2009 Graduates

Name: Erik Axdahl
University/Date: Georgia Institute of Technology, August 2009
Degree: MS in Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Alan Wilhite
Thesis Topic: 
Present Position: Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion Branch, NASA’s Langley Research Center

Name: Will Bagienski
University/Date: University of Virginia, December 2009
Degree: MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Mool Gupta
Thesis Topic: 
Present Position: 

Name: Karen Berger
University/Date: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, August 2009
Degree: MS in Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Bernard Grossman
Thesis Topic: 
Present Position: Aerothermodynamics Branch, NASA’s Langley Research Center

Name: Adam Cowling
University/Date: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 2009
Degree: MS in Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Christopher Hall
Thesis Topic: Pitch-Control Predictor-Corrector and Neutral Network Ascent Guidance
Present Position: Vehicle Analysis Branch, NASA’s Langley Research Center

Name: Alan Fletcher
University/Date: University of Virginia, December 2009
Degree: MS in Materials Science and Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Mool Gupta
Thesis Topic: Elastomeric Nanocomposites for Electromagnetic Sheilding
Present Position: Airforce Research Laboratory, Dayton, Ohio

Name: John Fuller
University/Date: North Carolina State University, December 2009
Degree: MS in Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Robert Tolson
Thesis Topic: Methods to Alleviate Processing Requirements of High-Fidelity Multibody Parachute Simulations Involving a Cofluent Mass
Present Position: Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, Virginia

Name: John Gaebler
University/Date: North Carolina State University, November 2009
Degree: MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Robert Tolson
Thesis Topic: Failure Bounding and Sensitivity Analysis Applied to Monte Carlo Entry, Descent and Landing Simulations
Present Position: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Name: Michael Hunt
University/Date: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 2009
Degree: MS in Materials Science and Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Kathryn Logan
Thesis Topic: Pressureless Densification of SHS Produced Alumina-Titanium Diboride Ceramic Matrix Composites
Present Position: Naval Research Lab, Washington, DC

Name: David Kuhl
University/Date: University of Maryland, November 2009
Degree: PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
Advisor: Dr. Istvan Szunyogh
Thesis Topic: Assimilation of Trace Gas Retrievals with the Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter
Present Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Naval Research Lab, Washington, DC

Name: Daniel Le
University/Date: University of Virginia, May 2009
Degree: PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Dr. James McDaniel
Thesis Topic: Robust Design of Low Sonic Boom Concepts
Present Position: 

Name: Sarvjit Lota
University/Date: University of Virginia, August 2009
Degree: MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Dr. James McDaniel
Thesis Topic: 
Present Position: 

Name: Conrad Lovell
University/Date: University of Virginia, October 2009
Degree: PhD in Mechanical and Materials Science Engineering
Advisor: Dr. James Fitz-Gerald
Thesis Topic: The Effects of Polymer Morphology and Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes on Biopolymer Shear Piezoelectricity
Present Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow, National Institute of Aerospace

Name: Aitken Matthew
University/Date: North Carolina State University, July 2009
Degree: MS in Aerospace Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Robert Tolson
Thesis Topic: Lidar-Aided Inertial Navigation with Extended Kalman Filtering for Pinpoint Landing
Present Position: PhD Candidate, University of Colorado, Boulder

Name: Emmanuel Okraku
University/Date: University of Virginia, June 2009
Degree: MS in Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Mool Gupta
Thesis Topic: Laser Annealing of P3HT/PCBM Organic Solar Cells
Present Position: 

Name: Alex Stramel
University/Date: University of Virginia, May 2009
Degree: MS in Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Mool Gupta
Thesis Topic: Resonant Pulsed Laser Deposition of Carbon Nanotube Thin Films
Present Position: Electronics Engineer, US Army, Night Vision and Electronics Sensors Directorate, Air Systems Division, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

Name: Khary Tatum
University/Date: North Carolina A&T University, May 2009
Degree: MS in Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Abdollah Homaifar
Thesis Topic: 
Present Position: Engineer, Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona