Engineer Engineering
Resume:
Jerry Jon Sellers
** *** *******, ******* *******, CO 80829
********@****.***
SKILLS SUMMARY
Senior space systems engineer with extensive experience in satellite design, integration, testing
and operations. Skilled in managing large space system research programs. Excellent
background in USAF, NASA and small satellite missions. Extensive experience working with the
European and former Soviet Union industries and government agencies involved in space and
basic research. Renown for teaching and education in astronautics.
MILITARY CAREER June 1980 June 2004
Space Shuttle Mission Controller September 1984 Dec 1988
NASA Johnson Space Center
Houston, TX
Certified in six separate Space Shuttle mission control center positions. Entry Guidance and
Procedures Officer (GUIDO) responsible directly to the Flight Director for all Shuttle onboard
navigation and guidance software and crew procedures. Ascent and Entry Guidance Support
Officer responsible to the GUIDO for Shuttle guidance software sequencing, crew procedures
and abort modes. Ascent, entry and rendezvous Onboard Navigation Officer (ONAV)
responsible to the GUIDO for all onboard navigation software, hardware and state vector status.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACT:
Directly supported eight Space Shuttle missions: STS 27, 26, 51-L (Challenger accident), 61-
C, 51-J, 51-I, 51-F and 51-DR.
Provided significant engineering support to NASA s Shuttle Flight Design and Dynamics
Division standardized console procedures, certified all onboard landing site data, worked with
astronauts to modify crew procedures, managed a contractor team to conduct analysis to
support flight rule verification and wrote changes to shuttle navigation and guidance software.
Graduate Student January 1989-June 1990
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACT:
Completed M.S. degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Assistant Professor of Astronautics June 1990-August 1993
Department of Astronautics
U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO
Responsible for the administration and teaching of an introductory course on astronautics
required of all cadets. Administered and taught senior level spacecraft mission analysis and
design course for astronautics majors. Instructed a senior level engineering design and systems
acquisition course.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACT:
Wrote Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics. This text, published in
December 1993 by McGraw-Hill, provides a fundamental reference for undergraduates,
educators and professionals on the basics of orbital mechanics, space environment, space
economics, spacecraft systems and mission design. This text is now used in the introductory
course at the Academy and several other institutions.
Served as course director leading a 10-officer team to teach the department s largest core
course (+900 cadets)
Served as department personnel officer responsible coordinating the hiring of new instructors.
Maintained +100% manning. Managed design and construction of new buildings and
renovations for office and equipment space at headquarters and in the field.
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Graduate Student August 1993-July 1996
University of Surrey
Surrey Space Center
Guildford, UK
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACT:
Completed Ph.D. degree in satellite engineering. Dissertation title Investigation into Hybrid
Rockets and Other Cost-Effective Propulsion System Options for Small Satellites.
Chief, Astronautics August 1996 July 2000
USAF European Office of
Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD)
London, UK
Liaison officer for Air Force Research Lab for all space, rocket and materials basic research.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACT:
Quality Assurance Evaluator for Window-on-Science (WOS) contract responsible for all
procedures and funding of the +$1M program. WOS is EOARD s premier program for
technology transfer. We sponsor visits by >250 scientists each year.
Sponsored and was sole-US representative to an international conference on aging aircraft in
the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan. Instrumental in transferring FSU aging systems
technology to the West.
Worked directly with AFRL program manager for new materials development. Coordinating
research activities in UK, Switzerland, Ukraine, Poland and Japan focused on computer modeling
of advanced compounds. AFRL scientist estimates these new techniques could save $Billions.
Coordinated AFRL/NASA program to acquire access to research on over 150 new space
materials in Russia estimated value >$3M. Developed a contract with France to use their
facilities for space materials testing 20:1 cost leverage advantage.
Organized two new workshops to gain access to European technology.
Smart systems materials that combine new properties with sensors for advanced
performance.
Applications of hydrogen peroxide to rocket applications.
