Keith Rice
Shawnee,Kansas
Summary
Experienced with team leadership, strategic planning, and operational management. Utilizes effective communication and organizational skills to drive project success. Track record of fostering productive work environments and achieving set goals.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sikorsky Aircraft
- Engineered, tested and supervised field installation and startup of a complete fuel flushing and calibration system for UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-53K aircraft acceptance testing. Systems included a 600-gallon closed loop, variable flow rate fuel/defuel system for engine and APU leak testing/flushing. Flow rates were accurately metered from .25 gal/min to 150 gal/min. The calibration system was comprised of a 5000-gallon closed loop system which fueled the aircraft via single point, pressure fueling or overwing gravity fueling. Fueling rates were variable from 30 gal/min to 250 gal/min. Aircraft defuel was accomplished with a separate, variable rate pump to restrict vacuum levels applied to the aircraft fuel system to a maximum of -14 in/hg.
General Atomics
- Engineered, supervised construction and acceptance tested a mobile, 200-gallon fuel bowser for flight line fueling/defueling of the Predator XP UAV. The system included a diesel/hydraulic driven pumping system and custom control system to reposition valves and flow paths for seamless changeover from fuel to defuel modes. Awarded a patent for development of a bi-directional hydraulic control system which controls pump pressures while fueling and limits vacuum to operator-controlled levels during defuel operations. Extensive engine/hydraulic heat load testing was required to meet the requirements of very harsh environmental requirements.
- Reference
Rolls Royce
- Provided engineering, design and construction oversight of a tank farm consisting of three 45,000-gallon Jet-A storage tanks with built in transfer pump. Also included was one 28,000-gallon Jet-A tank with redundant pumps to supply a constant 120 GPM supply of fuel to the jet engine test stand. A complete tank gauging system was integrated into the site master control system to fully monitor tank levels and manage fuel transfers. A custom PLC control system was designed and utilized to manage the transfer pump operations. Provided extensive field support during the construction phase as well as during system startup.
Manager of Engineering – KC and LATAM Operations
Garsite – Division of Prime Flight
11.2023 - 04.2025
- Provide mechanical and electrical engineering oversight to teams located in the USA and Columbia. Establish engineering best practices as applied to the design and manufacture of aviation refuelers, hydrant servicers, hydrant carts, above ground storage systems and ground support fueling operations. Ensure compliance with ATA-103 (aviation fuel quality standards), JIG, NFPA 407, NFPA 385, NFPA 30, NEC 70 and B31.3 piping and refinery codes. Types of systems included Jet-A, 100LL Avgas, Diesel, Mogas and E-85 bulk offload and dispensing systems.
Rail Program Manager/General Aviation Market Segment Lead/Design Manager
Argus Consulting
02.2015 - 10.2023
- Rail Program Manager Managed a team of Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Structural engineers providing 24/7 on-call technical support services for fifty-four, locomotive fuel storage and dispensing facilities. Provided engineering guidance and oversight of CAP-EX fuel facility improvements. Provided direct customer and field assistance with troubleshooting and managing all aspects of the receipt, storage and distribution of locomotive diesel fueling systems.
- General Aviation Market Segment Lead Developed business and marketing strategies for all general aviation above ground storage tanks and skid mounted fuel receipt and distribution systems. Responsible for managing all related projects from the initial system quotation, through site planning, product cycle analysis, permitting, engineering, construction oversight and final commissioning.
- Design Manager Led a team of Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Structural designers related to commercial hydrant systems, tank farm storage, pumping and filtration systems.
Project Engineer
Garsite - Division of Wabash National
01.2008 - 01.2015
- Engineering responsibilities included complete design, fabrication oversight, testing and installation of upwards of 200 general aviation fueling, above ground storage and dispensing facilities and terminals. Performed all necessary hydraulic and structural calculations to ensure proper and safe operation of equipment. Designed and implemented PLC systems for electrical control integration.
Design Engineer / CAD Manager
Progress Rail Services - Division of Caterpillar
07.1998 - 12.2007
- Engineering responsibilities include design, detail, material specifications and fabrication procedures of mechanical, hydraulic, refrigeration, plumbing, electrical and pneumatic systems related to fixed plant and mobile rail welding operations. Process control of hot forging and heat treat systems for manufacture of rail anchors. Implemented remote PLC communication/programming systems.
- Manage plant layout, structural design, equipment placement and construction of new and existing fixed plant and portable rail welding operations.
- CAD manager: developed and maintained CAD standards, acquired and implemented software and computer equipment. Responsible for LAN/WAN deployment and maintenance, data collection and PC systems. Implement engineering document control system and symbol libraries.
- Author and maintain scheduled maintenance, work order and repair tracking databases.
- Author and maintain ultrasonic rail flaw detection, test record database for customer invoicing and rail defect tracking.
- Configure and deploy industrial workstations, rail flaw detection software and PLC software.
Independent Contract Designer
Gentec Equipment Company
12.1997 - 07.1998
Senior Designer
General Motors Corporation
05.1995 - 12.1997
Independent Contract Designer
Rice Design
04.1992 - 05.1995
Designer
Aero Transportation Products, INC.
02.1991 - 04.1992
Detail Draftsman/Designer
ACD Engineering Systems, INC.
10.1988 - 02.1991
Education
Liberal Arts / Mechanical Engineering Studies
Johnson County College
Skills
- Inventor Professional 60-Current; Mechanical Desktop 50-2008; AutoCAD Releases 9 -Current; Autodesk Plant 3D, Civil 3D, Structural 3D, ANSYS (FEA), Impact (CNC/EDM programming); AutoLISP; Automanger Workflow; 3D Studio; Arena (process simulation and animation); Silver Screen Solid Modeling; VersaCAD; Drafix CAD; RoboCAD; LandCadd
- Certification Allen Bradley PLC 5/SLC 500, RSLinx, RSLogix 5/500
Certification
Patent Award, US patent #9,896,223 B2 February 20, 2018, Pump Systems for Controlling Pressure Loads.
Timeline
Manager of Engineering – KC and LATAM Operations
Garsite – Division of Prime Flight
11.2023 - 04.2025
Rail Program Manager/General Aviation Market Segment Lead/Design Manager
Argus Consulting
02.2015 - 10.2023
Project Engineer
Garsite - Division of Wabash National
01.2008 - 01.2015
Design Engineer / CAD Manager
Progress Rail Services - Division of Caterpillar
07.1998 - 12.2007
Independent Contract Designer
Gentec Equipment Company
12.1997 - 07.1998
Senior Designer
General Motors Corporation
05.1995 - 12.1997
Independent Contract Designer
Rice Design
04.1992 - 05.1995
Designer
Aero Transportation Products, INC.
02.1991 - 04.1992
Detail Draftsman/Designer
ACD Engineering Systems, INC.
10.1988 - 02.1991
Sikorsky Aircraft
General Atomics
Rolls Royce
Liberal Arts / Mechanical Engineering Studies
Johnson County College
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