Professional Engineer in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

C. A. NAVARRO, MSME, PE (NM Professional Engineer License #10832)

PO Box 1125, Cedar Crest, NM 87008 505-***-**** *******@*****.***

Objective – “Administrative, Technical, or Mentoring Leadership Role”

U.S. Army veteran, licensed Professional Engineer, and aerospace technical leader with more than 40 years of experience across engineering, aerospace, and nuclear programs. Seeking a leadership role focused on mentoring teams, strengthening morale, and improving enterprise productivity.

Has led engineering organizations and complex programs as a Director, Chief Engineer, Structures Manager, Deputy Program Manager, and subject-matter expert. Brings experience from both direct-employment and self-employment, with a career-long commitment to professional growth, challenging assignments, collaboration, and clear technical communication.

Primary technical expertise includes structural substantiation of aircraft and spacecraft components using ANSYS FEA and testing. Most recently, supervised 13 engineers and technicians conducting structural tests on the Reaper and other General Atomics unmanned aircraft systems, helping improve test execution in support of the warfighter.

Security: Active Top Secret clearance; prior SCI access; continuous evaluation through 2029.

Education

MSME 1993 PURDUE UNIVERSITY, W. LAFAYETTE, IN.

·Major: Mechanical Design / Mechanics in Graduate Mechanical Engineering School

- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering studies – Damage tolerance / fatigue / fracture.

oLaboratory materials testing under cryogenic conditions.

-Civil Engineering studies – FEA / laboratory techniques in construction.

oThesis Research: Constructive metallic fatigue and LEFM fracture strategies.

oNSF $90K fellowship / Purdue $60K fellowship.

BSME 1983 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, ALBUQUERQUE, NM

·Major: Mechanical and Machine Design

·Minor: Business Studies, Anderson School of Management.

·College Co-Op Experience: Sandia National Labs and Houston Lighting and Power.

U. OF ALABAMA, DISTANCE ENGR. DOCTORATE PROGRAM 2017 - PRESENT

Prior enrollment in a distance-learning Ph.D. program focused on aerospace engineering, with coursework supporting U.S. space-hardware missions. Completed studies in conceptual aircraft and airfoil design and compressible fluid flow; while pursuing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies.

Area of interest: Hypersonic flight sciences, requiring broad expertise in aerodynamics and mechanical engineering.

Developed some skills in ANSYS Fluent CFD, XFOIL, and numerical CFD methods and schemes.

Refreshed FORTRAN 77 programming skills and developed new MATLAB skills.

Completed Dr. Daniel Raymer’s independent summer course in Conceptual Aircraft Design in Redondo Beach, California (2017).

MILITARY SCHOOL -- RADAR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL US ARMY, FT. RUCKER, AL.

·Combat ATC and airport-GCA services in Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia.

·NCO Academy (Honor-Graduate - Primary Leadership School, Ft Bragg, NC).

Continuing Education -

Management: SBA executive-level training; CEO- and president-level management; business development; cost-plus accounting.

Security: Department of Defense Facility Security Officer (FSO) training and related on-the-job experience.

Leadership: Experience as president, program manager, director, chief engineer, structures manager, and U.S. Army noncommissioned officer (NCO).

Software: Microsoft Project; ANSYS/APDL (MAPDL and Workbench); SolidWorks; CATIA V5; FORTRAN 77; MATLAB; ANSYS Fluent.

Hardware and Systems: Windows, Apple/iOS, and UNIX/Linux environments; server deployment and management.

Engineering: Advanced mathematics; mechanism design; finite element analysis (FEA); linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM); stress and thermal analysis; composite laminates; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); landing gear; conceptual aircraft design; production, manufacturing, assembly, and repair; training and mentoring.

Aerospace: Licensed private pilot and participated in FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) and ODA-UM training. Aircraft certification training covering 14 CFR Parts 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29.

Standards and Protocols: Broad knowledge of mechanical, aerospace, and civil engineering standards and protocols.

Reliability and Configuration Management: Familiar with reliability, configuration, and change-management processes, including Failure Review, Material Review, Corrective Review, and Product Review Boards.

Management Core Competencies

Mentors and develops teams to strengthen morale, performance, and productivity.

Communicates complex technical and program issues clearly to executive audiences through compelling presentations, visual storytelling, and persuasive recommendations.

Influences stakeholders at all levels—with or without direct authority—while moving effectively between strategic leadership and hands-on execution.

Builds alignment around execution plans by clearly defining challenges, opportunities, and desired outcomes.

