Mechanical Engineer Instrumentation

CAREER SUMMARY

• Executive Business Operations Leader with 20+ years of focused experience in

engineering and project management, leading operations, utilizing cutting-edge processes and advanced technology to drive high-percentage growth through innovation and developing critical relationships

• Lead a diverse engineering and technical team encompassing 3 departments, growing the team from 35 to 200+, overseeing design, development, operations of instrumentation systems, armament and data management at the Edwards Air Force Base, fostering a positive work environment, producing quality engineering work, and increasing business while maintaining customer satisfaction

• Manage a $40M+ annual budget, deploying numerous innovations and process improvements, including implementation of recruiting and retention techniques, technical engineering and operation improvements, increased trainingand agile project management implementation.

• Supervised engineering instrumentation operations and built the team from 5 to 35 by strategically recruiting and hiring engineers in a competitive aerospace market

• Led the design, development, and integration of a Refueling Simulation Tool

(RST) for the USAF, delivering the project with a $2M initial influential cost- savings as well as saving $300-500K every time RST is used in ongoing test programs

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

JT4 (FORMERLY JT3) – EDWARDS, CA

Director of Engineering & Operations 2015 – Current

• Lead a diverse engineering and technical team encompassing 3 departments, growing the team from 35 to 200+, overseeing design, development, operations of instrumentation systems armament, and data management at the Edwards Air Force Base, fostering a positive work environment, producing quality engineering work, and increasing business while maintaining customer satisfaction

• Managed a $40M+ budget, deploying numerous innovations and process improvements, including implementation of recruiting and retention techniques, technicalengineering and operation improvements increased training, and agile project management implementation

o These efforts resulted in $9M cost savings across 5 years and <1% variance between estimates and actuals

• Led the design, development, and integration of a Refueling Simulation Tool (RST) for the USAF, delivering the project by less than $2M to deliver influential cost-savings as well as saving $300-500K every time RST is used in ongoing test programs

• Mentored 20+ technical team members, helping to achieve top-tier leadership positions, utilizing a newly-acquired skill set of positive interpersonal communication, offering feedback, constructive criticism, and support, leading to individual and team improvement and success

• Negotiated and managed multiple multi-million-dollar subcontracts, overseeing each project from concept to delivery, strengthening relationships, and generating revenue for the organization

• Created an Employee Retention Program, identifying and compensating crucial employees, ensuring retention, and increasing employee productivity

o This retention program has been been over 98% effective in retaining highly skilled mission critical employees since its inception 5 years ago, as well as reduced turnover rate from 15% to just over 1% Chris Newman, MBA, BSME, PMP

6 6 1 . 8 1 0 . 9 4 9 5 n f r a c i n g @ y a h o o . c o m l i n k e d i n . c o m / i n / C h r i s - N e w m a n - B S M E - P M P A c t i v e T o p S e c r e t D o D C l e a r a n c e

• Engineering Leadership

• Resource Management

• Employee Growth & Retention

• Prototype Qualification & Testing

• Strategic Direction

• Continuous Improvement

• Budget Management

• Scaling High Performing Teams

• Innovation

• Product & Software Improvement

• Multi-Site Operations

• Quality Assurance

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Instrumentation Design &

Development

CORE COMPETENCIES

Instrumentation Engineering Supervisor 2012 – 2015

• Supervised engineering instrumentation operations and built the team from 5 to 35 by strategically recruiting and hiring engineers in a competitive aerospace market

• Successfully implemented a business growth model that was adopted base-wide

• Managed daily operations and missions of 20+ aircraft concurrently, responsible for daily aircraft configurations, preflight checkouts, control room and telemetry van setups, data collection, analysis, and storage

• Oversaw Quick Reaction Instrumentation Package (QRIP) development for the F-35, eliminating the need for a bulky legacy data pod, and reducing the data collection instrument from 1,200 pounds to a 12-pound device

• Created Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the F-35 operational test team that met cyber security requirements and compliance with flight line and aircraft Air Force Instruction (AFI)

• Provided vital technical leadership on systems including 1553 Bus data, telemetry, PCM streams high-speed video, fiber optics transmission, and controls, producing quality products while leading other engineers

• Developed a training and tracking program for all new engineers and technicians ensuring technical competency, QA, and safety compliance

Senior Mechanical / Instrumentation Engineer 2002 – 2012

• Impactful in design and analysis for airborne and ground instrumentation systems, including sensors, cameras, and various indicators, testing these systems and recording aircraft performance, providing valuable performance data to the test team, ensuring quality and proper function of the aircraft, providing an increase in aircraft capabilities

• Performed complex instrumentation engineering tasks, designing, and leading implementation of a high-speed, high- resolution aircraft weapon camera and telemetry system, upgrading engines on B-52’s, providing tools and methods of collecting, transmitting, and analyzing data

• Spearheaded the B-1, B-2, and B-52 mobile target test team for 8 years contributing to increasing the accuracy of tracking and weapon system delivery for all 3 aircraft platforms

• Led the research, development, and design and implementation of a new B-1 Defensive data acquisition system that is still in use today

• Designed and built a new instrumentation laboratory where aircraft equipment could be developed, upgraded, integrated, and tested in a simulated aircraft environment prior to being installed on an aircraft ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

TRICON / TACO BELL 2000 (9 MONTHS)

Mechanical Engineer Intern

• Focused on designing and testing electro mechanical equipment to automate food service processes to increase consistency and product delivery speed

• During internship, designed 2 proprietary pieces of equipment that sped up order delivery by nearly 30 seconds each, resulting the equipment rolling out to 7K+ Taco Bell restaurants EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS/AFFILIATIONS

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY – MBA

CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY – BS, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (PMI): PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL (PMP) CERTIFICATION AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

MEMBER & TECHNICAL CHAIR FOR INTERNATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION ASSOCIATION (ITEA) TAU BETA PI, ENGINEERING HONOR SOCIETY

GOLDEN KEY HONOR SOCIETY

NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION (NHRA)

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