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Derek O. Bridges

424 Waupelani Drive
Apartment N31
State College, PA 16801
Telephone: (814) 867-8942
E-mail: dbridges@gmail.com

Education:

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

  • Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering expected December 2006.
    Thesis Topic: Flight Dynamics Modeling, Simulation, and Control of Rotorcraft with Multiple Vehicle Interactions.
  • M.S. in Mechanical Engineering awarded May 2005.
  • M.S. in Aerospace Engineering awarded August 2003.
    Thesis Topic: Damage Mitigating Control of Rotorcraft
  • B.S. with honors in Aerospace Engineering awarded May 2001.
    Engineering Mechanics minor.
    Thesis Topic: Simulation of Ship Airwake Flow Fields Using Parallel Computers.

Experience:

Research Assistant, Penn State Rotorcraft Center of Excellence
August 2001 to present

  • Responsible for the hardware and software design, construction, and maintenance of numerous flight simulation facilities used for education and research.
  • Develops software for simulation and control of rotorcraft operating within a ship airwake during launch and recovery operations.
  • Conducts research funded by the Army Research Office relating to advanced rotorcraft flight controls and C4ISR for unmanned rotorcraft and ground vehicles.
  • Assists in teaching and outreach through laboratory demonstrations in the Rotorcraft Center of Excellence.

Teaching Assistant, Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering
August 2004 to December 2004

  • Tutored students, graded assignments, and presented lectures for courses in Aircraft Stability & Control, Classical & Modern Controls, and Rotorcraft Design.

Undergraduate Researcher, Penn State Rotorcraft Center of Excellence
May 2000 to August 2001

  • Aided in research and design of rotor blade spoilers to prevent excessive flapping in engage/disengage operations.
  • Assisted in redesign of ground resonance demonstration stands.

Assistant Research Engineer, Penn State Applied Research Laboratory
May 1999 to May 2000

  • Assisted in development and validation of multi-phase computational fluid dynamics code.
  • Produced visualizations of results from CFD code.
  • Held DOD secret clearance during term of employment.

Honors and
Activities:

  • Member, Sigma Gamma Tau (aerospace engineering honor society).
  • Student member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1997 to present.
  • Student member, American Helicopter Society, 1997 to present.
    • Secretary/Treasurer, Penn State chapter, 1999-2000.
    • President, Penn State chapter, 2000-2001.
    • Vice-President, Penn State chapter, 2001-2002.
  • Vertical Flight Foundation Award, 2000, 2003.
  • Weiss Graduate Fellowship, 2003, 2005.

Computer Skills:

  • Operating Systems: Linux, UNIX, Microsoft Windows
  • Languages: C, C++, Fortran, HTML, XML
  • Software Packages: Microsoft Office, MATLAB, Simulink (control design), Fieldview, Tecplot, GENHEL (rotorcraft flight dynamics), FlightGear (flight simulation), CIFER (system identification), CONDUIT (control design/handling qualities)

Last Updated: January 3, 2005
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