Engineering Quality Assurance

MICHAEL HALTER

**** ********* *****, ******* ******, FL 32953

501-***-**** / 501-***-**** / abmapr@r.postjobfree.com

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING / PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Aerospace Defense

Articulate, results oriented, hands on business leader with a proven record of success in fast paced, rapid

growth, high pressure environments. Rare blend of high level strategic abilities combined with hands on

technical skills. Consistent history of growing revenues and boosting profit margins through new product

design, project management and process improvement. Known as an energetic, effective leader who builds

and maintains collaborative relationships between the engineering team and sales, marketing, operations as

well as the customer. (Active security clearance.)

Areas of Expertise:

Aerospace Instrumentation New Business Development Process Reengineering

Defense contracts Technology Licensing Operational Efficiencies

Project Management Outsource Manufacturing Team Building

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

KAMAN PRECISION PRODUCTS INC (KAMAN AEROSPACE) 2009 – Present

Director, Engineering

Defense contractor specializing in the development to full scale production of missile and bomb safe/arm

devices, fuzes, motor igniters, flight termination devices, and related equipment.

• Acting project/program manager for all new product development activities.

• Main POC between Kaman engineering, the USAF, Lockheed Martin and vendors.

• Assist in supplier evaluation, operations and quality assurance problem identification and corrective

action.

• Manager of highly skilled and specialized engineering group consisting of electrical, mechanical,

manufacturing, industrial and safety engineers in the development, manufacture and test of bomb

and missile fuzes.

• Responsible for the development of failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) on new and existing

product offerings.

• Technical lead for Failure Review Board.

• Currently revamping ISO processes and procedures as related to product design and development.

• Currently auditing existing engineering data packages to assure Design for Manufacturability and

Test objectives are met and captured in Manufacturing Work instructions and are maintained

through configuration management activities.

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AEROJET (GENCORP, INC.) 2007 – 2009

Director, Engineering

A major space and defense contractor specializing in the development and manufacturing of advanced solid

rocket propulsion system, gas generators and auxiliary rocket motors for both space and defense

applications. Recognized industry leader of tactical rocket propulsion systems and warheads. Product line

would include rocket motors for the Patriot, Tomahawk, ATACMS, MK72, MK104, and Javelin missiles.

Managed and mentored engineering team of 60+ Chemist, Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical and

Industrial Engineers in the design/manufacturing of tactical rocket motors and warheads.

Responsible for Manufacturing, Industrial and Test Engineering (Rocket Test), Manufacturing

Tooling Design, Propellant/Explosive formulation and standardization, and Configuration

Management.

Manage engineering budget in excess of $6 million.

Restructured process engineering team to align with the manufacturing operations facilitating real

time resolution of problems on manufacturing floor.

Interfaced with design engineering to assure Design for Manufacturability and Test and ensure

Weapon Specification are captured in Manufacturing Work instructions and are maintained through

configuration management activities.

Facilitated formal training of engineering personnel in OPX (Lean and Six Sigma) concepts and

methodologies and certification of belt candidates.

Facilitated and participated in Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) of key

manufacturing process resulting in a significant reduction in costly, impromptu failure

investigations and improved safety of operations.

Focused on product quality improvement both with suppliers and in house while decreasing cycle

times by reducing non value added activities.

Assist in supplier evaluation, operations and quality assurance problem identification and corrective

action.

Conduct Test Readiness Reviews prior to product Lot Acceptance testing and verification of Rocket

Engine Performance against product requirements.

HARC LLC 2005 – 2007

VP Engineering

Provider of engineering services to the aviation industry specifically addressing lighting and aircraft cabin

control technologies. Services include electronic and mechanical hardware design, software and firmware

development as well as product and product line development.

Designed proprietary LED lighting and control systems for aviation clients inclusive of direct and

indirect cabin lighting. Hardware environmental design and qualification in accordance with RTCA

DO 160D. Software design and validation in accordance with RTCA DO 178B. Product line

anticipated to generate an additional $20 million in annual revenues within 3 years.

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Worked closely with clients to establish product specifications. Authored all detailed product

specifications including electronic, mechanical, firmware and software Interface Control

Documents.

