Even my mechanical design experience is primarily in aviation.

I received my CAD drafting and design degree in 1990, and worked  in different mechanical design positions — first developing tools and molds for computer peripherals, then designing sheet metal enclosures and packaging for supercomputers. This led me back into aerospace as Lead Designer for linear & proportional solenoids for fuel, pneumatic & hydraulic system and fans/motors blowers & stepper motor systems for military, space and commercial aircraft, ground vehicles, weapon systems and UAV platforms.

At IMC Magnetics I led the design group in all phases of design from concept, design reviews internally and with customers, to final release for production. This also included developing tools and molds for various fan/motor and blower products — from concept, stage checks of design and tooling, various first article inspections for final approval to production.  Working w/the casting vendors so closely during this process gave me a greater appreciation of what is needed to build a great casting tool, but also the importance of making the design flexible for the vendor so they keep costs under control while producing a quality tool for production.

For the Apache Longbow program, my responsibilities consisted of a full redesign of one of the primary blowers for better performance and MTBF in the field. This project gave me the opportunity to work closely with our  primary IMC Engineer and my customers throughout the entire phase of redesign — new tooling, re-qualification of the blower system, numerous design reviews and eventually release for production and phase in for delivery to the customers.  I was able to gain experience at the ground level of design, analysis, reporting, qualification and customer satisfaction of their product.  It was incredible to see the design process run full circle to the final outcome, and to be such an integral part of providing a solid product for our aircrews that fly the Apache Longbow for our country!

IMC had product in the field for virtually every aircraft platform — commercial and military.  If it flew, we usually had product on it. Exposure to so many customers and aircraft systems, customer demands, design changes and production needs was a tremendous experience that eventually led me into my next step of project & program management of these very systems.