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Engineering & Technical Support

Dayton Aerospace consultants have performed key technical roles in both industry and government programs. Our team approach uses subject matter experts to provide critical expertise and credible leadership able to understand and communicate effectively with your decision makers. Our ability to examine technical problems and risks in-depth and develop executable solutions is a key discriminator for choosing us.


We can support a large range of efforts requiring weapon system engineering and technical expertise. Our engineers have uniquely impressive credentials in niche specialties, such as airworthiness, unmanned air systems (UAS), avionics, space systems, electronic warfare (EW), software engineering, and more.

From military airworthiness certification to weapons integration, Dayton Aerospace engineers are recognized subject matter experts in the defense community.

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Featured Experts

Our hand-picked associates are defense acquisitions’ brightest, most innovative experts.

Experienced USAF engineer with leadership roles on the F-35 and F-16. Systems engineering, integrated avionics architecture, radar, military airworthiness certification, and weapons integration SME.

GM-15, DAF (Ret)

Clay Appleton

40+ years of aerospace engineering and airworthiness experience; former USAF Delegated Technical Airworthiness Authority (DTA) and Director of Engineering for Fighter Bomber, ISR/SOF and Agile Combat Support Directorates.

DR-04, DAF & Industry Executive (Ret)

Doug Atkinson

Doug Atkinson, DR-04, DAF & Industry Executive (Ret)
40+ years of experience driving, performing and enabling cutting-edge aerospace research for the USAF. Former Chief Scientist, AFRL Aerospace Systems and Air Vehicles Directorates. Internationally recognized SME on modern flight control.

PhD, ST, DAF (Ret)

Siva Banda

Nearly 35 years of direct experience leading and managing highly complex aerospace programs as an acquisition and logistics leader. Former Deputy Chief of Staff, USAF, and Vice/Deputy Commander, AFMC.

Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret)

Warren Berry

Warren Berry, Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret)
45+ years of USAF experience, including executive leadership/management of complex major R&D organizations as well as direction of human systems, space, plans and programs, small business, and domestic/international partnerships. Former Director, AFRL.

SES, DAF & Colonel, USAF (Ret)

Jack Blackhurst

35+ years of experience in engineering, program management, product support, logistics, depot production, and integrated life cycle management. Served as director of engineering, technical director, and chief engineer at multiple geographic locations for numerous programs and organizations.

NH-04, DAF (Ret)

Luke Burke

Luke Burke, NH-IV, DAF (Ret)
Senior-level technical leader for low observables (LO) technology augmented with industry experience. Expert in survivability technologies with focus on aircraft applications.

SL, DAF (Ret)

Bob Clemens

Nationally recognized authority on advanced aircraft survivability technologies with 30+ years of experience. Specialized expertise in low observables (LO), special access program management and strategic planning.

NH-04 (GS-15), DAF (Ret)

Jeff Fath

30+ years USAF and defense industry experience. Former commander or vice for three USAF procurement centers: Nuclear Weapons, Electronic Systems, Space and Missile Systems, as well as the program executive for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Major General, USAF & Industry Executive (Ret)

Terry Feehan

Terry Feehan, Major General, Industry Executive & USAF (Ret)
35+ years of engineering experience and expert in all aspects of aircraft design, development and certification. Former AFLCMC/EN-EZ director of engineering and USAF Technical Airworthiness Authority (TAA) with specialized expertise in aircraft structures.

SES, DAF (Ret)

Jorge Gonzalez

40+ years of experience in acquisition, systems engineering, testing, and program management within AFMC. Former Lead Systems Engineer and Lead Mission Systems Engineer for B-21 Bomber and Chief Avionics Engineer, F-22.

NH-04, DAF (Ret)

Verle Johnson

25+ years of aerospace engineering experience on major aircraft systems development programs for the USAF. Recognized aircraft structures DADT technical expert. Highly experienced in all aspects of aircraft design, development, sustainment, modifications, and airworthiness certification.

NH-04, DAF (Ret)

Juan Lado

30+ years of engineering and management experience; successfully led multiple, complex organizations of 10,000+ people, owning direct oversight of up to $10B annually; former JSF deputy program executive officer (PEO) and director.

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

Randy Mahr

Randy Mahr, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)
Engineering leader with extensive experience across nearly every USAF owned platform and all phases of the acquisition life cycle. Former branch chief of the USAF Airworthiness Office with specialized expertise in human systems integration, bringing deep technical judgment and mission focused systems insight.

GS-15, DAF (Ret)

Dawn McGarvey-Buchwalder

Dawn McGarvey-Buchwalder, GS-15, DAF (Ret)
Over 35 years experience as a national/international authority in flight propulsion for the USAF serving as Senior Technical Advisor for AFLCMC. Former Weapon System Integration Lead, Turbine Engine Division, AFRL/RQT.

PhD, Senior Leader, DAF (Ret)

Keith Numbers

35+ years of aerospace flight systems engineering experience on major USAF aircraft systems development programs. Recognized SME in all aspects of air vehicle subsystems design, development, certification, and sustainment with specialized expertise in aircraft fuel systems and fire protection systems.

NH-04, DAF (Ret)

Betty Rodriguez

40 years of experience in USAF engineering career field. Significant expertise providing technical leadership in design, development, production, and sustainment program execution. Airworthiness certification expert.