Performed hands on design activities including electronic circuit design and analysis, mechanical

packaging design and thermal analysis, firmware and software architecture design including control

and calibration algorithms.

Facilitated all client vendor relationships in relation to product needs which included off shore

outsource manufacturing of all major electronic and mechanical components.

Educated client executives relative to the technology to provide better product marketing.

Integrated new product releases into clients organization. Provided training in areas of sales,

marketing, engineering, procurement, manufacturing and field support.

Assisted clients in the structuring of existing product lines to reduce costs, improve quality, and

performance to better address market needs.

C&D AEROSPACE/SYAIR 2000 – 2005

VP Engineering

Global provider of advanced interior lighting and electronic control systems to the corporate and

commercial aviation industry. Designed and produced industries first proprietary serial data buss controlled

full spectrum LED lighting products. Products enabled passengers to select lighting colors from a color

palette of more than 16 million colors, control brightness and the ability to create custom cabin lighting

scenes. Products included wash lighting, dome, read, stair, and egress lighting.

Recruited by Company Principles to conduct all research and development, established and

implement production methods including outsourced manufacturing and to develop and implement

Company quality systems.

Performed research and development as well as detail design of proprietary LED lighting and

lighting systems for aviation clients inclusive of direct and indirect cabin lighting. Design activities

included electronic circuit, mechanical packaging, firmware and software design.

Authored (4) U.S. Patents for lighting applications specific to aviation. Two (2) patents awarded to

date.

Manage engineering budget in excess of $4 million.

Implemented all production methods with focus on outsourced manufacturing.

Authored and implemented all Quality procedures, documents and processes in compliance with

AS9100 guidelines.

Facilitated all vendor relationships in relation to product needs including off shore suppliers.

Lead the engineering group to design leading edge lighting and control systems technologies for the

corporate and commercial aviation industries. Hardware environmental design and qualification in

accordance with RTCA DO 160D. Software design and validation in accordance with RTCA DO

178B.

Recruited top drawer employees to join the firm to facilitate and encouraged company growth.

Implemented engineering drawing requirement systems conforming to ASME Y14.100 2000 and

MIL DTL 31000B.

Achieved FAA certification prior to shipping first products in 2002.

DECRANE AEROSPACE/AUDIO INTERNATIONAL 1996 – 2000

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VP Engineering

Global provider of in flight entertainment and cabin management systems for corporate, VIP and head of

state aircraft. In house designed product lines included DVD/CD players, Audio and Video on demand

systems, high fidelity audio amplifiers, multi zone analog and digital audio and video distribution system,

LCD monitors and touch screens, in seat personal computers and monitors, tactical switch panels, IR and

Spread spectrum remote control systems as well as environmental control systems, lighting and lighting

controls systems.

Recruited by Company Principles to oversee all aspects of systems engineering, electronic,

mechanical, firmware and software engineering, and research and development efforts.

Instrumental in growing company 4X over a three year period while increasing profitability 15%

over the same time period (15% to 30% EBITDA).

Managed engineering budget in excess of $6 million annually.

Worked closely with domestic and international aircraft completion centers, aircraft

owner/operators to define overall system capabilities, features and technologies while complying

with FAA guidelines including 14CFR, RTCA DO 160C/D as well as RTCA DO 178B.

Managed and mentored engineering team of 60+ and facilitated a rapid expansion of core

competencies which resulted in more sales content per aircraft. Engineering team consisted of

Electronic, Mechanical, Software and Systems Engineers.

Negotiated licensing agreements with key technology companies enabling rapid deployment of new

products.

Led value stream mapping and redesign of product offering resulting in a 60% reduction in material

costs, 20% to 80% reduction in hours per unit and a 50% reduction in delivery time. These efforts

salvaged 2 key customer relationships worth 60% of total revenues.

Spearheaded major project to formalize and structure all engineering and manufacturing processes

thus ensuring compliance with all critical audits including the FAA, Boeing, Raytheon, Dassault,

Bombardier as well as achieving AS9100 certification.