Served on three separate satellite integrated product teams.
International technical coordinator for PICOSat project. PICOSat is a small satellite
bought the USAF Space & Missile Center (SMC) from the UK under the DoD Foreign
comparative test (FCT) program.
Led AFRL/DE effort to acquire a Russian-built small satellite for ground calibration of
laser tracking. As the sole government satellite engineer was instrumental in analyzing
operational requirements and evolving the actual design. At a total program cost of
about $250k, this program was about 20 times less expensive than a US-built satellite.
Spearheaded an AF/XOR-directed program to examine applications of British small
satellite technology to the SPACECOM space control mission. Briefed results of a fast-
track study to AF/XO and AF/ST.
Director, Space Systems Research Center July 2000- June 2004
Department of Astronautics
U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO
Directed one of seven dedicated USAF Academy Research Centers, Program Manager for
FalconSAT Program, Associate Professor of Astronautics
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS/IMPACT:
Directed one of seven AFOSR-funded USAFA research centers: Conducts space technology
research; reports key results; guides efforts of 26 cadets, 6 contractors, and 10 faculty from 4
academic departments to design and build innovative, low-cost spacecraft; manages annual ~
$1M budget.
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Set goals for performance, schedule, and cost to meet Air Force mission objectives; secures
and coordinates space launches with DoD and NASA; leads flight operations; disseminates user
mission data; integrates design efforts into upper-level academic classes.
Successfully directed design, development, integration and testing of FalconSAT-2 spacecraft,
now awaiting launch (delayed due to Columbia Shuttle accident)
Completed integration and testing on 2 flight-quality test articles as well as the
flight article
Personally developed and implanted detailed environmental test plan (thermal
vacuum, vibration and mass properties).
Responsible for all technical and programmatic interfaces with Space Shuttle
secondary payloads office as well as all NASA safety documentation
Directed design, development and testing effort for FalconSAT-3 spacecraft planned for first-
ever 2006 Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA)
launch.
Completed Critical Design Review, structural engineering model development and
testing, qualification model avionics acceptance testing
Personally developed detailed requirements tracking system to flow missin
requirements to subsystem level. Used for overall program verification plan.
Responsible for all technical and programmatic interfaces with ESPA integrating
contractor
Coordinated agreements with USAF Space Test Program and NASA for small satellite launch
opportunities
Spearheaded new memorandum of agreement between USAF Academy and the French Air
Force Academy for long-term personal exchange program
Co-inventor of EyasSAT Educational Satellite System (patent applied for). EyasSAT is a
roughly 1 foot cube satellite that enables students to gain hands-on experience with satellite
engineering. EyasSAT combines all of the primary subsystems found in a typical satellite into
and integrated package. EyasSAT is now used by every astronautics student at the USAF
Academy and his been adopted by the USAF to train senior-level space professionals. Starting
next year, NASA will also adopt EyasSAT as the standard tool for training systems engineers
across the agency.
Lecturer introductory Astronautics course
Lecturer Spacecraft Design course
Lecturer Rocket Propulsion course
CIVILIAN CAREER June 2004 Present
Director, Chief Financial Officer June 2004- Present
Essential Space Inc. (eSi),
DBA Teaching Science & Technology
Manitou Springs, CO
TSTI. is a small company offering short courses and technical consulting in space systems
engineering to NASA, DoD and industry. The company teaches approximately 80 courses per
year around the world. TSTI also provides technical instruction and consulting to the DoD
National Security Space Institute for their Space 200 and Space 300 professional courses.
President June 1998- Present
Rocket Science Solutions, Inc.
