Nathaniel Crawford
Colorado Springs,CO
Summary
Motivated leader with managerial, orbit analysis, systems & software engineering experience. Strong analytical skills; capable of working with technicians of various disciplines to troubleshoot complex system-level issues to meet and exceed customer and organizational goals. Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance, adjudicated CI polygraph (November 2023) Over 16 years of DoD, orbit analysis, systems and software engineering experience encompassing full spectrum of spacecraft lifecycle from launch and early orbit to end-of-life operations Background in various space operations, flight dynamics, and satellite command and control processes, threat assessment, rendezvous-proximity operations and tactic, technique, procedure development. Experience developing and managing software solutions for multiple programs using MATLAB, Visual Basic, bash and various other scripting languages and tools.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
National Security Space Mission Analyst
Omitron
10.2024 - Current
- Analyzed complex data sets to support strategic decision-making processes in support of US Space Command and National Reconnaissance Office customers.
- Developed and maintained software scripts utilizing advanced analytical methodologies.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to enable Space Domain Awareness capabilities, on-orbit operations, and mission flight safety.
- Led testing and implementation of new software and system updates used to support a diverse mission set with varying customers.
Senior Principal Engineer (Lead Orbit Analyst)
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
01.2024 - 10.2024
- Lead orbit analyst of six-member team overseeing daily operations required to support multiple programs in all orbit regimes with varying missions to ensure accurate spacecraft and ground terminal accessibility
- Routinely performs orbit determination, maneuver processing, and ephemeris propagation of various types including two-line element sets, vector covariance messages, and other customer specific ephemerides
- Provides launch support by processing and propagating initial trajectories and providing updated pointing products to users during day-of-launch ensuring communication throughout launch events
- Develops and maintains local Visual Basic and MATLAB tools used in operations to streamline and automate tasks related to STK and ODTK
Systems Engineer IV (Lead Platform & Orbit Operations Engineer)
THE BOEING COMPANY
12.2015 - 01.2024
- Led 12-member platform and orbit operations sustainment engineering team in support of the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) program providing nominal commanding and engineering support, orbit determination troubleshooting, close-approach analysis recommendations, station-keeping and relocation guidance, and anomaly resolution support
- Routinely prepared and provided briefings to external customers to include engineering updates, anomaly resolution, future operation requirements and constellation health and status
- Actively participated in Space Flag and other government exercises as both a geosynchronous orbit subject matter expert and instructor of Boeing software to include Stellar and Mission Planner simulators
Systems Engineer II (WGS Orbit Analysis Subject Matter Expert and Trainer)
HARRIS CORPORATION
07.2014 - 12.2015
- Provided training and Subject Matter Expertise on WGS orbital operations and associated ground systems to Active Duty military and other program contractors
- Co-Authored Orbit Analysis Support (OAS) proposal, valued at approximately $10 million; five-year contract for 50th Space Wing Orbit Analysis support awarded to Harris in September 2015
Regional Customer Service Manager
REDDY ICE CORPORATION
11.2013 - 05.2014
- Responsible for logistics of driver routing, product delivery and customer service for Kansas and Oklahoma area.
- Hiring manager for all DOT Class-A drivers across six geographically separated locations.
Spacecraft Engineer, Boeing Mission Control Center, USAF
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
04.2013 - 10.2013
- Performed daily engineering operations for launch & early orbit with Boeing civilian partners
- Ensured successful launch and early operations on WGS-5 & WGS-6 satellites; executed over 180 days of maneuvers, deployments, configuration and testing
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Orbital Ops
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Orbital Ops, 3rd Space Operations Squadron, USAF
01.2010 - 10.2013
- Directly trained & supervised 5-person orbital analyst team overseeing operations of six WGS satellites
- Executed orbital analysis tasks and verified Flight Dynamic Software (FDS) and Orbit Analysis System (OASYS) for the WGS constellation; day to day operations knowledge and experience allowed for standing up a geographically separated back-up operations center
- Successfully managed transition to OASYS v. 10 orbital analysis software –project fully mission capable ahead of schedule
Education
M.B.A. - Human Resource Management
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Springs, CO01.2011
BS - Software Engineering
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Springs, CO01.2018
BS - Business Administration
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Springs, CO01.2009
Skills
- Microsoft office
- Analytical thinking
- Team collaboration and leadership
- Project management
- Excel proficiency
- Critical thinking
- Root-cause analysis
- Object-oriented programming
- Agile methodologies
- Software development
- Scripting languages: bash, python, MATLAB
- Technical writing, requirements, and documentation
RELEVANT COURSES / SEMINARS
- Advanced Orbital Mechanics, (2012)
- LEAN Management Certificate (2012)
Timeline
National Security Space Mission Analyst
Omitron
10.2024 - Current
Senior Principal Engineer (Lead Orbit Analyst)
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
01.2024 - 10.2024
Systems Engineer IV (Lead Platform & Orbit Operations Engineer)
THE BOEING COMPANY
12.2015 - 01.2024
Systems Engineer II (WGS Orbit Analysis Subject Matter Expert and Trainer)
HARRIS CORPORATION
07.2014 - 12.2015
Regional Customer Service Manager
REDDY ICE CORPORATION
11.2013 - 05.2014
Spacecraft Engineer, Boeing Mission Control Center, USAF
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
04.2013 - 10.2013
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Orbital Ops
Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Orbital Ops, 3rd Space Operations Squadron, USAF
01.2010 - 10.2013
BS - Software Engineering
Colorado Technical University
BS - Business Administration
Colorado Technical University
M.B.A. - Human Resource Management
Colorado Technical University