Todd Petit
Ogden,UT
Summary
Creative professional with over 25 years of experience leading multidisciplinary design teams in creating impactful 2D/3D assets, motion graphics, interactive simulators, and branded training experiences for DoD/USAF audiences. Proficient in real-time engines, 3D modeling and animation, Adobe Creative Suite, and digital asset lifecycle management. Demonstrated success in delivering high-fidelity visual products for large-scale training programs serving over 10,000 users, while implementing centralized media systems that enhance production efficiency and quality assurance in alignment with DoD standards. Strategic thinker committed to pushing creative boundaries and driving innovation within the design process.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Graphic Lead / Art Director
367 Training Support Squadron
Hill AFB, UT
09.2005 - Current
- Lead creative vision and daily operations for multimedia training deliverables supporting USAF flightline maintenance training; supervise designers, animators, and media specialists to ensure cohesive, standards-compliant visual solutions.
- Managed end-to-end production of 2D/3D assets and interactive simulations used by 10,000+ flightline personnel; ensured visual fidelity, technical performance, and alignment with learning objectives and system constraints.
- Converted technical and instructional requirements into visual design systems, style guides, and storyboards to standardize courseware look-and-feel and accelerate asset reuse across programs.
- Designed, modeled, textured, rigged, and animated aircraft components and interactive objects in 3ds Max and ZBrush; optimized real-time assets (LODs, lightmaps, efficient UV) for CryEngine and Unreal Engine integrations.
- Led motion-graphics and video production workflows (After Effects, Premiere Pro); coordinated photography/video shoots and post-production pipelines to meet schedule and quality targets.
- Established and manage a $300K media library (photos, video, 2D art, 3D models); created taxonomy, metadata schema, and version-control practices in SharePoint, reducing duplication and decreasing production lead time.
- Instituted QA and acceptance criteria aligned with DoD/USAF standards; conducted design reviews and ensured instructional and technical compliance with stakeholders, SMEs, and ISD teams.
- Supervised hiring, onboarding, and professional development for junior designers; documented pipelines and improved timeline estimations and resource planning via tracked level-of-effort metrics.
- 40 hrs/week
Project Manager / Lead Designer
The Training Authorities
Salt Lake City, UT
03.2007 - 06.2008
- Directed interactive courseware design and development for MSHA-mandated training; served as creative and technical lead for multimedia deliverables.
- Created and animated heavy-equipment 3D models (Caterpillar, Komatsu) including texture maps and post-production composites; integrated assets into SCORM-compliant e-learning modules.
- Conducted training needs assessments with SMEs; authored storyboards, course outlines, lesson plans, and assessments to meet learning objectives and improve learner engagement.
- Served as ISD liaison for evaluation metrics and implemented process improvements to accelerate delivery and elevate content quality.
- 40 hrs/week
Education
MBA - Management
Webster University
Hill AFB, UT03-2013
MA - Information Management
Webster University
Hill AFB, UT05-2004
BFA - Graphic Design
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, NM12-1997
Skills
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Creative direction
- Excellent team player
- Artistic vision
Websites
Accomplishments
- Real-time Training Simulator: Directed art direction and asset pipeline for interactive maintenance simulators (Unreal/CryEngine); delivered optimized aircraft component libraries and interactive UX elements used across training programs.
- Media Library Initiative: Designed taxonomy, metadata schema, and archiving procedures for a $300K asset repository; increased asset reuse and decreased production lead times.
- Visual Standards & Style Guide: Created a visual identity and style guide adopted across multiple training programs to ensure consistency and brand alignment.
- Awards: 367 TRSS Civilian of the Year (2008, 2012); 782nd Training Group Civilian of the Year (2008); Air Force Commendation Medal; Air Force Achievement Medal.
Affiliations
Insert relevant orgs if applicable: AIGA, IGDA, etc.
Certification
- CompTIA A+ (2008)
- Visual Information Management Course — Defense Information School (2017)
- Video Production Center Workshop — USAF Public Affairs (2018)
- Squadron Officer School — Air University (2014)
Timeline
Project Manager / Lead Designer
The Training Authorities
03.2007 - 06.2008
Senior Graphic Lead / Art Director
367 Training Support Squadron
09.2005 - Current
MA - Information Management
Webster University
BFA - Graphic Design
Eastern New Mexico University
MBA - Management
Webster University