DAVID J. RICHIE
Colorado Springs,CO
Summary
Astronautical engineer with 30 yrs experience in orbital warfare instruction, ballistic missile/space vehicle ground/flight/real-world analysis, post-flight trajectory modelling, chief/lead systems engineering, and 24+ yrs in spacecraft guidance, kinematics, dynamics, and control
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr Staff System Engineer Detailed as GNC Engineer
Lockheed Martin Space Protection Programs
Waterton Canyon Campus, Littleton, C
01.2023 - Current
- Taught/mentored neophyte and seasoned 'gray-beard' systems engineers in target/chaser core RPO development and test concepts, such as relative motion geometry, visualizing linear drift, natural/forced circumnav, cross-track, and perched motion in STK modeling tool
- Taught novices sensor suites, space mission types, space advantages, and aerospace vehicle design to overcome the space environment
- Verified/validated embedded MATLAB/Simulink GNC analysis and simulation auto-generated code; identified detailed design drivers; assessed C/C++ source code complexity & coverage limits; compared test performance against first principles; and archived final s/w
- Integrated, compared, assessed, amended, then added Gauss-Markov noise to simplified proprietary GNC truth model-based s/w for dual camera target viewing to match complex, containerized CV algorithm-based flight s/w output driven by python code
- Data-mined 359+ LINUSS on-orbit telemetry points to calculate critical solar pressure torque, helping GNC team 'rescue' crippled spacecraft after propulsion system failure impeded planned reaction wheel de-saturation procedure
Advanced Orbital Mechanics/Warfare Instructor
Aleut Federal LLC
Peterson Space Force Base, CO
12.2021 - 09.2022
- Taught 75 orbital warfighting space force operators about inertial orbit mechanics & trajectories, perturbations, coordinate & time systems, maneuvers, and RPO development and test, in 225+ instruction hours over eight 3-week class offerings; rave student reviews!
- Outlined several key RPO development and test concepts, such as natural/forced motion circumnav; linear drift; drifting circumnav; dynamic station-keeping; and need for accurate autonomous relative navigation (RelNav) seen in XSS-11, DART, & Orbital Express
- Taught detailed prox ops concepts, such as approximated, in-plane and cross-track differential equations, solutions, and Relative Motion Orbital Elements; natural/forced motion thrusting concepts/results; and RPO feedback control using Kalman navigation filters
- Mentored orbital warriors in 7 AM/PM Homework Reviews; 4 hands-on STK exercises; 5 block missions; and 4 capstone missions
C2BMC Independent Analyst & Research Staff Member
Institute For Defense Analyses (IDA)
Schriever Air Force Base, CO
01.2017 - 11.2021
- Generated/executed MATLAB code to parse/process large (15-30+ TB) data sets in assessing performance and identifying deficiencies of C2BMC, MDA's element matching sensors to shooters
- C2BMC Event Analysis Lead (EAL) for three fully successful live-fire flight tests, including Aegis destroyer's destruction of threat-representative ICBM target to satisfy Congressional Mandate
- Briefed C2BMC's track covariance inflation/integration process to analysts; prompted MDA/Directory of Engineering Tech Advisor to remark that it was “exactly what we needed to know … Thank-you!”
- Lead C2BMC analyst for 6 foreign launch events, assessing metric tracking and sensor object tasking performance; presented results to Chief Engineer and SES-level Director
- EAL for 3x hardware-in-the-loop, integrated ground tests; provided key evidence for 2x MAJCOM spiral S8.2-3 s/w fielding decisions
Deputy for Research, Associate Professor, and Senior Military Faculty
Department Of Astronautics (DFAS)
USAF Academy, CO
07.2015 - 12.2016
- Harmonized 15+ industry & government sponsors for 12 5-week cadet summer research internships
- Taught 120+ cadets in attitude kinematics, GNC analysis and simulation, control system design and analysis, optimal Kalman navigation filter estimation, and high-altitude balloon experimentation; steered 10 academic programs & 8 visiting research internships
- As Principal Investigator, crafted/developed pointing actuator experiments for future cadet satellites; tested 3U CubeSat software in C/C++ Arduino circuit board and 2-axis turntable driven by python code, Raspberry pie circuit board for robust stepper motor
- Fixed dormant faculty research program bound by apathy/paperwork burdens; 12 articles, 6 conferences; 13K% publication growth!
- Built faculty pub tracking system; ignited research revival via presentation series & journal reading group; 100% faculty engagement
- DFAS Head: “indispensable research mastermind”; senior civilian: “cadets are excited about research!”