Applies strategic, creative problem-solving in complex, matrixed organizations.

Drives cross-functional initiatives independently in fast-paced environments and builds consensus among stakeholders.

Establishes trust, credibility, and strong partnerships across organizations to deliver complex programs.

Defines key performance indicators (KPIs) to track execution and measure program outcomes.

Develops and maintains project plans, serving as a dependable source of truth for stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

Leads technical teams and revenue-generating consulting programs from planning through delivery.

Technical Core Competencies

1.Structural Stress Analysis: Expert-level experience conducting structural stress analysis with ANSYS Mechanical and APDL to establish margins of safety. Highly proficient in MAPDL and Workbench for coupled thermal, aerodynamic, and dynamic analyses. Experienced in developing test plans and conducting laboratory tests to correlate analytical models.

2.Engineering and Program Leadership: Directorate- and program-level leadership experience, supported by project-management tools and methods.

3.Business Development: Technical business development experience as an independent consultant and engineering entrepreneur.

4.Systems and Design Engineering: Background in systems engineering, technical liaison, structural analysis and testing, and mechanical design.

5.Emerging Technical Skills: Developing proficiency in ANSYS Fluent for CFD analysis of high-temperature and compressible flows, as well as in artificial intelligence and Python programming.

6.Industry and Mission Environments: Experience across space and aerospace engineering, nuclear weapons and facilities, mechanical design and manufacturing, and hardware assembly, integration, and test.

7.Hands-On Fabrication: Broad practical experience with automotive projects, machine-shop work, and fabrication.

Experience –

STRUCTURAL TEST SUPERVISOR GENERAL ATOMICS

Adelanto, CA 2026

Supervised structural test engineers and technicians conducting structural-integrity testing on the Reaper and other unmanned aircraft systems, including the Harland and Mojave STOL programs. Test programs primarily focused on fuselages, wings, and tails.

Prioritized coaching and empowering team members to strengthen their own work. Through daily mentorship, consistent communication, and respect for the people performing the tests, helped improve team morale and the working environment.

Held recurring one-on-one meetings with employees.

Prepared monthly status reports and coordinated staffing with upcoming program needs.

Participated in in-person and Microsoft Teams meetings.

Reviewed and approved time sheets, telework requests, and vacation requests.

Identified ways to manage increasing workloads with limited staffing.

Typically arrived between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. to support the team and daily operations.

Maintained an active Top Secret clearance. Considered the Adelanto role one of the most rewarding of my career; departed when the job assignment changed to include activities not focused on team supervision.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SME and Contingent Chief Engineer ENSCO

Albuquerque Office 2025

Briefly supported the Los Angeles office in identifying contract opportunities at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Maintained an active Top Secret clearance and had previously held SCI access. Departed after determining that the anticipated contingent Chief Engineer role would not materialize.

SETA CONTRACTOR, PROGRAM OFFICE SUPPORT U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE RAPID CAPABILITIES OFFICE (Space RCO)

Kirtland Air Force Base, NM November 2020–February 2024

Recruited from the former Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) organization to support four Space RCO programs that ultimately fielded on-orbit space vehicles in support of national missions. Provided systems-engineering and acquisition support, including vendor engagement and coordination.

Served as Launch Integration Lead across assigned programs, planning and executing Early Integration Studies (EIS) and coordinating activities to inform the Mission Assignment Board (MAB).

Coordinated with mission partners and Launch Service Integration Contractors (LSICs) to advance program objectives while safeguarding operational security and program information.

Served as Peterson AFB Building 1 Liaison for the Operational Integration and Mission Delivery (OIMD) program, coordinating with stakeholders to reduce Force Element Generation (FEG) risk and support development of the Operational Acceptance Plan (OAP) and its criteria.

In later assignments, aligned host launch-vehicle and payload requirements and served as Deputy Program Manager supporting delivery of cryptographic hardware.

Traveled extensively from Kirtland AFB to vendor and program-office locations nationwide and to Space Force bases; also provided SETA support for mission-essential meetings at military facilities in Hawaii.

Coordinated acquisition, launch-integration, testing, and program-management deliverables, including design reviews.

Performed the work in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) and held an active TS/SCI clearance. Valued the opportunity to contribute to national-security missions in partnership with dedicated mission teams.

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING U.S. AIR FORCE, SMC/ADSS

Kirtland Air Force Base, NM February 2018–October 2020

Provided systems-engineering support to a Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) contractor on the USAF/USSF LDPE-1 and other internal space-vehicle programs. Supported the integration of two CubeSats and additional rideshare payloads with primary military satellite missions, including Do No Harm (DNH), mission assurance, and operational and flight-safety activities.

