http://mikesnead.net: Experience



President and founder of the Spacefaring Institute LLC

Author of the Spacefaring America blog

Education

University of Cincinnati, BS (Aerospace Engineering)

Air Force Institute of Technology, MS (Aerospace Engineering)

Relevant training

Defense Systems Management College, Advanced Program Management Course (in-residence)

Facilitator training

Joel Barker's Implications Wheel (TM) / Strategy Matrix (TM) ("Trainer" training)

Professional activities

Registered professional engineer (Aerospace; Ohio)

Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Past chair and current member, Space Logistics Technical Committee, AIAA

Employment experience (primary responsibilities, starting with the most recent)

Current status: Aerospace engineering consultant focusing on:

Near-future space infrastructure development including ethical human spaceflight

Energy needs and sustainable energy solutions including space solar power (SSP)

Advanced subsonic multi-mission aircraft (tanker/airlifter/air power platform)

Nuclear physics research (neutron applications)

United States Air Force (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH) (1970-2007)

Lead, Agile Combat Support, Aeronautical Systems Branch, Air Systems Division, Plans and Programs Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/XPAS) (2004-2007)

Focused on innovative near-future capabilities for improved air and space agile combat support responsive to stated Air Force mission needs (Agile Combat Support Concept of Operations [CONOPS], Global Mobility CONOPS, Operationally Responsive Spacelift Mission Need Statement). See below for relevant publications.

Developed the second version of the Configurable Air Transport (CAT) concept

Provided requested study of near-future integrated space infrastructure capabilities to the National Security Space Organization's Architecture Division

Modeling and Analysis Division, Plans and Programs Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/XPZ) (1998-2004)

Created, initiated and managed the first Air Force Technology Seminar Game (TSG): a futures wargaming activity providing support to AF/XP with a catalog of technology-enabled future warfighting concepts tailored to the new and evolving warfighting challenges of the 2015-2025 time period. The first AF TSG was conducted in 2000-2001, involved approximately 100 technical and operation experts from across the services and industry. The AF TSG was overseen by a senior steering group led by the Air Force Chief Scientist. The principle product was a catalog of 60+ concepts for use in developing "toolboxes" of concepts to play in futures wargames.

Initiated concept development for an integrated near-future space infrastructure providing:

Assured space access using near-term, fully-reusable space access systems

In-space logistics support facilities and services

In-space mobility for passengers and cargo transport throughout the Earth-Moon system

Updated the CAT concept

Directorate of Science & Technology, HQ Air Force Materiel Command (HQ AFMC/ST) (1992-1998)

Provided staff oversight/review of Air Force science and technology (S&T) 6.2 and 6.3 research programs related to space technology

Technical consultant to the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization's (BMDO) Delta Clipper single-stage rocket technology program demonstration flight vehicle

Participant in the NASA X-33 Phase I source selection in the areas of materials and structures

Supported AFMC futures wargaming activities

Invited participant to the first and second series of Office of the Secretary of Defense's Office of Net Assessment space wargames

Organized AFMC participation in the Joint Air Force Space Command - AFMC Military Spaceplane Integrated Concept Team

Deputy chair, Systems and Technology Panel, that provided all AFMC HQ, product center, and laboratory inputs to the team

A principal author of the Military Spaceplane Systems Requirements Document with focus on systems integrity and performance

Developed the first version of the CAT concept; presented to a technology review panel of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board

Lead Structures Engineer, Structures Division, Deputy for Engineering, Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD/ENFS) (1989-1992)

Editor for the update to the Air Force Structures "MIL-PRIME" guidance specification used for all Air Force aircraft development programs

Led the incorporation of lessons-learned from the National Aerospace Plane into this specification in order to directly address the unique systems engineering structures design requirements for reusable space access systems

Name-requested consultant to the BMDO Delta Clipper single-stage rocket technology program

Provided structures/materials support from the beginning of flight vehicle design through the initial flight test program

Member of the DC-X flight readiness review team; present for the first two DC-X flights

One of the principal authors of the Technical Readiness Document (TRD) used for DC-Y conceptual design trade studies; especially with respect to inserting tailored aircraft-like system safety and performance requirements