Deputy for Operations and Assistant Professor
Department of Astronautics
USAF Academy, CO
07.2012 - 07.2015
- Set/enforced maintenance, gift, and travel budgets; procured $500K/yr for 18-book space tech series
- Garnered $300K for 3-axis pointing, small satellite classroom demonstrator & laboratory spherical air-bearing test equipment; innovative "EyasSat Cubed" hardware project illustrates difficult concepts
Space Systems Research Center Director & Assistant Professor
Department of Astronautics
USAF Academy, CO
11.2010 - 07.2012
- Directed 50+ faculty, lab techs, contractors, & civilians in Provost's "showcase program to [AF Space, NASA] DVs with 100+ tours yearly"; Provost ranked center #1 of 18 research centers in tech performance
- Set goals, schedule, & budget to launch 6 DoD experiments and operate 2 multi-disciplinary design and development team satellites on-orbit; cadet C/C++ software provided robust interface for future satellite development
- Taught 180 cadets engineering principles/practices to design/build satellites/rockets; guided 9 academic journeys; 5 went to grad school
Headquarters Section Commander
Space and Missiles Systems Center
Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA
02.2010 - 11.2010
- Commanded 1000 troops in 5 space wings, 3 groups, & 16 staff agencies; oversaw deployments, fitness, & punishments; deployed 17 members; raised fitness currency 7% amidst rule changes; led flawless center re-org
Joint Operations Center Team Chief
US European Command (EUCOM)
Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany
09.2009 - 02.2010
- Trained/equipped missions across 51-country territory via 60+ 12hr night shifts on 120-day deployment
- Coordinated air, ground, sea, and special operations for 40 overseas contingency operations/15 exercises
Chief Systems Engineer
Space Superiority Systems Wing
Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA
10.2007 - 09.2009
- 150-member government/industry, multi-disciplinary design/development team tech chair; executed $2.3B DoD Secretary program
- Advanced $18M critical space industry investment via $30M R&D effort; slashed scheduled by 1-yr
- Transformed 400 requirements; crafted 16+ major tech documents; fielded cutting-edge US space superiority system
- Led baseline definition/maturation from requirements to specs using DOORS database, steered major design reviews, conducted high integrated trade studies and analysis of alternatives, crafted ops tactics to maximize JFCC-Space effectiveness
- Team found crippling design flaw, resolved it, rescued program from cancellation, and solidified its foundation as US Strategic Command's #1 classified program; created 1st ops system of its kind
- Supervisor said, "[Dave has a] perfect blend of people & tech skills;” and also, "Platoon leaders & Combatant Commanders benefited ... allowed US to seize, maintain space dominance"
Doctoral Student, Surrey Space Center
University of Surrey
Guildford, United Kingdom
09.2004 - 10.2007
- Thesis: "Combined Attitude Control & Energy Storage for Small Satellites using Variable Speed Control Moment Gyros"
- Developed optimal, multi-disciplinary subsystem spreadsheet Variable-speed CMG design later refined using SPICE and Solid Edge Computer Aided Engineering design tools and C/C++ microcontroller versus firmware trade studies
- Developed decoupled power/attitude control system/wheel misalignment disturbance rejection algorithm for AF Research Laboratory's flywheel energy storage technology demonstrator
Laboratory Director and Assistant Professor
Department of Astronautics
United States Air Force (USAF) Academy, CO
07.2001 - 09.2004
- Taught/course-directed 500+ cadets in capstone engineering principles/practices design, vehicle stability principles, linear control systems design and analysis, and astrodynamics classes
- Made cost, schedule, and performance design/launch decisions as faculty Program Manager/Chief Engineer for 45-person multi-disciplinary design and development team that designed/built $1M FalconSAT-2 and $2M FalconSAT-3 (FS-3) cadet spacecraft
- Defined space & launch vehicle requirements; transformed new experiment/sensor suite mission concepts into baseline paper design and matured it into physical hardware through preliminary/critical design phases in a complex, real-world DoD development setting
- Morphed highly integrated FS-3 trade studies/analyses of alternatives into physical engineering model & qualification components
- FS-3 flight model served 10+ year lifecycle through operations & de-commissioning; 2000+ AF officers learned "space" experientially
Master's Degree Student
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
12.1999 - 07.2001
- Thesis, "Simultaneous Attitude Control and Energy Storage Using Variable Speed Control Moment Gyroscopes: Theory/Simulation"
- Concept: eliminating conventional battery mass saves 40% while maintaining agile re-targeting benefits
- Inspired advisor to jump-start multiple PhD student studies; novelty/archival literature traced to this work
