J OHN MATTHEW WELLS
*** ******** ******, ********* ***, Norfolk, Virginia 23508
acer53@r.postjobfree.com
SUMMARY
Aerospace engineering professional with over 7 years experience in mechanical design, analysis, strategy, and management
of aerospace industry products. Expertise in non destructive and destructive analysis and testing, model development,
technical documentation, and manufacturing for technologies to meet mission and quality specifications. Motivated
visionary with the proven ability to establish key tasks to meet goals and develop strategies for success. Driven leader who
recognizes critical issues and implements solutions that lead to improved processes and efficiencies.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Mechanical Design/Analysis, Architecture Optimization for mission requirements
Fluid Dynamics, Aerodynamics, Optics FEA, CFD in multi physical environments
Leadership, Training, Cost and risk reduction Thermodynamics, Active Control Algorithm
Physics based Modeling and Simulation Electronics Packaging for Harsh environments
Product/Manufacturing Management Clean rooms, environments testing
Thermal Protection Systems for Hypersonics Production of drawings for manufacturing
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Northrop Grumman, NASA Langley Research Center Mechanical Systems Engineer 2011 –
Present
Develops and manages Mechanical Ground Support Equipment plan for the project.
Designs suite of equipment multiple pieces of Flight MGSE for fabrication.
Engineered leading edge products to support an Optical scientific spaceflight instrument
Solutions involved complex requirements with materials, strength, manufacturability, tolerances, cost
Manage design and developmental effort for mechanical systems, user requirements and physical functional
architectures. Cut cost through improvements in design and manufacturing techniques
Presents technical data to management, including test and evaluation results.
Performs analysis and design of aerospace structural components and system elements, to
i nclude structural assemblies, mechanisms and devices, for both ground and f l ight
applications.
Develops conceptual designs, layouts, and detailed fabrication drawings.
Ut ilizes state-of-the-art computer-aided design applications for three-dimensional
modeling, and performs structural and/or thermal analyses to support the design process.
Evaluates design factors such as damage tolerance, durability, and design allowable.
Validates conformity of designs with relevant industry and NASA standards.
StarChase, Virginia Beach, Virginia Lead Principal Engineer
2008 – 2011
Lead system development and system integration manager for new StarChase Pursuit Management Technology.
Determined and evaluated system requirements, established system and sub system configuration, performed
dynamic trajectory calculation, wrote active thermodynamic controls as well as test and physical reviews for
integrity of systems.
Lead managerial integration effort though cross functional development which included system specifications to
meet harsh road environments, pressurized pneumatics, thermal management system, PIC electronics, wireless
networks, flight aerodynamics, materials, manufacturing, tolerances and quality.
Provided guidance to senior management in order to define, tailor, derive and flow down requirements.
Additionally, managed effort with subcontractors to develop electrical hardware and software requirements for
product. Tested, procured tools and parts, assembled, troubleshot, installed and supported technology.
Identified, established, developed, and refined key relationships and partnerships between customers, clients, and
cross functional departments.
Designed, oversaw fabrication, procured parts, kept inventories, managed assembly of a complex product which
included wiring harness and control panels to meet requirements.
Created job description, interviewed, hired and managed an assembler of product
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Old Dominion Research Foundation, Norfolk, VA Aerodynamic Analyst
2008 2009
Research & Development experience: designed and built scale model, developed software and hardware, analyzed
data, performed statistical analysis, and wrote technical documentation concerning the aerodynamic performance
of a concept, mass transportation vehicle.
Presented work at the 48th American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aerospace Science Meeting and
have been published in the British journal, Rail and Rapid Transit.
Physics Tutor, Hampden Sydney College 2005 2006
Tutored general level physics students on topics including dynamics, forces, statics, energy and methods.
EDUCATION
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering December 2009
Hampden Sydney College, Farmville, Virginia
Bachelor of Science, Physics May 2007
International Education for Students, Berlin, Germany
Economics, Architecture, Art, and Language Summer
2006
PUBLICATIONS
Britcher, C; Wells, J; Renaud, B; Buvat, T. “Aerodynamics of Urban Maglev Vehicles.” Part F: Journal of Rail and
Rapid Transit November 2012 vol. 226 no. 6 561 567
SOFTWARE/COMPUTER EXPERIENCE
Creo/Mechanica • LabView • Mathematica, Matlab • Comsol, ANSYS, LS DYNA • C++, Fortran • Windows • Faro Arm
HONORS/ACTIVITIES
Chair, AIAA Young Professional committee, Hampton Roads Section
Vice President and Session Chair, AIAA student chapter, Old Dominion University, 2009
Vice President, Society of Physics Students, Hampden-Sydney College, 2006
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
National Honor Society
Model Aviation and Rocketry