Represented the government during space-vehicle integration and operational testing at vendor facilities, including fit checks, vibration testing, and thermal-vacuum testing.

Contributed to interface control documents (ICDs) and safety-related documentation.

Developed a high-fidelity ANSYS finite element model and APDL code for an LDPE-1 variant, enabling standalone prestressed modal analysis and other Craig–Bampton structural-dynamics analyses.

PROGRAM MANAGER FIREFLY SPACE SYSTEMS

Austin, TX February–July 2016

Joined the early-stage CubeSat and launch-vehicle company as a direct employee and served in several leadership roles during a six-month assignment:

Acting Structures Chief for the Alpha rocket.

Deputy and Acting Program Manager for the Gamma 2.0 program.

First Program Manager for the Air Launch Systems (ALS) program.

Partnered with systems engineering to compile Level 2 design requirements and develop formal spacecraft design guidance. The ALS program focused on a reusable, winged, air-launched hypersonic vehicle designed to deliver CubeSats. Mentored with ANSYS-FEA.

Accepted severance after the program was sold to foreign investors. The company ceased operations about a month later, before the vehicle development was realized.

ODA STRUCTURAL UNIT MEMBER CANDIDATE DASSAULT FALCON JET

March 2011–March 2012

Completed seven months of training in the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) Certification Department, then transferred to the Stress Department for six months due to limited certification workload. Trained in CATIA V5 and ELFINI to support structural substantiation of business-jet interiors, using CATIA V5 to extract model data for finite element analysis.

Brought prior experience with SolidWorks, which I had purchased and used since 1998. Resigned after one year when certification work remained limited and no U.S.-registered aircraft were in the production queue.

STRUCTURES MANAGER ERICKSON AIR-CRANE

2010

Led a turnaround of a challenging maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operation following the firing of previous manager. Managed 12 employees and two DER consultants responsible for a substantial backlog of prioritized structural-substantiation and systems-engineering work supporting the S-64E and S-64F Air Crane helicopters. Mentored with ANSYS-FEA.

Addressed low morale and excessive unpaid overtime by capping overtime at five hours per employee and eliminating most weekend work. These changes helped improve morale and refocus the team on timely, effective delivery.

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AEROSPACE COATINGS INTERNATIONAL

2009–2010

Hired as the senior engineering leader at an FAA-certificated aircraft parts repair station. Strengthened the engineering department and mentored early-career engineers in reverse engineering, advanced hand calculations, and ANSYS finite element analysis (FEA).

Developed employees’ technical and leadership capabilities while supporting structural repairs and validation testing. Supported repair programs for pneumatic and hydraulic control components and landing-gear hardware for commercial airline customers. Also contributed to development of the company’s Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) product line.

SENIOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AEROJET

February 2001–March 2002

Served as the sole structural engineer supporting the TOW Fire-and-Forget weapon system and provided structural-analysis support for NET-Fires rocket-motor development. Designed aft-closure profiles for the NET-Fires and boost-sustain rocket motors using high-fidelity 2D and 3D ANSYS finite element models. Developed advanced 2D simulations to analyze lockwire and joint interactions under load.

Also managed and conducted forensic engineering investigations into two significant explosives-manufacturing failures. Served with ANSYS-FEA and completed formal training in PATRAN, NASTRAN, and LS-DYNA.

STAFF MEMBER LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY

1984–1990

Worked in a machine-design and product-development group supporting design, analysis, instrumentation, and machine-shop operations. Designed an X-ray telescope for the Space Shuttle and developed test and validation hardware for defense, energy, and environmental projects, including applications involving weapons systems, oil-field operations, and nuclear and chemical processes.

Applied finite element analysis and ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Sections III and VIII to the design of pressure-related nuclear-vessel components. Led small teams of technicians, designers, and engineers to deliver products on schedule and within budget. Completed training in project-management methods and software.

RELIABILITY ENGINEER McDonnell DOUGLAS CORPORATION

1983–1984

Supported defense programs involving the C-17 aircraft, the Mast-Mounted Sight (MMS) weapon system, and electronic components. Evaluated designs using classical hand calculations and recommended mechanical-design modifications to improve reliability.

U.S. ARMY RADAR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER 1975 – 1982.

SSG (E-6)

Eight years of service: three years active duty and five years in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant (E-6).

