John Paul Latz

Professional Experience

Lead Aerodynamics Engineer

    Program experience includes:
      Joint Strike Fighter, X-35 Concept Demonstrator Aircraft
      T21 Subsonic Drone
      Proprietary Commercial Project
      Several Other Proprietary Projects

• Leading vechile aerodynamic design, analysis and wind tunnel testing team. Directing trade studies into vehicle aerodynamic characteristics, defining wind tunnel test program, re-defining program goals and plans to conform to the realities of the latest data.
• Led vechile aerodynamic design and wind tunnel testing. Balanced cost versus risk requirements for testing, performed trade studies to select best value facilities within budget constraints, accomplished multi-tiered test program with active customer involvement. Communicated aerodynamic requirements and constraints to multi-disciplined design team.
• Managed a team responsible for performance, stability and control, and separation analysis. Team expanded from two part-time, multi-tasked engineers to a peak of six task focused specialists.
• Responsible for dealing directly with customers, developing schedules, budgets, and manpower projections, and responding to contractual requests for information and pre-contract requests for proposal.
• Managed a low-speed/high-speed wind tunnel program of five tests, in three facilities and two countries. Assembled and managed ad-hoc teams of engineers, unionized production workers, and facility technical staff to acquire data and build computer models of aircraft aerodynamics.
• Developed a computer software package for data analysis of full-scale structural test article. Involved cross training beyond specific engineering specialization.
• Supporting Concept Demonstrator Aircraft (CDA) flight test program via pre-flight analysis of aerodynamic data, real-time monitoring of flight test data, and post-flight simulation analyses for aerodynamic model verification.

 

Engineer Senior, Business & Advanced Systems Development Northrop Grumman Corporation, Pico Rivera, CA

December 1996 to August 1991

Core Engineering

    Program experience includes:
      Tier II+ High Altitude, Long Endurance Recce Competiton

• Led IRAD studies in pneumatic forebody vortex control concepts and systems integration.
• Provided technical support for several Independent and Contractual Research and Development (IRAD & CRAD) system studies, including the Northrop Grumman Natural Laminar Flow Supersonic Transport and Pneumatic Aerodynamic Device Development programs.
• Supported Tier II+ Phase I program: performed CFD analyses to minimize drag and estimate stability & control derivatives, supported wind tunnel testing, and completed performance calculations for trade studies.
• Planned and conducted several wind tunnel tests of advanced aerodynamic configurations including powered lift concepts, innovative control effectors, advanced strike aircraft, and HSCT airplanes.
• Experienced with several aerodynamic predictive computer models and codes.

Education:

	M.S., Aeronautics, California Institue of Technology   Grades: GPA = 3.33/4.00   Honors: Attended on the Northrop Fellowship for sponsored graduate study	June 1993
	B.S.E. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University   Grades: Departmental GPA = 3.83/4.00,   GPA = 3.66/4.00   Honors: Graduated Magna Cum Laude     Elected to Tau Beta Pi (National Engineering Honor Society)     Elected to Sigma Xi (National Research Honor Society)     Third Place, Donald Jassen Dike Award for undergraduate research, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department	June 1991
	"Introduction to Flight Test Engineering", National Test Pilots School	November 2000
	"Technical Management Certificate Program", Cal Tech Industrial Relations	October 1996
	"Aircraft Conceptual Design", AIAA short course	June 1994

Awards & Publications

US Patent 5,927,645: Shovel Nose Pnuematic Vortex Control,   (sole-inventor)

A method for effecting control of an aircraft with pnuematic rather than mechanical devices, compatible with various current design constraints.

Patent applied for: Design of a Naval Target Vehicle (working title),   (co-inventor)

"Full-Scale 1903 Wright Flyer Wind Tunnel Test Results from the NASA Ames Research Center",

Henry Jex, Rich Grimm, John Latz, and Craig Hange. AIAA-00-0512

Computer Skills

Related Experience

Miscellany