- Sized descent/lander vehicle for winning graduate-level, multi-disciplinary, stranded astronaut astroid rescue mission design optimization team in NASA's Human Exploration and Development of Space-University Partners (HEDS-UP) competition; performed highly integrated trade studies and analysis of alternatives; defined/matured baseline
Senior Ballistic Missile Engineer/Analyst
National Air Intelligence Center
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
03.1997 - 12.1999
- Led 22-member missile launch parameter verification team providing Measurement and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT) Analysis-based trajectory "truth" data to key intelligence organizations
- Developed/refined worldwide ballistic missile models using aerodynamics, guidance/control, structures, orbital mechanics, and propulsion principles based on radar, optical & infrared remote sensor collections
- Trained 150+ intel analysts/operators on MASINT techniques; 80-100 now deploy to impart theater space effects
Student Pilot
14 Operations Support Squadron
Columbus Air Force Base, MS
09.1996 - 03.1997
- Accrued 20+ dual jet flight hours during initial pilot training; provided insight to AF flight operations
Launch Base Project Engineer
Titan Systems Program Office
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
06.1994 - 09.1996
- Drove 30-member government/industry rocket booster op test & evaluation team on $7.5M procedure path-finding effort; result: saved 160 hours (18K hours total) in processing complicated first-ever yet fully successful Titan IV-B launcher
Education
Ph.D. - Astronautical Engineering
School of Electronics And Physical Sciences, University of Surrey
Guildford, United Kingdom2008
Master of Science - Aerospace Engineering
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA2001
Bachelor of Science - Astronautical Engineering, Blue-chip Graduate (Top 15%)
Department of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, CO1994
Skills
- 2x Aerospace/Defense multi-disciplinary team Chief Engineer
- Led baseline definition, trade studies, PDR/CDR reqt/specs maturation & DOORS data mgt in complex risk reduction setting
- MATLAB/Simulink auto-code generation system modeling
- Python, C/C programming language coding/debugging
- Spacecraft Guidance, navigation, & control (GNC) software (s/w) coding & verification/validation
- Orbital mechanics/warfare instructor of rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO)using Kalman navigation filters
- Educator in engineering principles/practice; feedback control system design/analysis; astrodynamics; & space vehicle stability
- Containerized Computer Vision (CV) test/analysis/data mining
- Ballistic missile/trajectory engineer/ independent analyst of post-flight metric tracks
- Active TS; 4th SCI security clearance in Adjudication Review
Affiliations
- Lifetime Member (Associate Fellow), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
- AIAA College Educator of the Year, Rocky Mountain Section, 2014
- Bate Award for Best DFAS Rookie Instructor, 2001; Wittry Award for Best DFAS Engineering Educator, 2012
- Top Grad (#1/24) in 3 week Space 200 class
- Acq Prof Dev Program (APDP) Certified Level III in Syst Planning, Research, Dev, & Engr; Level I in Prgm Mgt and in Test & Eval
- Space Professional Development Program (SPDP) Certified Level III
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.
David Russell
Timeline
Sr Staff System Engineer Detailed as GNC Engineer
Lockheed Martin Space Protection Programs
01.2023 - Current
Advanced Orbital Mechanics/Warfare Instructor
Aleut Federal LLC
12.2021 - 09.2022
C2BMC Independent Analyst & Research Staff Member
Institute For Defense Analyses (IDA)
01.2017 - 11.2021
Deputy for Research, Associate Professor, and Senior Military Faculty
Department Of Astronautics (DFAS)
07.2015 - 12.2016
Deputy for Operations and Assistant Professor
Department of Astronautics
07.2012 - 07.2015
Space Systems Research Center Director & Assistant Professor
Department of Astronautics
11.2010 - 07.2012
Headquarters Section Commander
Space and Missiles Systems Center
02.2010 - 11.2010
Joint Operations Center Team Chief
US European Command (EUCOM)
09.2009 - 02.2010
Chief Systems Engineer
Space Superiority Systems Wing
10.2007 - 09.2009
Doctoral Student, Surrey Space Center
University of Surrey
09.2004 - 10.2007
Laboratory Director and Assistant Professor
Department of Astronautics
07.2001 - 09.2004
Master's Degree Student
Georgia Institute of Technology
12.1999 - 07.2001
Senior Ballistic Missile Engineer/Analyst
National Air Intelligence Center
03.1997 - 12.1999
Student Pilot
14 Operations Support Squadron
09.1996 - 03.1997
Launch Base Project Engineer
Titan Systems Program Office
06.1994 - 09.1996
Ph.D. - Astronautical Engineering
School of Electronics And Physical Sciences, University of Surrey
Master of Science - Aerospace Engineering
School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science - Astronautical Engineering, Blue-chip Graduate (Top 15%)
Department of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy