design and Analysis Engineer
Boeing
08.2012 - Current
- Analyzed data sets to identify trends and support decision-making processes.
- Developed and implemented testing protocols for software validation and quality assurance.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize product designs and improve functionality.
- Conducted root cause analysis to troubleshoot system failures and recommend solutions.
- Led certification effort for equipment obsolescence project on the 767, including authoring certification plans, co-signing FAA forms 8100-9 as an Engineering Unit Member in Training, authoring Requests for Conformity, and witnessing test article and test setup conformities and tests.
Electrical Engineer
AdamWorks
01.2010 - Current
- Electrical Engineer for wiring on foreign military aircraft modification project. Translated customer system requirements into wiring harness designs. Selected wiring types and connectors to meet performance and certification requirements. Consolidated circuits onto milspec connectors to save space and weight. Developed circuit routing tools and wire harness drawings Worked with custom harness manufacturer to ensure harnesses built correctly.
Exterior Lighting Engineer
The Boeing Company
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Electrical Engineer for Lighting Systems on the 787 aircraft. Managed program for the Service Lighting System and provided electrical engineering support for the Cargo Lighting System. Ensured the Service Light met all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing requirements for safety, performance, reliability, and maintainability. Reviewed and corrected supplier technical drawings, schematics, and blueprints, ensuring complete part definition. Assured Cargo Lights met all electrical and electromagnetic interference requirements. Coordinated all systems-level design efforts for both Service and Cargo Lights. Ensured Service Lights and Cargo lights were installed in the correct airplane locations. Developed circuit breaker, electrical wiring, and bonding and grounding requirements for both Service and Cargo Lighting Systems.
- Published specification documents on schedule, ensuring timely delivery of parts to first flight test aircraft.
- Ensured timely approval of qualification procedures, which allowed supplier to stay on schedule.
- Coordinated timely approval of test report, ensuring certification documents arrived at the FAA on-time.
- Assisted supplier in developing a redesigned cargo light to mitigate excessive heat load.
Telecommunications Manager
Washington Air National Guard
01.1994 - 01.2006
- Operations Manager and Lead Engineer for a 900 member communications group. Planned, coordinated, and provided engineering support for military exercises. Assisted units with troubleshooting system and equipment problems. Designed long-haul and wired campus communications backbones to deliver voice and data services for both wartime customers and exercise participants. Ensured all subordinate units reported operational status correctly and in a timely manner. Sponsored and conducted systems training for unit engineering personnel. Evaluated new and emerging technologies.
- Led team of 38 communications technicians for six months at an air refueling base in the Middle East.
- Provided telephone, internet, and radio service to 900 base personnel, and assured that no missions were scrubbed due to lack of connectivity.
- Ensured senior leadership communications needs received highest level of priority and customer service.
- Efforts supported delivery of over 96 million pounds of fuel to over 1900 aircraft.
- Developed and coordinated base-wide plan for deployment of $300,000 secure radio upgrade project.
- Enforced legal use of limited bandwidth and assured compliance with information security measures.
- Spearheaded base efforts to install a robust, environmentally-hardened multi-million dollar fiber optic Gigabit Ethernet and telephone upgrade for improved performance and reliability.
- Managed acquisition and implementation of more than $50,000 in command and control video equipment for the Air Operations Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fl, which controls all air defense for the Continental United States.
Field Service Supervisor
Advanced Navigation and Positioning Corporation
01.1994
- Installed a prototype instrument landing system at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
- Secured agreement with base officials for precision placement of sensors.
- Contracted with surveying crew to perform GPS survey to within a 1 meter radius.
Communications Officer
US Air Force
01.1984 - 01.1992
- Performed duties in the acquisition, operations, and maintenance of communications systems and equipment for the US Air Force.
- Lead engineer in Saudi Arabia for post-combat Air Force Desert Storm Network.
- Ensured optimal performance through network monitoring and customer feedback.
- Planned and supervised upgrades for satellite, data, and telephone networks.
- Coordinated preventive maintenance schedule with customers to minimize downtime.
- Coordinated installation of a commercial radio tower to eliminate disruptive outages.
- Led team in expert troubleshooting and training on European communications systems.
- Performed emergency troubleshooting and maintenance on command and control systems, restoring priority systems and minimizing downtime.
- Verified performance of log periodic antennas for high frequency radios.
- Managed project to install fiber optic cable at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Warrior Preparation Center saving $15,000 and 400 man-hours.
- Air Force Communications Command liaison to the Air Force Electronic Systems Division in acquiring new electronic systems.
- Coordinated with Air Force security police, systems maintainers and systems developers to acquire and install physical security systems Air Force-wide.
- Customer advocate for fielding of new tri-service tactical communications systems.
Education
Masters of Science - International Relations
Troy State University-Europe
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
University of Florida
Gainesville, FLSkills
- Systems Engineering
- Writing and Presentation Skills
- Leadership
- Test Procedures
- Problem Solving
- Troubleshooting
- Project Management
- Customer Support
- Strategic Planning
- Site Activation
Timeline
Design and Analysis Engineer
Boeing
08.2012 - Current
Electrical Engineer
AdamWorks
01.2010 - Current
Exterior Lighting Engineer
The Boeing Company
01.2006 - 01.2009
Telecommunications Manager
Washington Air National Guard
01.1994 - 01.2006
Field Service Supervisor
Advanced Navigation and Positioning Corporation
01.1994
Communications Officer
US Air Force
01.1984 - 01.1992
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
University of Florida
Masters of Science - International Relations
Troy State University-Europe