Designed and implemented company’s first comprehensive formal testing processes and

procedures, reducing product failures from 40% to 1% and allowing all products to achieve critical

FAA certification.

Liaised with other departmental managers throughout the company to ensure open lines of

communications existed and assigned work objectives were met.

Transformed under performing departments into highly effective, well respected teams.

Evaluated competitive technologies and industries, tracked technological trends affecting our

industry, set product roadmaps, evaluated and specified key product technologies, and controlled

product introduction into manufacturing. Focused on product profitability, quality and time to

market.

Integrated Pro E and CATIA with Computer Associates ERP system to permit bills of materials to

be transferred directly from CAD systems into ERP systems bills of material module eliminating

BOM errors.

GRASEBY/STI 1989 – 1995

Director of Engineering/Director of Quality Management

Global provider of chemical analysis systems utilized in the Petrochemical, Municipal Power, Pulp and

Paper, and others to demonstrate EPA environmental regulatory compliance. Product line included gas

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analyzers, gas sampling systems, process temperature, flow and opacity monitors, and data acquisition

system.

Responsible for all engineering functions which included Systems Engineering, Electronic,

Mechanical and Software Development, Product Testing, and Research and Development.

Key member of management team which grew the company 10X over a 6 year period while

improving profitability 200%.

Developed product lines specifically for niche markets that increase market shares from 25% to in

excess of 98% in the US, Canada, Portugal and Brazil. New product lines attributed to

approximately half of the company’s revenues. These new product lines established company as a

brand name in the Regulatory Compliance Industry (Clean Air Act 1990).

Worked closely with senior management team to clearly identify company’s core competence and

strategically outsourced non value added activities which included printed circuit board fabrication,

machining and sheet metal fabrication. Expanded companies core competence by designing gas

analysis equipment which was historically purchased from competitors.

Managed engineering budget in excess of $5 million annually.

Negotiated licensing agreements with key technology companies enabling rapid deployment of

products in high growth markets.

Led development of product lines for Petrochemical Industries that opened new markets and

boosted annual sales by 100%.

Led and energized a team of 40+ engineering professionals in the development of high reliability

analytical systems. Team members included electronic, mechanical, chemical, software and

industrial engineers as well as chemist and physicist.

Re established lines of communications between Sales, Engineering, Operations and Field Service

team members. Encouraged engineers to spend time on production floor and participate in off site

startups to gain working knowledge of issues arising in both areas. Efforts were very successful in

creating a culture of craftsmanship, pride and teamwork.

Expanded core competencies of the engineering team to include technologies needed to permit

company to expand its sales into other niche markets.

Implemented product design standards to comply with NEC, CSA, NFPA, UL and NEMA

requirements.

Tracked regulatory compliance trends affecting our customers and developed key product

technologies enabling customer compliance with new standards. Focused on product profitability,

quality and time to market.

Obtained Arkansas State License to permit company to sell and distribute radioactive materials

contained within new product lines. Radiation Safety Officer for Environmental Division of

Graseby Holdings.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS:

Firsthand experience with start up and key involvement with building infrastructure from the ground

up.

Architecture, deployment and management of functional engineering organizations.

Synchronizing the engineering organizations capabilities with company needs, bridging the gap

between engineering and the rest of the operation.

Creating culture of craftsmanship, creativity and innovative thinking across the entire organization

fostering a culture of excellence.

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Rapidly building a strong mentor/manager relationship with team members, identifying individual core

competencies and needs for development and establishing a succession plan.

Quickly identifying, developing and deploying new technologies to increase market shares.

Experienced in negotiating with International clients and vendors in Central Europe, Asia, Middle East,

Canada and Mexico.

Orchestrating the design and development of products with high technical content under extremely short

development cycles.

Successfully launching products against product road maps while meeting cost, schedule and

performance targets.

Extensive knowledge of technology licensing, patent authoring and filing processes.

EDUCATION & PROFILE

MS, Instrumental Science University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (1989)

BS Physics University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR (1986)

Patents: US Patent 6900390; U.S. Patent 7114827, Affiliations: SAE, IEEE, Society of Optical Engineers.

Security Clearance: Active

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