Donald Cash
Wichita,KS, USA
Summary
Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments as shown by instructing foreign military Boom Operators. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Overview
46
46
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
KC 46 Boom Operator Instructor
Flight Safety International Defense
03.2021 - Current
- Primary responsibilities include instructing and measuring training progress of Boom Operator students who attend established aircrew training curricula
- Provide training using classroom instruction, Boom Operator Part Task Trainer, Boom Operator Full Motion Simulator, Fuselage Trainer, and the KC 46 aircraft
- Additional responsibilities include Subject Matter Expert for students and provide inputs for courseware corrections and modifications, along with updates to training policies and procedures.
MRTT ROYAL SAUDI AIR FORCE Operations Logistical Support Team, Air Refueling Instructor
Airbus Space and Defense/Atexis
07.2017 - 12.2020
- Primary responsibilities as MRTT ARO Instructor both ground and flight
- Provide program insight to squadron senior management when requested and to support the decisions made by the senior management
- Provide courseware design and development to support the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) training requirements
- Provide inflight training to RSAF student AROs and support the training/operational requirements as requested.
GAL Senior Advisor to UAE AF&AD
09.2013 - 07.2017
- Primary responsibilities as MRTT ARO Instructor both ground and flight
- Provide program insight to squadron senior management when requested and to support the decisions made by the senior management
- Provide courseware design and development to support the UAE AF&AD training requirements (SAT certified)
- Provide inflight training to RSAF student AROs and support the training/operational requirements as requested.
MRTT Project Experimental Flight Test Air Refueling Operator (Lead)
Airbus Military
11.2011 - 09.2013
- Primary responsibility is to lead a cadre of both company and contractor Air Refueling Operators in the continuing development, certification, qualification and instruction of the MRTT/FSTA air to air refueling systems
- This includes performing as platform instructor (academics), simulator instructor, and in-flight instructor
- Lead Flight Test Evaluator ARO performing all developmental, certification/qualification and acceptance demonstration flights in both the A310 Demonstrator and A330 MRTT customer aircraft.
Aerial Refueling Consultant
Self-employed, on contract to EADS-CASA
06.2004 - 11.2011
- Supporting design, development flight testing, and instruction (academic/simulator) of A310/MRTT/FSTA air refueling systems.
Operations Analyst
SAIC
09.2002 - 06.2004
- SAIC 'on site' KC-135/KC-10/KC-767 technical support representative at Detachment 5 AFOTEC, Airlift Test Branch, Edwards AFB
- Primary responsibility is to support the KC-135/KC-10/KC-767 Airlift Test Branch with test planning, test development, test execution and Quality Performance Metrics support for the KC-135/KC-10 GATM System Upgrade (GATM) program to include developing the overall Initial Operational Test and Evaluation Plan for the GATM program
- I am also responsible for: Verification and Validation (V&V) data analysis, reporting and making accreditation recommendation to KC-135/KC-10/KC767 Operational Test Team and Headquarters AFOTEC.
Mechanical Engineering Technician
NJ-III United States Air Force
12.2001 - 09.2002
- Primary duties are to assist engineers in planning, provisioning, executing, evaluating, and reporting testing of aircraft and their subsystems.
Quality Assurance Engineer
BAE Systems
10.1999 - 12.2001
- Developed and implemented ISO 9001 compliant quality program utilized in supporting current military aircraft modification, test and production programs
- Wrote policy and procedures supporting the program planning, technical order/maintenance manual development and inspection requirement
- Evaluated potential customer requirements/statement of work; developed work requirements and wrote department proposals
- Wrote individual Quality Assurance Program Plan for each project ensuring ISO compliance
- Reviewed/edited engineering design orders, drawings and operational/manufacturing planning for accuracy
- Coordinated, supervised and documented product First Article Demonstrations
- Established acceptable quality level, documented and investigated nonconformance issues, conducted internal and external audits and initiated corrective action
- Evaluated program manufacturing/modification processes; incorporated changes needed to improve efficiency and improve product quality
- Managed supplier and production Corrective Action program, Failure Analysis and Nonconforming Material Review Reporting programs in accordance with ISO 9001, MIL-Q-9858A, MIL-I-45208 and MIL-STD-1520
- Responsible for implementing, evaluating and reporting all program related metrics needed to support trend analysis/evaluations
- Performed duties as single-face-to-customer and assigned DCMA QAR.
