Nonlinear, optimal and adaptive control for aerospace vehicles
Programs
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, Flight Mechanics and Controls B.S. Aerospace Engineering B.S. Computer Science
I work as a quality engineer in the aerospace industry. I hold an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Florida Tech, focused on flight mechanics and controls, and B.S. degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science. In my projects I derive a vehicle's model, identify it from data, design the controller, and test it in simulation.
Selected projects
MEE 5690 · MTH 5320 · MTH 5335Solo
Cart-pole control research
One plant across three courses: model it, identify it from data, then stabilize it with MPC, learned controllers and reinforcement learning.
Course work across Intelligent Controls, Deep Learning and Nonlinear Optimization on one plant: I modeled the cart-pole, identified it from data and stabilized it with MPC, learned controllers and reinforcement learning. The sim shows LQR balancing it.
AEE 5803Solo
Lunar lander adaptive control
A lunar lander controller with RISE feedback for translation and an adaptive attitude loop, built and tested in a 3D simulation.
Hold to fly, or use the arrow keys (P switches the autopilot).
The final project for Nonlinear Control Systems: I designed a RISE translational controller and an adaptive attitude loop for a lunar lander, with Lyapunov stability proofs, and tested them in simulation.
AEE 5805Solo
Spaceflight mechanics and sequential rendezvous
Orbital mechanics in Python, from Kepler's equation and orbital elements to a sequential rendezvous with two targets.
Spaceflight Mechanics and Controls, written in Python: Kepler's equation, orbital elements, two-body propagation and maneuver planning, ending in a sequential rendezvous with two targets.
Independent studySolo
Multirotor MPC path planning
Reimplementing a published planner: cluster a point cloud, build a Voronoi roadmap and flight corridors, then fly through a tunnel with MPC.
I did this as an assignment toward my M.S. graduation requirements: find a published article and implement its method. I implemented the point-cloud motion planner from Ahn, Park, Bang and Kim, "Model Predictive Control-Based Multirotor Three-Dimensional Motion Planning with Point Cloud Obstacle," Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, AIAA, 2022, in Python; this page runs a JavaScript version of it. doi.org/10.2514/1.I010956
MTH 5320Solo
CNN occupancy-grid navigation
Teaching a network to draw a collision-free path on an occupancy grid, and comparing a U-Net with a fully connected baseline against A*.
A Deep Learning project: I trained a U-Net to predict collision-free paths on occupancy grids labeled by A*, and used its output to guide the search.
Experience
Quality Engineer
Extant Aerospace (TransDigm), Airborne Electronics · Melbourne, FL12/2025 to present
Drove root cause and corrective action (RCCA) efforts using 8D and 5 Whys on a long-standing issue with an inherited avionics product line, partnering directly with the customer to align expectations and drive it to resolution.
Serve as a quality point of contact for customers and suppliers across the U.S. and abroad, resolving customer concerns and aligning on requirements.
Investigate nonconformances and customer quality notices across multiple product lines and present dispositions at the Material Review Board (MRB).
Author AS9102 Rev C first article inspection reports (FAIRs) for new production builds in an AS9100 environment, using DISCUS and Net-Inspect to verify conformance to drawings and specifications.
Develop test procedures for avionics units and maintain accurate, current work instructions.
Propose and approve engineering change orders affecting product design, test and production.
Verify test data and unit build records before shipment, and review contracts and purchase orders to capture and flow down quality requirements.
Prepare units for, and support, customer source inspections and acceptance.
Tutor
Grade Potential Tutoring · Melbourne, FL10/2026 to present
Tutor students in Differential Equations and computer skills, adapting explanations to each student's level.
Controls Lead, Aerospace Senior Design
Hydrofoil, Florida Tech · Melbourne, FL08/2023 to 04/2024
Led control system design for a retractable hydrofoil attachment on a remote-controlled aircraft, implementing extension, retraction and active pitch control.
Planned and executed flight tests, monitored and adjusted flight systems in real time from a ground station, and turned flight-log analysis into design iterations.
Overhauled the aircraft's flight components, replacing outdated hardware to improve performance and reliability.
Facilitated design reviews with mechanical and aerodynamics leads, translating requirements into testable specifications.
Undergraduate Researcher
Space Lab, Florida Tech · Melbourne, FL05/2023 to 09/2023
Modeled and simulated a passive layered system for collecting non-trackable debris in Low Earth Orbit, using astrodynamics simulation to optimize orbital parameters for collection efficiency.
Co-authored "Preliminary Modeling of Not-trackable Debris Collection Using a Passive Layered System," AIAA 2023-4629, ASCEND 2023.