NH-04, DAF (Ret)

Juan Satterfield

30+ years of experience leading complex, technology driven programs. Specialized expertise in product line strategy, investment planning, design, manufacture, program management and field sustainment of high performance IR/RF systems.

Industry Executive (Ret)

Carl Smith

Carl Smith, Industry Executive (Ret)
35+ years computer resources policy, processes, and standards experience for the USAF, DoD, NATO, and the commercial sector, with specialized expertise in AMP, VMS, CRSIE, software analysis and integration, FCA/PCA, airworthiness certification, aircraft SIBs, FQTs and engineering education.

NH-04, DAF (Ret)

Dana Springer

Senior executive with over 35 years of experience as an engineer and program manager. As the USAF S&T Executive, directed the USAF’s cutting-edge $5B S&T investment portfolio. Recognized SME in all aspects of weapon system cybersecurity, mission systems, digital engineering, and S&T.

SES, DAF (Ret)

Jeff Stanley

35+ years of experience; recognized leader in airworthiness, systems engineering, and program management throughout the life cycle for the nation’s most complex and critical aviation platforms (F-35, B-1, C-17, and F-15) and weapons systems, including joint service and multinational contexts.

GS-15, DAF (Ret)

Bob Stanton

35+ years of acquisition, engineering, and program management experience focused on innovation, creating lean teams, managing risk and leading change. Former Director, Information Dominance Programs (SAF/AQ) and Director of Engineering & Technical Management, ESC and AFMC.

SES, DAF (Ret)

Susan Thornton

Related Capabilities

​Expand each section to learn about our specific business strategy related capabilities below.

Technology Assessment & Transition

Our consultants have been major players in technology assessment and transition – from policy creation, to process development, to managing transition. Our solutions are agile, innovative, efficient and effective.

Dayton Aerospace has hands-on experience assessing and transitioning important technologies to the warfighter. We supported the development of US Air Force (USAF) technology transition policy and practice and have provided a range of technology assessment and transition planning support to both industry and government customers. Our technical experts can assess technology maturity and develop program specific technology development strategies, as well as incorporate strategies and risk management into engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase planning.

Military Airworthiness Certification

We provide direct application of military airworthiness principles and processes and have extensive experience with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and international certifications.

Military aircraft are complex and highly capable systems. It requires years of experience to understand what it takes to deliver and sustain airworthy and safe systems. Our knowledge stems from hands-on experience covering everything from defining US Air Force (USAF) policy for airworthiness; developing MIL-HDBK-516; incorporating airworthiness and safety into systems engineering processes in a cost effective and streamlined application; leading first flight independent reviews; performing risk and hazard analysis; chairing airworthiness boards, and certifying systems as airworthy—on manned and unmanned military systems and commercial derivative aircraft (CDA). Our experts have direct experience with certifying USAF systems and CDA. We know USAF and FAA processes and have dealt extensively with the US Army and US Navy on developmental processes and airworthiness determinations of joint systems. In addition, we have developed and delivered the most comprehensive MIL-HDBK-516-based airworthiness certification training.

DOD Cyber Security

Our experts leverage years of management experience with current requirements to improve system security and reduce vulnerabilities to meet today’s stringent requirements.

Our experts understand the critical components of Department of Defense (DOD) cyber security and can assist in identifying security vulnerabilities, developing proactive defenses and comprehensive remediation strategies, and executing successful red team/blue team exercises. We understand the application of specific cybersecurity requirements, including applying the cybersecurity Risk Management Framework (RMF) and vulnerability analyses. We specialize in system development and management of the risks posed by malicious actors to reduce the likelihood and impact of loss of critical and mission-critical program information and program functions.

Technical Executive Independent Review Teams (EIRTs)

Clients request our experts by name to lead and support independent reviews…from technical issues at the subsystem level to major programmatic issues for very complex programs.

Our seasoned technical experts have led and participated in numerous executive independent review teams—both for industry and government customers focused on a wide variety of topics ranging from detailed subsystem design and integration issues to strategies for improving product cost and competitiveness, to major weapon system program integrated technical, schedule, cost, and risk assessments. These recognized subject matter experts provide critical expertise and credible leadership able to communicate effectively with your decision makers, and offer executable acquisition and sustainment program solutions, developing answers to critical questions. We work with your technical and management organization to develop program technical solutions and alternatives.

Agile Development

We provide unparalleled expertise to guide your transformation to powerful, sustainable mission agility.

The clarion call from Department of Defense leadership for rapid innovation and fielding of ever more complex networked systems is loud and clear. The challenge is equally clear—how to build a dual operating system matching the existing defense acquisition operating system, structure, and culture with one harnessing the speed of innovation. Dayton Aerospace can help you meet that challenge. Our team of experts understands that achieving a state of mission agility means the entire organization–not just development–is engaged in continually and proactively delivering innovative solutions at the speed of the need. Our holistic, integrated, and tailored roadmap approach supports implementation of Agile Development techniques by addressing every facet of your organization—its structure, people, resources, processes, communication, and governance. Our agile coaching and training places us shoulder-to-shoulder with you, as your organization learns to adopt and sustain lasting transformation. As we understand the importance and urgency of getting this right, so are we invested in your success!

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