SEMINAR SERIES is excited to present two guest speakers Nov. 2: Dr. Larry Ilcewicz & Dr. Paul McConnaughey

Thursday, November 2, in ETRL 101

Refreshments served in ETRL 119 at 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Dr. Larry Ilcewicz

Federal Aviation Administration, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Composite Materials

Scaling Crucial to Integrated Product Development of Composite Airframe Structure

Special Time- 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.  in ETRL 101

Abstract

Applications of advanced composite materials in aircraft products have spanned several decades.  These products include small airplanes, propellers, rotorcraft, military jets, and transport aircraft.  Historical perspectives on composites used in airframe structure will be summarized, including thoughts on product development, certification, production, and service difficulties.  This will include a review of critical design, manufacturing, maintenance, and cost issues for composite aircraft structures.  It will also summarize the service history, including thoughts relating to the American Airlines Flight Number 587 Accident in 2001.  An introduction to the damage tolerance of composite aircraft structure will be given some emphasis.  The technical challenges and barriers to expanding, new   applications will also be discussed as related to career opportunities and integrated product teams in the industry.

Biography

Dr. Larry Ilcewicz is the FAA Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Composite Materials.  He started work with the FAA in 1998 and has supported many small airplane, rotorcraft and transport aircraft certification programs.  He has also worked on accident investigations and service problems involving composites.  These experiences helped Larry develop an international plan for composite safety and certification initiatives to work with industry, academia and other government groups in pursuit of guidance, training and standardization.  These efforts formed the basis for a FAA Aviation Safety Composite Plan, which outlines efforts until 2021.

Larry came to the FAA from Boeing, where he worked 17 years on various programs in the commercial transport aircraft division.  This included support to 737, 757, 767 and 777 aircraft in various stages of development, production and service.  Larry was also principal investigator for a large NASA-funded research program to develop composite design and manufacturing concepts for a wide-body transport fuselage in the 1990s.  He has authored/co-authored more than 80 technical publications.  He has been co-chairman for Composite Materials Handbook 17, CMH-17, since joining the FAA.  In 2013, he was the only member of the United States Department of Transportation to win the Presidential Rank Award.

BEING FOLLOWED BY:

Dr. Paul McConnaughey

Associate Director, Technical, In the Office of the Center Director at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama

The Future of Deep Space Human Exploration

11 a.m. – noon in ETRL 101

Abstract

Why explore deep space? And what technologies will it take to get there? Dr. Paul McConnaughey, associate director, technical, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will discuss the importance of engineering advanced technologies to journey to deep space – to cislunar, the Moon, Mars and beyond. From the evolvable heavy-lift capability of the Space Launch System to cutting edge lander propulsion technology, the journey to deep space will require innovation and the next generation STEM workforce to be successful.

Biography

Dr. Paul K. McConnaughey is the associate director, technical, in the Office of the Center Director at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Named to the position in August 2015, McConnaughey is responsible for ensuring the performance of Marshall’s programs and technical activities, with respect to cost, schedule and mission success.

Originally from the Midwest, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University in Corvallis, and his master’s degree and doctorate from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He joined Marshall in 1986 as an engineer in the Systems Dynamics Laboratory. McConnaughey has held various leadership positions of increasing responsibility, including being selected as Marshall’s chief engineer in 2007 and serving as the director of System Engineering and Integration and the chief engineer of the Exploration Systems Development Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

McConnaughey has three daughters and resides in Huntsville, with his wife Angie and their two dogs.

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