Danny L.

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  Dec 2013 - now

  MQ-9 FTU Instructor/MCE/Operational Test & Evaluation Sensor Operator

  Starting in 2013, I routinely instructed military personnel, pilots, and sensor operators in aircraft operation and management, providing over 200 hours of instruction on the $32MM+ MQ-9 (including aircraft academics, mission planning, and multiple mission briefings). I also participated in aircraft testing and development efforts.Some of my contributions include:➥ Created supplemental training plans to close knowledge/skill gaps.➥ Identified and addressed potential issues in modification packages for UAVs, ground control stations, and support equipment.➥ Led and trained a team of Sensor Operators throughout the transition from the MQ-1 Predator to the MQ-9 Reaper platform; facilitated the successful completion of the MQ-9 qualification course.➥ Managed and maintained training requirements for hundreds of pilots and sensor operators.➥ Ensured compliance with qualification and mission training standards to strengthen operational readiness.➥ Conducted flight testing in restricted airspace to compile and analyze data for various test programs and payloads. Provided recommendations to resolve deficiencies and improve performance.➥ Oversaw scheduling and evaluations for 80+ military personnel.➥ Achieved an aerial achievement medal, meritorious service medal, and operator of the year award in 2015. Show less

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  BGI, LLC

  May 2018 - Oct 2023

  As Aircrew Instructor, I was tasked with training both aircrew personnel and instructors. I designed and authored training resources to clearly explain complex aviation concepts and optimize learning outcomes.Some of my key contributions include:➥ Managed and administered the training curriculum.➥ Increased student understanding and retention via training resources.➥ Instructed 100+ MQ-9 aircrew each year in the MQ-9 Reaper (including systems and operation), resulting in the completion of the Basic MQ-9 qualification course.➥ Developed curricula and provided training support for DoD clients and aircrew tasked with operating UAV systems.➥ Operated 4 MQ-9 unmanned aircraft (each valued at $32MM) in the National Airspace System employing automated takeoff/landing procedures and Beyond Line of Sight. Operated each aircraft ~72K hours per year. ➥ Designed a new instructor guide to ensure greater consistency in instructional practices and modernize instructional techniques, resulting in a 25% increase in student graduation rates.➥ Recognized with positive end-of-course reviews and feedback from students. Show less I joined BGI in 2018, where I led a 4-member team to orchestrate the solution testing and installation process for command-and-control platforms and combat mission software.I partnered with multi-disciplinary, cross-functional teams (including software developers and end-users) to ensure seamless deployment and integration of flight simulator systems, flight simulator upgrades, and software solutions.Some of my contributions include:➥ Provided oversight of the field engineering team, orchestrating technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and test plan working groups.➥ Installed 6 additional flight simulators to streamline training cycles by 120%.➥ Designed holistic plans governing testing and integration (including components, subsystems, and systems).➥ Created robust testing procedures and schedules for complete systems and related subsystems.➥ Served as quality assurance (QA) expert; oversaw all QA processes to troubleshoot hardware, software, and connectivity issues for PMATS MQ-9 flight simulators, resulting in uninterrupted training availability. ➥ Managed equipment logs and resolved software malfunctions.➥ Employed a prioritization matrix to efficiently manage day-to-day tasks.➥ Partnered with the development team to identify, debug, and rectify discrepancies identified in flight testing.➥ Produced 500+ discrepancy reports and conducted regression testing to ensure software quality; validated fixes for software, components, subsystems, and systems.➥ Compiled customer feedback to improve systems functionality, quality, and utility.➥ Managed $5MM+ in simulated products for a squadron conducting 18K hours of annual training.➥ Self-taught Linux software to support engineering installations/improvements. Show less

  • Aircrew Instructor

    Sept 2019 - Oct 2023

  • Field Engineer Site Lead/Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Subject Matter Expert

    May 2018 - Sept 2019
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  Evolving Resources Inc.

  Oct 2023 - Mar 2024

  Operator Instructor

  ERI is a defense engineering company that specializes in engineering, logistics, program management support, and consultation services.Learn more about our services at: www.eri-engineering.com As Operator Instructor, I am accountable for training and instructing military personnel tasked with operating or managing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) across 4 sites. I provide assistance and support to maintain the quality training program.I also completed a rigorous onboarding process in just 1.5 months (vs. the 4.5-month average). Show less

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  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

  Sept 2024 - now

  Project Engineer