Resume of Steven L. Gordon
GordonSL@gmail.com
 

 Formal Education

Professional Summary

·   10+ years of demonstrated leadership of diverse groups of up to 170 engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel.

·   Expert level Systems Engineering experience, with specialty in NASA manned space flight requirements interpretation and implementation including design review process procedures.

·   Technical background in Space Shuttle integrated test and launch activities, with specialization in fluid systems, both hydraulic and hypergolic.

·   Have held numerous non-supervisory, matrix organization leadership roles as Flight and Ground hardware Change Control Board Chair, Post Flight Assessment Team Chair, Standing Accident Investigation Team Chair, Chairman of numerous Anomaly Investigation Teams, Material Review Board Chair, and Booster Launch Operations Center Lead for Space Shuttle Launch activities.

·   Specializes in investigation of accidents, and hardware anomalies.  Certified Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt.

·   Have developed systems, processes, and business procedures to help organizations successfully obtain ISO9001, AS9100, and OSHA VPP Star certifications.

·   Demonstrated communication ability, including Level I Flight Readiness Review presentations of technical design changes and anomalies to large groups of NASA and aerospace industry leaders.

Employment

Responsibility: Responsible for directing, planning, and organizing the Engineering, Science, and Technical Services (ESTS) Group Propulsion Systems directorate consisting of approximately 145 employees. Uses technical expertise to provide guidance, input, review, and assistance to employees on technical tasks within the Directorate. Assists in overall operations of the department, develops and implements plans, determines personnel requirements, recruits and assigns personnel, tracks and evaluates results. Provides employee counseling, complies with EEO/AA programs, and makes personnel related recommendations. Prepares resource estimates, allocates and controls resource utilization, and complies with budget limitations. Serves on the ESTS contract Executive Steering Committee and Configuration Control Board. Develops, coordinates, and implements Jacobs Technology and ESTS Group policies and procedures. Supports and implements Company and Group management initiatives. Supports business development activities of the Company, Group, and customer.  Implements, and assures compliance with, ESTS management, safety, and housekeeping standards. Reports to Director, Jacobs ESTS Group Propulsion Systems.

Administrative Responsibility: Provide leadership for diverse group of engineers and scientists from Jacobs, seven team mate companies, specialty sub-contractors and independent consultants.  Duties include preparation of Task Order Plans, Statements of Work, Purchase Orders, Monthly Activity Reports, Monthly Financial Statements, recruiting, performance appraisals, timecard and travel approval, and customer communication.  Overall responsibility for budget and schedule of 25 employees.  Reports to the Director, Jacobs ESTS Group Propulsion Systems.

Technical Responsibility: Provide technical support for Space Shuttle, Ares I, and Ares V Reusable Solid Rocket Booster (RSRB) Projects.  Provide support to requirements definition and flow down.  Provide engineering support required for development and integration of the elements and components to meet the safety, technical, and program cost and schedule objectives of the overall systems.  Coordinate among the appropriate MSFC engineering disciplines to conduct independent assessments necessary to effectively evaluate motor systems.  Support the evaluation of systems program risks and provide recommendations for risk mitigation.  Provide assessments of designs, including impacts of changes to systems performance, identification of the technical risks associated with the design, and identification of any safety concerns regarding the design.  Provide support for trade studies and issue resolution.  Support the development of system, element and component level test plans, and their execution.  Develop interface requirements and provide planning to support booster and motor manufacturing and subsequent integration.  Support Space Shuttle Launch Countdown and post flight assessment for the RSRB hardware and systems.

Responsibility: Manager of Systems Engineering which includes the Mechanical & Pyrotechnic Systems, Flight Systems Assessment and Electrical & Control Systems departments.  Overall responsibility for personnel, budget and schedule for 35 employees.  Responsibility also includes Booster Launch Operations Center (BLOC) manager, manager of SRB Post Flight Assessment Team, Design Engineering representative on the Change Control Board, Material Review Board Chair, Primary Level I Flight Readiness Review (FRR) presenter and Chairman of a corporate level Standing Accident Investigation Board.  Reports to the Director, SRB Design Engineering.

Responsibility: Support the SRB Chief Engineer’s Office by leading, supporting and coordinating the resolution of technical issues.  Responsibility includes Chairman of the SRB Change Control Board, Chairman of the Anomaly Resolution Panel and Material Review Board Chair.  Reports to the SRB Chief Engineer.

