Professional Experience
20+ years in aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing
Associate Professor of Engineering
California State University, Los Angeles
2007 - 2021
Engineering, Computer Science & Technology
Developed one of the earliest academic models combining systems design, entrepreneurship, and applied innovation, enabling students to transform research into ventures that bridge academia and industry.
Youngest Associate Professor at Cal State LA
Integration Programs Manager
MIMO Technik
Additive manufacturing contract manufacturer specializing in qualification-grade production. Managed integration programs linking development and production workflows for flight-certified components, extending deep expertise in quality management systems for aerospace to physical deployment.
Quality Systems Manager
SpaceX
Helped develop quality systems for Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon. Part of the historic team that landed the first reusable Falcon 9 booster, a breakthrough that reshaped the economics of spaceflight.
Key Projects:
- •Falcon 9 rocket qualification and quality systems
- •Falcon Heavy development
- •Dragon spacecraft systems
- •First reusable Falcon 9 booster landing - historic breakthrough
- •Launch qualification processes
Process Control Program Manager
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Office of Safety and Mission Assurance
Started at NASA at age 19. Contributed to the Mars Exploration Rover launch, the Space Shuttle decommissioning program, and the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. Eventually managed the NASA Process Control Program.
Key Projects:
- •Mars Exploration Rover launch
- •Space Shuttle decommissioning program
- •Columbia Accident Investigation Board
- •NASA Process Control Program management
- •Mission assurance and safety systems
Began professional aerospace career at NASA JPL at age 19
Flight Hardware Qualification
U.S. Air Force SMC (Space and Missile Systems Center)
Qualified flight hardware for national security payloads, supporting launch systems with ULA, SpaceX, Virgin Orbit, and Blue Origin.
Key Projects:
- •National security payload qualification
- •Launch systems with ULA
- •Launch systems with SpaceX
- •Launch systems with Virgin Orbit
- •Launch systems with Blue Origin
Focus: Launch reliability, safety, and mission assurance for critical defense applications
Current Roles
Founder & CEO
ASTRO
Since 2020
Built the world's first independent qualification platform for aerospace and frontier technologies that are additively manufactured. ASTRO integrates additive manufacturing, AI, and predictive simulation to create a continuous feedback loop between design, production, and qualification, where failure becomes data and testing becomes intelligence.
- •Supports more than 90 space companies
- •Every major aerospace prime as clients
- •Multiple government agencies
- •Pioneering qualification frameworks across space systems, nuclear technologies, robotics, and sustainable propulsion
- •Reduced qualification cycles from 2 years to as little as 3 months
Chief Innovation Officer & Partner
The Honourable Merchants Group (THMG)
Leads the Group's global innovation agenda across a constellation of legacy and emerging brands, integrating advanced manufacturing, AI, and systems design into the architecture of responsible industry. Works alongside François-Henri Bennahmias, former Chief Executive Officer of Audemars Piguet. Focuses on creating the connective tissue between precision engineering, digital intelligence, and long-term societal value.
- •Leading global innovation strategy
- •Integration of advanced manufacturing and AI across brand portfolio
- •Responsible industry architecture
Technical Advisor
Dubai Future Foundation
Supports Industry 4.0 initiatives that connect advanced manufacturing, AI, and infrastructure resilience to national transformation strategies. Contributes to key projects including Dubai Future Labs (advancing robotics and industrial automation) and the Museum of the Future (developing frameworks that merge science, design, and experiential technology).
Leader, VIIALA Initiative
The Honourable Merchants Group
Applies additive manufacturing methodologies, aerospace-grade materials and processes, and AI-driven computational design to next-generation mobility through the future bicycle. Leads a global engineering and systems architecture team of 80, supported by a network of 20 international supplier partners spanning materials, design, and component manufacturing.
- •Leading team of 80 engineers and systems architects
- •20 international supplier partners
- •Developing intelligent, regionally assembled mobility systems
- •Uniting safety, sustainability, and performance in a single ecosystem of motion