Chief, Test In-Flight Aerial Refueling Supervisor/Program Manager
United States Air Force Edwards AFB, CA
08.1978 - 10.1999
- Dual qualified in every boom equipped KC/EC/NKC-135 variant and the KC-10
- Performed aerial refueling research, certification and testing for all developmental USAF and DoD aircraft
- Considered the USAF's expert in aerial refueling research, development, test and evaluation
- Wrote technical manuals for aircraft and aircrew operations
- Performed military specification, verification testing and prepared technical post mission flight test reports
- Supported USAF, AFFTC, NASA, and FAA test programs
- Duties included: Performed in-flight aerial refueling research, development, and testing
- Performed evaluation for follow-on aircraft and systems, and aerial artificial atmospherics (water and icing spray tests)
- Evaluated advanced air refueling components and conducted/performed flight envelope expansion, aerial proximity tests both boom and drogue
- Coordinated with the pilot on in-flight emergencies using checklists, procedures, and professional judgment
- Prepared and wrote test plans and test cards, and organized the information as needed for ground and flight tests
- Analyzed test using operational risk management to determine safety risk
- Applied system safety principles to mitigate or eliminate risks
- Evaluated human factor issues as related to boom or drogue control systems and flight operations
- Conducted air refueling hardware tests, developed procedures and techniques, wrote and edited technical source data to be included in flight manuals
- Prepared technical post-mission flight test reports, documented system strengths, capabilities or deficiencies, and recommended improvements
- Operated and monitored onboard aircraft test equipment
- Performed functional and acceptance check flights
- Qualified in NKC-135A/B/E, KC-135A/D/E/Q/R/T/ART/RRT, EC-135C/G/L, and KC/KDC-10A.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Technology
Southern Illinois University
01.1999
Associate of the Arts - Technical Management
Community College of the Air Force
01.1996
Skills
- Aircraft Flight Experience (Totaling over 30 years including both Developmental Flight Testing and Operational experience); Over 10,000 Flight Hours
- Test and Certification experience with the Remote Aerial Refueling Systems (RNLAF RARO system on the KDC-10 and AIRBUS 310 Demonstrator/Airbus A330 MRTT)
- Air Refueling Instruction (Academic, Simulator, and Flight)
- Experience with Courseware development and platform instruction (KC-135, KC-10, A310, A330 MRTT/FSTA, KC46)
- Courseware Design and Development
- Human Factors Development/Evaluation (Man-Machine Interface)
- Program Management
- Government Acquisition Programs
- Quality Assurance Engineering (Flight Crew and Production)
- Project Management
Certification
- University of Kansas Course on Aircraft Icing: Meteorology, Protective Systems, Instrumentation and Certification
- KDC-10 Remote Vision Air Refueling Operator’s Differences Training Course
- KC-10 Combat Crew Training, March AFB, CA - Graduate
- KC-135R Difference Course – Graduate
- KC-135A Combat Crew Training, Castle AFB, CA – Distinguished Graduate
- Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Test Team Operations Course – 5 day
- Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center – Operational Test and Evaluation Course – 2 weeks
- Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center – Suitability Course – 3 day
- Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) Course Design – 2 weeks
Home
+1 919.999.7396
Specializedtraining
- Handling Qualities During Tracking Short course at the United States Air Force Test Pilot School – Graduate
- Test Control/Conduct Short course – Completed
Timeline
KC 46 Boom Operator Instructor
Flight Safety International Defense
03.2021 - Current
MRTT ROYAL SAUDI AIR FORCE Operations Logistical Support Team, Air Refueling Instructor
Airbus Space and Defense/Atexis
07.2017 - 12.2020
GAL Senior Advisor to UAE AF&AD
09.2013 - 07.2017
MRTT Project Experimental Flight Test Air Refueling Operator (Lead)
Airbus Military
11.2011 - 09.2013
Aerial Refueling Consultant
Self-employed, on contract to EADS-CASA
06.2004 - 11.2011
Operations Analyst
SAIC
09.2002 - 06.2004
Mechanical Engineering Technician
NJ-III United States Air Force
12.2001 - 09.2002
Quality Assurance Engineer
BAE Systems
10.1999 - 12.2001
Chief, Test In-Flight Aerial Refueling Supervisor/Program Manager
United States Air Force Edwards AFB, CA
08.1978 - 10.1999
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Technology
Southern Illinois University
Associate of the Arts - Technical Management
Community College of the Air Force
- University of Kansas Course on Aircraft Icing: Meteorology, Protective Systems, Instrumentation and Certification
- KDC-10 Remote Vision Air Refueling Operator’s Differences Training Course
- KC-10 Combat Crew Training, March AFB, CA - Graduate
- KC-135R Difference Course – Graduate
- KC-135A Combat Crew Training, Castle AFB, CA – Distinguished Graduate
- Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Test Team Operations Course – 5 day
- Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center – Operational Test and Evaluation Course – 2 weeks
- Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center – Suitability Course – 3 day
- Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) Course Design – 2 weeks
Similar Profiles
Chambers ClayChambers Clay
Second in Command at Flight Safety InternationalSecond in Command at Flight Safety International
LALA JAVADOVALALA JAVADOVA
HR specialist at Civil Aviation Flight Safety State Civil AviationHR specialist at Civil Aviation Flight Safety State Civil Aviation
Marcos PradoMarcos Prado
Portuguese Translator & Interpreter at Flight SafetyPortuguese Translator & Interpreter at Flight Safety