Samuel Y. Lauda

Experience

• 

  University of Michigan

  May 2011 - Aug 2011

  Undergraduate Researcher

  - Devised a communication system for a high-altitude balloon payload for communication between ground station and mobile stations using Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS)- Designed and built a 3U structure with Solidworks and Composite Construction techniques to protect payloadAssembled a weatherboard and programmed it with Arduino nano to take weather measurements- Displayed that all subsystems are able to proceed on to work on a Zero Pressure Balloon payload

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  Tohoku University

  Apr 2012 - Aug 2012

  Undergraduate Researcher

  - Constructed a device called Plasma Actuator (PA) and evaluated its aerodynamic performance- Operated Mars Wind Tunnel to obtain pressure measurements of PA and analyzed the data using Matlab- Created an experimental plan to investigate the deterioration effects on PA’s performance- Verified that PA is a viable active flow control device for application in JAXA’s proposed Mars Airplane

• 

  HRL Laboratories

  May 2013 - Sept 2013

  Engineering Intern

  - Operated electron-beam lithography tools for nano-scale lithography- Processed semiconductor wafers in a class 10 cleanroom through lithography and metallization- Managed a programmable scanning electron microscope to check the quality of semiconductor processes

• 

  METEO FRANCE

  May 2015 - Sept 2015

  Stagiaire Master

  - Built a system to aid flight planning of cloud measuring UAVs in real time using a network of All-sky cameras- Developed the theory to quantify the uncertainties associated with using such a camera system - Created Matlab software to process and calculate spatial dimensions of clouds from the All-sky camera images- Tested the system in the field and successfully demonstrated proof of concept to be further developed

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  Esterline

  Oct 2016 - Dec 2017

  Quality Engineer

  - Engaged in real time problem resolution to maintain functional production line- Initiated kaizen activities to establish efficient cell flow while implementing 5S and standard work- Created and revised Work instructions/SOPs to develop and maintain manufacturing processes for production- Performed time observations and created process flow maps to remove waste in manufacturing process

• 

  United States Air Force

  Jan 2018 - Sept 2020

  Satellite Vehicle Operator, 4th Space Operations Squadron

  Operated 11 protected satellite MILSATCOM constellation worth $46B through the Space-Ground Link System

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  United States Space Force

  Sept 2020 - now

  Led 62-member operation ensuring agile, no-fail, globally deployable mobile capability for 3x $15M USSTRATCOM NC3 platforms Led USSF's largest operations crew of 25 members that oversees 29 satellites from 7 weapon systems and 4 operation centers

  • Orbital Warfare Test Project Officer, 3rd Test and Evaluation Squadron

    Jan 2023 - now

  • Deputy Flight Commander, 4th Space Operations Squadron

    Aug 2021 - Jan 2023

  • MILSATCOM Crew Commander, 4th Space Operations Squadron

    Sept 2020 - Aug 2021
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  United States Air Force Test Pilot School

  May 2021 - Aug 2021

  Student, Space Test Fundamentals Course

  Member of the inaugural class 21-2 of space test professionals at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Space Test Fundamentals (STF) Course. The STF course is a "three-month program [that] leverages world-class USAF TPS expertise and is designed to provide hands-on training in flight-test fundamentals, systems test, space science application, advanced space system test and evaluation, and broad exposure to the foremost centers of space operations and testing"

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  MIT Lincoln Laboratory

  Oct 2024 - Nov 2024

  Military Liaison

  Space Technology Acquisition and Research Course