Responsibility: Responsible for the technical and administrative direction of the Flight Systems Assessment group.  Provides technical direction in the assessment of SRB design changes, non-conformances and technical issues in support of Certification of Flight Readiness (CoFR).  Manage the planning and scheduling of CoFR reviews in support of Flight Readiness milestones.  Manage the preparation of FRR presentations and ensure sufficient detail is provided for Senior NASA and USA management to make decisions on Space Shuttle launch readiness.  Deliver oral FRR presentations to Senior NASA and USA management in support of the CoFR process.  Assist the SRB Chief Engineer by leading, supporting and/or coordinating the resolution of technical issues.  Other duties include Chairman of the SRB Change Review Board and Material Review Board Chair.  Reports to the SRB Chief Engineer.

Responsibility: Design Engineer for the Space Shuttle SRB Thrust Vector Control (TVC) System.  Assigned flight system components include; fuel isolation valve, hydraulic manual shutoff valve, hydraulic accumulators, hydraulic and fuel quick disconnects, exhaust ducts, and hydraulic pressure blocks.  Responsible for all engineering aspects of these components, and associated ground support equipment, throughout their life cycle.  Also involved in any other test, launch, and post flight troubleshooting activities involving the SRB TVC system.

Responsibility: Same as listed above.  Contract transitioned to United Space Alliance.

Responsibility:  Ensure that the SRBs are assembled, tested and launched in accordance with the specification and engineering drawing requirements.  Primary system responsibility is SRB TVC.  Responsible for all aspects of servicing, testing and operation for this flight hydraulic system.  This includes ground test software review, Prime Material Review Board, design review, real time operations support, anomaly resolution, and firing room duties during integrated testing and launch.  Also responsible for monitoring Electrical, Instrumentation, Range Safety, and Data Processing Systems during integrated test.

Responsibility:  Prime Quality Engineer for the structural integrity and production of the SRB forward assemblies, attach struts and pyrotechnic components.  This includes assembly operations, anomaly resolution, special testing, work document preparation and FMEA/CIL preparation.

Continuing Education

• Hydraulic Circuits and Servo Systems – University of Wisconsin
• Fundamentals of Electromechanical Actuation – University of Wisconsin
• Fundamentals of Applied Hydraulics – University of Wisconsin
• Effective Communication Skills – National Management Association
• NMA Leadership Model – National Management Association
• Nondestructive Testing for Management – Hellier Institute
• Proposal Writing and Management – Shipley Associates
• Management Skills for the New or Prospective Manager – Skillpath
• Effective Leadership  – United Space Alliance
• Presentation Skills for Project Managers – University of Florida
• Hands On Hydraulics – National Technology Transfer
• Integrated Production Control System Workshop – United Technologies
• Space Transportation System (STS) Pyrotechnic Devices-OS301LSC – KSC NASA
• STS Range Safety System-OS300LSC – KSC NASA
• Orbiter Data Process System Familiarization-OV262LSC – NASA
• Orbiter Electrical Power Distribution & Control Familiarization-OV259USA – NASA
• KSC Test Conductor Qualification and Firing Room Discipline-OV246LSC – NASA
• Launch Processing System (LPS) Familiarization-OV331LSC – NASA
• LPS Data Retrieval-OV335LSC – NASA
• Operational Intercom System (OIS) Digital Operator-QG227LSC – NASA
• Ground Oriented Aerospace Language (GOAL) Orientation-OV232LSC – NASA
• Checkout, Control, and Monitoring System (CCMS) Console Operator Familiarization-OV334LSC – NASA
• FRR Presentation Training – United Space Alliance Training Academy
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training – United Space Alliance/The George Group
• Mishap Investigation Training – Florida Safety Council
• Cognitive Interviewing Techniques – Florida International University, Dept. of Psychology
• Solid Rocket Motor Internal Ballistics – NASA/ATK Space Systems
• Jacobs Leadership Course – Jacobs Technology Inc.
• NASA Root Cause Analysis – NASA Headquarters
• Federal Contract Management Essentials Certificate– University of Alabama Huntsville

Notes

• Recipient of NASA Astronaut’s Personal Achievement Award, “Silver Snoopy,” March 1998.
• Member of Space Shuttle Launch Management Team
• Computer programming language familiarity includes Basic, FORTRAN, GOAL, C, C++, and raw HTML.
• Can create 2D drawings and 3D models of components and assemblies using Pro/Engineer Wildfire and Microstation Computer Aided Design (CAD) software applications.
• Can perform detailed statistical analysis of data sets using Minitab software.
• Comprehensive experience with all Microsoft Office Premium applications.
• Extensive experience in blueprint and specification derivation, interpretation, incorporation, and creation, including manned space flight rating requirements.
• Previously held US Department of Defense Secret Clearance.
• Certified Engineer Intern by the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt – The George Group
• Jacobs Technology Leadership Development Program Graduate, Class of 2009

steve(at)gordonsl.com