Cynthia M. begley
1194 English Sparrow Trail, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129, Ph: (303) 346-0479,Summary of qualifications
Highly motivated engineer with 19 years experience in multiple phases of project development and operation with NASA’s Human Spaceflight Program. Excellent technical, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills demonstrated as lead Extravehicular Activity (EVA) mission designer and astronaut crew trainer. Proven ability to balance technical and practical issues without sacrificing safety and quality. Demonstrated ability to calmly function under high pressure, prioritize, and multitask as a certified real-time flight controller in the Mission Control Center for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. Adept at creating and conducting formal and informal technical presentations, including technical conference proceedings and press conferences. Significant direct interaction with payload customers including international partners in Russia, Canada, and Japan.
EDUCATION
1999 PhD Mechanical Engineering University of Houston
1990 MS Aerospace Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology
1989 BS Aerospace Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology
WORK experience
GHG Corporation, 06/07 – 09/11
Engineering Expert
n Crew Systems and Suited Operations Integration for Orion Vehicle Program. Responsible for suit and EVA concept of operations, flight procedures data book, suited operations displays, EVA hazards and keep out zones task data sheet, and other suit operations integration.
n Mission Operations Directorate EVA group. Developed new training plans and products for astronauts and EVA flight controllers in the post space shuttle timeframe. Wrote lesson plans, workbooks, work instructions, and other documentation. Videotaped new class instruction for distance learning projects.
LOCKHEED MARTIN SPACE SYSTEMS, 10/06– 03/07
Systems Engineer
n Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test (SEIT) Lead for EVA, Crew Systems, and Cockpit Layout design integration on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle program. Responsible for NASA Constellation requirements document reviews, trade studies, interface requirements documents, interface control documents, and coordinated all systems inputs for weight reduction reviews.
UNITED SPACE ALLIANCE (formerly Rockwell Space Operations Company), 1/91– 10/06
Engineering Staff V
n Certified mission controller and astronaut crew trainer in the Mission Operations Directorate EVA group. Lead EVA officer for recent STS-114 return to flight mission and gap filler EVA repair. EVA Lead responsibilities include all aspects of Shuttle and Station EVA training, integration, and flight control:
- Managing a team of EVA specialists and instructors
- Developing and testing new EVA operations and capabilities
- Designing, developing, and conducting EVA crew training sessions
- Developing flight procedures, timelines, and flight rules
- Leading real time EVA operations in the Mission Control Center
- Conducting mission press briefings
- Defining operational hardware requirements and evaluating hardware designs
- Developing mockup requirements
- Coordinating flight hardware and tool interface fit checks and sharp edge inspections
- Planning and coordinating spacesuit and tool logistics
- Integrating facility requirements for testing and training: Neutral Buoyancy Lab, Precision Air Bearing Floor, zero gravity aircraft, human thermal vacuum chamber
- Producing functional schematics for shuttle and station systems handbooks
- Mentoring and evaluating new EVA instructors and flight controllers
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, 1/97 – 5/99
Graduate Research Assistant
n Fluid dynamics research involving colon cancer cell trajectories and mass transport in the NASA rotating wall perfused vessel (RWPV) microgravity bioreactor. Emphasis on improving anchorage dependent mammalian cell growth through reduced viscous shear stresses, improved nutrient mass transport, and uniform flow conditions. Numerical simulations included steady state flow field, cell trajectory, and time dependent concentration distributions. Validated models through Earth based testing and laser doppler velocimetry measurements, and correlations with flight experiments onboard STS-75 and STS-85 using video footage of different size and density beads to simulate cell assemblages inserted into the bioreactor at various spin rates. Developed optical correction algorithm for experiment post flight data reduction. Developed a model for the effect of gas bubbles present in the bioreactor on flow field and cell trajectories causing degraded cell growth.
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 9/89 – 9/90
Graduate Research Assistant
n Created finite element model of stiffness and mass distribution for the F-15 vertical stabilizer using NASTRAN. Developed structural modification procedure using a nonlinear optimization algorithm requiring iterative finite element analyses to alter dynamic characteristics. Modified original model using similar procedure on Cray YMP to more closely approximate experimental eigenvalues and mode shapes.
GENERAL DYNAMICS SPACE SYSTEMS DIVISION, 5/86 – 6/87
Co-op/Intern
n Completed two co-op tours. Responsible for mass properties analysis of Titan Centaur Tank Structures. Performed mass properties analysis of Shuttle Centaur Integrated Support Structure. Created interactive three dimensional graphics for a space vehicle sizing program and a global ballistic missile simulation.
PUBLICATIONS
n “RWPV Bioreactor Mass Transport: Earth-Based and in Microgravity”, Biotechnology and Bioengineering Journal, Volume 80, Sept 2002.
n “The Fluid Dynamic and Shear Environment in the NASA/JSC Rotating Wall Perfused Vessel Bioreactor”, Biotechnology and Bioengineering Journal, Volume 70, Oct 2000.
n Fluid Dynamic Studies of the NASA/JSC Rotating Wall Perfused Vessel for Cell Culture in Microgravity, PhD dissertation, University of Houston, May 1999.
n “Flight Studies of Particle Trajectories in the NASA/JSC RWPV Bioreactor”, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), Bio Heat and Mass Transfer in Microgravity session, Nov 1998.
n “Mass Transport Considerations for Microgravity Cell Cultures in the NASA/JSC Bioreactor”, ASME IMECE, Bio Heat and Mass Transfer Under Microgravity Conditions session, Nov 1997.
Honors/Awards received
n Silver Snoopy Award, October 2005.
n Space Flight Awareness Award, September 2005.
n Numerous NASA Group Achievement Awards, 1994 – 2005.
n United Space Alliance Certificate of Recognition for outstanding contributions during the recovery and investigation of STS-107 Space Shuttle Columbia accident, February 2004.
n United Space Alliance Quest for Excellence Award, Expedition 5 Mission Support, November 2002.
n Employee of the Year, United Space Alliance Quest for Excellence SARA (Superior Achievement Recognition Award) for Teamwork, 2001.
- Saved the Space Station Program approximately one billion dollars by achieving a real time solution during a joint STS and ISS assembly mission.
n United Space Alliance Employee of the Month Award, Teamwork, April 2001.
n Texaco Engineering Foundation Fellowship, 1996.
n NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship, 1996.
n NASA Going the Extra Mile (GEM) Award, MIR Solar Array Extended Length Cutter Tool, July 1995.
n Private Pilot License, April 1995.
n Georgia Tech Presidential Fellowship, 1990.
n AIAA Outstanding Young Engineer Award, 1990.
Hobbies/interests
SCUBA, Private Pilot, Rock Climbing, AIAA, AOPA, kids