Karl Gallagher
(Formerly Karl Dishaw)
Phone: (817)306-4156
Email: karl.gallagher@alum.mit.edu

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Objective

Education

University of Southern California 2000 - 2002 Los Angeles, CA
Master's degree in Systems Architecture and Engineering. Focused on top-level design and control of complex systems and software developments. 3.9 GPA. More details

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1985 - 1989 Cambridge, MA
Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, with a minor in History. Included graduate courses in orbital mechanics and space propulsion. GPA Jr. & Sr. years: 3.0/4.0 More details

Other education including graduate-level mathematics and operations research courses.

Experience

Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems Fort Worth, TX October 2003 to present
Systems Engineer.

  • Coordinate configuration management of program plans and critical parts on Joint Strike Fighter program.
  • Documented requirements for upgrades to database software for requirements and interface management.
  • Provide technical support to database users.

Northrop Grumman Space Technology Redondo Beach, CA August 1999 to September 2003
Systems Engineer. Key accomplishments

  • Led trade studies to develop a new architecture that was key in winning a $4.5 billion contract for the NPOESS weather satellite system. Performed other architecture and orbit analyses.
  • Coordinated risk management activities for $17 million study project.
  • Wrote proposal sections for NPOESS PDRR and EMD bids.
  • Received company fellowship for two-year USC master's degree program.

Pioneer Rocketplane Vandenberg AFB, CA November 1997 to July 1999
Systems Engineer. Key accomplishments

  • Developed genetic-algorithm based trajectory analysis code to support mission analysis. Ported NASA OTIS Fortran code to Windows system.
  • Performed market analysis and developed growth options to determine most profitable system payload capacity.
  • Controlled system engineering process for Reusable Launch Vehicle development company. Conducted trade studies to increase vehicle performance. Found sensitivity of vehicle performance to all measurable parameters to support trade studies and improved vehicle designs.

TRW Space & Electronics Group Redondo Beach, CA February 1995 to October 1997
Systems Engineer. Key accomplishments

  • Maintained and upgraded legacy Fortran applications for orbit and mission analysis.
  • Authored proposal section for communication satellite system and supported several other proposals.
  • Received formal training in systems engineering.
  • Selected orbits, developed architectures, analyzed requirements, and performed other general systems engineering tasks for government and commercial satellite programs. Trained junior engineers in performing orbit analyses.

USAF Space Command Fairchild AFB, WA / Offutt AFB, NE May 1991 to January 1995
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operations Officer. Key accomplishments

  • Developed requirements for replacement mission planning software working with contractor personnel-existing software had no documented requirements and could not support mission-essential capabilities.
  • Tested new versions of operations software before approving deployment
  • Orbital Analyst for DMSP mission planning--verified quality of satellite ephemeris data. Evaluated launch windows for new spacecraft to determine interference with current constellation--launch shifted to better day in response.

Early employment Computer Skills

Paper AAS 99-129. "Optimization of Ascent Trajectory and Related Design Issues for an Aerial Propellant Transfer Rocketplane." AAS Space Flight Dynamics Conference, 1999.

Patent US 6,173,178B1 Satellite Beam Pattern for Non-Uniform Population Distribution.

DoD Secret clearance.