Manitou Springs, CO
Rocket Science Solutions, Inc. (RSS) is a small company offering technical consulting in space
systems engineering, research and publishing. As president of RSS, Dr. Sellers is currently:
Serving as author and co-editor of a new NASA/USAF-sponsored text book Applied Space
Systems Engineering;
Providing consulting to SpaceHab Inc. to develop a joint proposal to DARPA and the NRL for
on-orbit servicing demonstration mission;
Providing consulting to Advatech Pacific who are developing a operationally responsive
space mission modeling tool for AFRL/VS
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EDUCATION/TRAINING
BSc, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY: May 1984, Distinguished Graduate (13/1000),
Human Factors Engineering
Certified Space Shuttle Onboard Navigation Officer, Guidance Officer
MSc, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, CLEAR LAKE: May 1988, Physical Science
MSc, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, June 1990, Aeronautics/Astronautics
USAF Squadron Officer School (SOS), In-Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL, June 1991
Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF SURREY, UK, July 1996, Satellite Engineering
U.S. Air Force Air Command & Staff College (ACSC), Correspondence, Nov 1998
ESA-Certified Spacecraft Electronics Assembly Course, SSTL, UK, Jan 2000
AWARDS
Outstanding Academy Educator Award, 2003
Air Force Science and Engineering Award, top engineer in the USAF, 2003
AIAA Engineer of the Year Award, Rocky Mountain Region, 2004
PATENTS
Co-inventor, EyasSAT Educational Satellite System (www.eyassat.com). Patent Pending.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, 1st Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1994.
UoSAT and Other European Activities in Small Satellite Attitude Control, AAS 94-042,
Presented at the 17 Annual AAS Guidance and Control Conference, Keyston, CO, 2-6 February
1994.
Results of the University of Surrey On Orbit Microsatellite Experiments, Presented at the
2nd Intenational Symposium on Small Satellite Systems and Services, Biarritz, France, 27 June
1 July 1994.
A Low-Cost Propulsion System Option for Small Satellites, Journal of the British
Interplanetary Society, vol. 48., pp. 129-138, March 1995.
The Attitude and Orbit Control System for the University of Surrey Minisatellite, Presented at
the International Symposium on Space Dynamics, Toulouse, France, 19-23 June 1995.
Investigation into Low Cost Propulsion System Options for Small Satellites, Presented at the
9th Annual AIAA/USU Small Satellite Conference, Logan, Utah, September 1995.
Investigation Into Hybrid Rockets and Other Cost-Effective Propulsion System Options For
Small Satelites, Thesis submitted to the University of Surrey, UK for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy, May 1996.
Cost-Effective Spacecraft Hardware & Technology, Chapter in Reducing Space Mission Cost,
Dr. James Wertz editor, Microcosm Press, 1996.
Investigation Into Cost-Effective Propulsion System Options for Small Satellites, Journal of
Reducing Space Mission Cost, vol. 1, no. 1, 1998.
Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2000.
Spacecraft Design, Development and Operations in Just Five Hours per Week: Experience
from the USAF Academy FalconSAT Program, Presented at the ASEE Meeting, June 2001.
Small Satellite Thermal Modeling, Simulation, Analysis, and Design at USAFA: FalconSat-2
Applications, Presented at the IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 2002.
Bounding the Problem: Microsatellite Design Using Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Architecture,
Presented at the IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 2002.
Flight-Proven Nano-Satellite Architecture for Hands-On Academic Training at the US Air Force
Academy, Presented at the World Space Congress, Houston, TX, October 2002.
Building a Cadre of Space Professionals: Hands-On Space Experience at the USAF Academy,
Presented at the 1st Responsive Space Conference, Redondo Beach, CA, April 2003.
EyasSAT: Transforming the Way Students Experience Space Systems Engineering, Presented
at the ASEE Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, June 2004.
Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2005.
! EyasSAT: A Revolution in Teaching and Learning Space Systems Engineering, GT-SSEC-A.5,
Presented at Space Systems Engineering Conference, Georgia Tech, November 2005.
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PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Member, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA)
Member, AIAA Space Systems Technology Committee
Member, International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
PERSONAL
Born 25 Feb 1962, Harlan, Iowa
Married to Laurie A. Pocza
Twin sons Jaxen and Jason
Hobbies: yoga, skiing, hiking, camping, scuba diving
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