Lead structures engineer on the first flight Executive Independent Review Team for the YF-22 and YF-23 Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) demonstration aircraft

Lead structures engineer on the independent cost analysis team for the ATF development source selection

Chair, ASD/EN Total Quality Management Team

Chief Flight Systems Engineer (Phase I) / Lead Structures Engineer (Phase II), Systems Engineering, National Aerospace Plane Joint Program Office (NASP JPO/EN) (1986-1989)

Managed small collocated team of ASD/EN engineers during the Phase I concept evaluations and early Phase II technology development

Primary focus was on establishing systems engineering requirements appropriate for the NASP fully-reusable space access system configurations

Initiated and ran a small, year-long, in-house conceptual design team evaluating an air collection and enrichment, combined air-breathing and rocket propulsion system as an alternative to the baseline multi-mode airbreathing system for the NASP

Project Engineer, Transatmospheric Vehicle (TAV) Project Office, Deputy for Development Planning, Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD/XR) (1984-1986)

Sole collocated ASD/EN engineer

Reported directly to the ASD/EN Technical Director for the TAV project and pre-NASP program activities.

Responsible for engineering and laboratory support for TAV concept and mission application analyses

Organized, established the criteria for, led, and reported results to the of the TAV technology readiness evaluation to the ASD Commander

Responsible for organizing and running the "business aspects" of the NASP Phase I Source Selection (airframe and engine contractors)

Authored significant sections of the specific technology development tasks in the NASP Phase I Statement of Work

Strength Branch, Structures Division, Deputy for Engineering, Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD/ENFSS) (1974-1984)

Provided engineering support for: F-4, F-5, T-38, B1-A crew module, F-15, F-16, C-141 (direct design and analysis support of test modifications), TR-1 (first flight Executive Independent Review Team), Pave Low III rescue helicopter prototype design and fabrication (direct design/analysis support), Big Safari, Pave Penny, F-4 and F-111 Pave Tack target designation pod installation (direct design, analysis, and ground and flight test support), LANTIRN target/navigation pods, ECM pods, first Advanced Cruise Missile concept source selection, first Advanced Tactical Fighter concept selection, ACES II ejection seat, E-4, and AWACS

Aerospace engineering "co-op" student (1970-1973)

Awards and Recognition

Outstanding Achievement for Excellence in Research, Air Force Institute of Technology

Outstanding Achievement for Excellence in Academics, Air Force Institute of Technology

Outstanding Achievement for Scoring the Highest Grade in the Professional Engineering Examination, Aeronautical/Aerospace Section, The Ohio Society of Professional Engineers

Distinguished graduate, Advanced Program Management Course, Defense Systems Management College

Best Paper, "Achieving Mastery of Space Operations by Transforming Space Logistics," Logistics Spectrum, Journal of the International Society of Logistics, 2005

Key publications (See the resources pages for a complete list)

The End of Easy Energy and What to Do About It

Spacefaring Logistics Infrastructure: The Foundation of a Spacefaring America AstroPolitics 6-1, March 2008.

"A Space Logistics Infrastructure for the Near Term," Aerospace America, AIAA, October 2006

"Cost Estimates of Near-Term, Fully-Reusable Space Access Systems," AIAA Space 2006 Conference

"Achieving Near-term, Aircraft-like Reusable Space Access," AIAA Space 2006 Conference

"Technically-achievable, Near-Term Space Logistics," February 2006

"Configurable Air Transport," AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting 2005

"Near-term Manned Space Logistics Operations," Air and Space Power Journal Chronicles, Winter 2005

"Achieving Mastery of Space Operations by Transforming Space Logistics," Logistics Spectrum, International Society of Logistics, January-March 2005

"Global Air Mobility and Persistent Airpower Operations," Air and Space Power Journal, Fall 2004

"Architecting Rapid Growth in Space Logistics Capabilities," AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference 2004

Configurable Air Transport video

Space solar power video

Past Organizational activities

Reorganized the AIAA Space Logistics Technical Committee (2003-2004)

Co-founder "Creativity 80's"

Co-founder Miami Valley Alternate Energy Association (1974-1980)


© 2012 James M. Snead. All rights reserved.