Mekonen H Halefom

Experience

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  Virginia Tech College of Engineering

  Jun 2016 - May 2017

  Challenge• Designed an aircraft with a cruise speed of Mach 1.8, accommodating 17 passengers with a range of 4,200 nautical miles for NASA’s Supersonic Business Jet Challenge.Leadership and Collaboration • Created Concept of Operations (CONOPs) document to define project scope, objectives, and delivery timeline; identified key stakeholders, gathered mission/technical requirements and reduced technical risk.• Led a cross-functional team in an Agile iterative environment, managing the development process through weekly updates, sprint planning, and retrospectives. • Fostered team collaboration, balancing resources and dependencies while iterating on technical requirements based on stakeholder feedback, ensuring efficient resource allocation and milestone delivery.Performance, Stability, and Controls Sub-Team• Calculated empennage system dimensions and designed control surfaces for optimal performance.• Conducted stability analysis per FAA FAR Part 23 and 25 regulations, ensuring compliance with safety standards.• Performed runway length analysis (6,900 ft) based on key V-speeds and emergency scenarios for take-off and landing performance. Show less • Designed, manufactured, and tested an optimized rear wing to enhance downforce, improving tire grip, stability, and cornering speed.• Collaborated with the Aerodynamic sub-team and larger team to integrate aerodynamic components, focusing on drag reduction, engine cooling, and fuel efficiency to meet Formula SAE performance standards.• Utilized CAD, CFD, and composite manufacturing skills to analyze and refine aerodynamic elements, contributing to a more efficient, high-performance vehicle. Show less • Conducted literature reviews, collected and analyzed data, and assisted in developing research ideas for dynamics and control system projects, including studying a single-degree-of-freedom pendulum.• Developed and implemented data acquisition systems using MATLAB-based dSPACE hardware to support experiments and simulations in control systems research.• Applied PID control laws to stabilize and optimize the dynamics of a single-degree-of-freedom pendulum, contributing to lab work and real-time system response analysis.• Authored professional reports and contributed to research documentation for project presentations and meetings.• Presented research findings at project meetings and collaborated with senior researchers on control system design and experimental setups. Show less

  • Aircraft Design Capstone Project – Project Manager & Sub-Team Role

    Aug 2016 - May 2017

  • Formula SAE - Aerodynamic Sub-Team - Rear Wing

    Aug 2015 - May 2017

  • Nonlinear Systems Laboratory – Undergraduate Research Assistant

    Jun 2016 - Aug 2016
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  Virginia Tech Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity

  Jun 2018 - Aug 2021

  Program Oversight• Led the coordination and implementation of multiple student programs, facilitating STEM-focused workshops, field trips, and activities for high school students from underrepresented communities.Logistics Coordination• Managed the planning and execution of all logistical aspects of the program, including scheduling, transportation, accommodation, and meals for participants.Partnership Development• Established partnerships with local businesses, alumni, and industry professionals to expose students to real-world engineering applications and career opportunities. Show less Course Instruction• Taught first-year engineering exploration (STEP ENGR) and first-year seminar (ENGR 1054), engaging students in foundational engineering principles and academic success strategies.Curriculum Development• Designed lesson plans and instructional materials for both classroom and laboratory sessions, emphasizing active learning and hands-on problem-solving.Mentorship• Provided academic guidance and mentorship to first-year students, fostering a supportive learning environment that encouraged exploration of various engineering disciplines.Assessment and Feedback• Developed and evaluated assessments to monitor student progress and provided detailed feedback to promote continuous improvement and understanding of technical topics. Show less

  • Program Coordinator

    May 2021 - Aug 2021

  • Course Instructor

    Jun 2018 - May 2021
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  Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech

  Aug 2018 - May 2024

  Dynamics Modelling• Developed a novel 6DOF equations of motion for fixed-wing aircraft, integrating unsteady flight dynamics, which enhanced the fidelity of the aircraft’s aerodynamic model.System Identification• Applied system identification methods and the SIDPAC toolkit to identify an unsteady aerodynamic model using flight data, resulting in noticeable improvements relative to conventional aerodynamic models.State Estimation & Sensor Fusion• Published an approach integrating a 6DOF unsteady aircraft flight dynamic model into state estimators such as a Kalman filter, extended Kalman filter, and unscented Kalman filter for estimating wind.• Conducted a comprehensive analysis of state estimation algorithms and sensor fusion architecture for wind estimation, including a detailed trade study, resulting in a published recommendation table for the Weather Intelligent Navigation Data and Models for Aviation Planning project.Simulation Development• Developed a 6DOF flight simulator with optimal controls and von Kármán/Dryden wind turbulence model for simulation, control, and estimation to facilitate pre-flight analysis and design.UAS Development & Operations• Built and operated a fleet of four sUAS for flight data acquisition instrumented with Pixhawk (Cube Orange autopilot), air data units (ADU), and RTK GPS.• Led a team of eight researchers on sUAS development, experiment design, 3D printing-based manufacturing, wind tunnel testing, and flight training and operations. Show less UAS Airworthiness Guideline Analysis • Proposed a technical framework for adapting manned aircraft regulations to unmanned systems for regulatory compliance, bridging critical gaps, and facilitating the integration of unmanned aircraft into controlled airspace.• Adapted MIL-HDBK-516C airworthiness guidelines to unmanned aircraft, assessing 940 airworthiness guidelines: 770 directly relevant, 109 indirectly relevant, and 61 irrelevant. Modified 50 airworthiness guidelines and left 59 unchanged. Show less

  • NASA WINDMAP - Graduate Research Assistant - Ph.D.

    May 2020 - May 2024

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Aug 2021 - May 2022

  • NAVAIR - Graduate Research Assistant - M.S.

    Aug 2018 - May 2020
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  RapidFlight

  Nov 2024 - now

  Aeronautical & Simulation Engineer