Stationed as Radar Air Traffic Controller at Simmon AAF during active duty. Served as Radar ATC Instructor at Ft Rucker school during summer months from college.

Recognized with multiple achievement awards, including NCO Academy Distinguished Graduate, Soldier of the Year, and the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

Named Honorary ATC Instructor as a Reservist – a first for that school. Attended the Soldier of the Year reception in Washington, D.C., where I had the privilege of meeting General of the Army Omar Bradley.

Other Self-Employment Experience –

ANALYTICAN FEA, INC. (AFEA) 1992–Present

Chief Executive Chief Engineer Program Manager

Lead a family-owned, team-based engineering consultancy providing design and analysis services using SolidWorks and ANSYS FEA to secure and manage multidisciplinary contracts across aerospace, defense, nuclear, manufacturing, civil infrastructure, testing, and applied research.

Project experience includes conventional, unmanned, and special-mission aircraft; spacecraft and launch vehicles; satellites; weapon systems; manufacturing and production operations; machine shops; nuclear facilities; civil infrastructure; validation testing; and applied research. Successfully completed a five-year government prime contract providing civil and sanitary infrastructure drafting services for New Mexico Pueblos.

Focus on mission delivery, business development, and proposal development. Supported numerous projects serving the U.S. warfighter and the nation’s engineering infrastructure.

Selected Independent, Corp-to-Corp, and Prime-Contractor W-2 Assignments – primarily ANSYS based support:

Senior Project Contractor, Military UAS/UAV Airframe Insitu October 2016–April 2017

Landing-Gear Stress and Design Contractor U.S. Air Force, Hill AFB November 2014–November 2015

Aircraft Power-Supply Stress and Design Contractor Esterline Power Systems 2014

Nuclear Containment Structural Stress Contractor Westinghouse Nuclear 2013

Nuclear Containment Structural Stress Contractor AREVA Nuclear 2012–2013

Special-Mission Aircraft Structural Stress and Airworthiness Contractor 3S Consulting 2012

Helicopter Structural Stress Contractor Bell Helicopter Repair Stations, TN March 2008–March 2009

Supplied Labor Contractor Honeywell Defense and Space, Glendale, AZ October 2008–September 2010

Rocket Radome Analysis and Testing NAVSEA, White Sands Missile Range, NM 2006

Airworthiness Analyst Contractor NASA, Wallops Island, VA

Chief Engineer, Flight Operations Contractor RAM, Inc., El Paso, TX

oProvided hangar and flight-line engineering support for a fleet of foreign military aircraft.

Rocket Structural Engineer Contractor Orbital Sciences Corporation, Chandler, AZ

oRecognized for resolving a fin-actuator shortcoming that contributed to the Mach 7 and Mach 10 Hyper-X flight successes – two years support.

Offshore Oil-Platform Structural Stress Contractor SBM Imodco, Houston, TX

Stress Analyst Contractor Belcan Engineering 1997–1999

oSupported Pratt & Whitney in West Palm Beach, FL, and AlliedSignal Aerospace in Phoenix, AZ.

Stress Analyst Contractor Sundstrand Aerospace, Rockford, IL 1997

Stress Analyst Contractor AlliedSignal Aerospace, Phoenix, AZ, and Taichung, Taiwan 1996–1997

Stress Analyst Contractor GE Aircraft Engine Company, OH 1996

Stress Analyst/Design Engineer Contractor GE Power Generation, NY 1995

Stress Analyst/Design Engineer Contractor Lockheed Martin, Pittsfield, MA 1996

Nuclear Facilities/Design Engineer Contractor Los Alamos National Laboratory 1994–1995

oReceived the LANL Distinguished Performance Award for contributions to development of the new tritium “SALT” facility.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Active member of PACA – Professional Aerospace Contractors Association.

Married to Martha -- high school sweetheart; father of three and grandfather of four.

Two of our children are attorneys, two are U.S. Air Force officers, one is a USAF JAG officer, and one is a USAF combat veteran.

Professional Engineer: Licensed in New Mexico, License No. 10832; issued July 5, 1989.

Holds a private pilot certificate and an FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) certificate earned through U.S. Army air traffic control training.

Enjoys performance BMWs, Valkyrie motorcycles, and photographing bald eagles, other raptors, bears, and wildlife.

Lives in the Sandia Mountains and enjoys mountain-centered living.

Alabama football fan: “Roll Tide Roll!”

Classic rock fan, from Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones to Bob Seger and AC/DC.

Professional references and additional details available upon request.

GPT-6 Luna

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