Hello, I'm Steve.
Beginning as an Aviation Mechanic (AM) in the U.S. Navy, I successfully leveraged the training and experience I gained to earn an FAA Airframe and Power Plant (A&P) license. I began my civilian career working in the emerging regional airline industry as an aircraft mechanic. Over the course of eight years, he worked for four airlines, progressing from mechanic helper to Director of Quality Assurance. My aerospace career began with Lockheed Space Operations Co. at Vandenburg AFB, CA and culminated nearly 30 years later at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Initially working as an inspector in the Launch Control Center, I then transferred to the Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPFs), working as a Shuttle Systems Inspector, Lead Inspector, Quality Engineer, QA Manager and ultimately, Technical Operations Specialist, overseeing the development of inspection processes for specific applications within the Space Shuttle program. I hold an Associates degree in Quality Technology/Metrology, a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics with a minor in Aviation Safety and an Master’s degree in Technical Management. In addition to an A&P license, before my retirement from the Kennedy Space Center, I held professional certifications as Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Level III; Lean 6 Sigma Black Belt, SpaceTEC Certified Aerospace Technician, CertTEC Composites and CertTEC Aircraft Structures certifications. I also established the KSC Visual Testing Inspection Training and Certification program, aligned to the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (NDT). Over the course of seven years, the program trained more than 600 inspectors, engineers and scientists in visual inspection techniques and certified nearly 250 inspectors responsible for accepting space hardware for human spaceflight to NDT Level 2 in Visual Testing (VT). I also worked as a certified Incident and Accident investigator and throughout my career I led or participated in many incident and accident investigations and process improvement efforts. After retirement of the Space Shuttle program in late 2011, I joined the SpaceTEC National Science Foundation (NSF) National Resource Center for Aerospace Technological Education as Program Manager. In 2014 I assumed the role of Principal Investigator (PI) and Managing Director, with a dual role as Executive Director of nonprofit SpaceTEC Partners, Inc. I currently manage day-to-day operations, supporting workforce development initiatives, military, government, and industry partners; and serve as fiscal agent for the Space Coast Consortium Apprenticeship Program. I also served as PI for MakerTEC, a four-year NSF Coordination Network (CN) grant through Wichita State University College of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech). In addition, I am an educator, credentialed to teach Metal and Composite Fabrication, Nondestructive Testing and Precision Measurement at Eastern Florida State College (EFSC).