1. Elham Ghashghai, PhD
(310) 429-0895, Elham.elham@gmail.com
Profile
Senior project leader at The Aerospace Corporation for complex system design and evaluation. A
broad background in math-modeling, system engineering and public policy. Prior to joining
Aerospace, was with the RAND Corporation, leading multi-disciplinary team contributing to a variety
of studies for future aerospace architecture, communication satellite design, operations research,
Global Positioning System (GPS), information technology, and Middle East policy analysis. Taught
variety of courses at University of Southern California (USC) and the Loyola Marymount University
(LMU).
Areas of Expertise
• Team building, Leadership and innovation
• Organizational Strategy
• Strategic Thinking
• Program Management
• Policy Analysis
• Government Relations
• Aerospace System Engineering
• Architecture Design and Evaluation
• Satellite Communication Network Design
• Graduate and Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and System Engineering
Purdue University, Indiana, June 1997
Master of Science in Mathematics
Purdue University, Indiana, June 1993
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Philosophy
Berea College, Kentucky, June 1991
Employment
Senior Project Leader, Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, California 2008-Present
Selected Projects:
Lead National Security SATCOM Systems Synchronization Roadmap (NS4R) sponsored by
Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) program
2014-Present
The National Security Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Systems Synchronization Roadmap
(NS4R) provides an authoritative joint view of the acquisition and deployment of military SATCOM
(MILSATCOM) systems. The purpose of the NS4R is to help coordinate and synchronize the
fielding of interdependent MILSATCOM systems.
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• Lead a diverse team to execute the data call, data verification and data analysis, executive briefing,
and final report
• Effectively used a cross-section of Aerospace support across the country with the range of required
disciplines and experience including hardware, software, network, database, analyses, modeling,
terminal, ground and space systems, resourcing, system acquisition, and user communication
requirements to execute and enhance the NS4R in a timely and cost effective manner
Lead MILSATCOM Developmental Planning (DP) 2008-2014
MILSATCOM Developmental Planning (DP) is an effort sponsored by AirForce Space Command
(AFSPC) to provide recommendations for future combination of military and communication systems for
increased reliability, flexibility and affordability
• Led a diverse team of senior and junior engineers to develop and assess Space Communication
Architectures for Future DoD Space Communication Systems
• Coordinate with Space Program Operations (SPO)s and other teams at Aerospace, Air Force Research
Lab (AFRL), other federally funded research and development centers (FFRDC) and contractors to
disseminate and integrate the information on future communication architecture
Full Systems Analyst, RAND, Santa Monica, California 2004-2008
Led diverse teams in complex system analysis to support US strategy and Policy
Selected Projects:
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). Led a study to evaluate the communication
systems including Advanced EHF and Transformational Communications Satellite (TSAT) to support
ISR
Utilizing Micro Satellites for a Reliable Communications Network. Led a study to provide the utility
of micro satellites to augment the Communication and Global Positioning Satellites
Preparing for the Employment of New Taskable and Agile Space Systems. Provide analysis to help
the U.S. Air Force prepare for new, dynamically taskable space systems by examining key factors
affecting their successful employment, to include system operational concepts and strategies for
organizing, training, and equipping
The Future of Counterspace: Rationale and Strategy. Help the Air Force develop balanced defensive
and offensive capabilities to respond to the enemy’s use of outer space for “defense” purposes with space-
based weaponry and military satellites
Implications of Heavy Reliance on Space-Based Capabilities. Led a study of the communication
network to identify potential risks and instabilities stemming from heavy reliance on space-based
capabilities. Identified and compared alternative approaches to mitigating these risks
Space Vulnerabilities. Led a study on vulnerabilities of communications satellites to jammers
Associate Engineer, RAND 1999-2004
Global Positioning System (GPS) Safety and Integrity Study. Analyzed GPS performance to support
both Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.
GPS/Galileo. Studied policy issues confronting GPS and satellite-based augmentations in the presence
of Galileo through technical discussions in terms of the required space and ground augmentations to the
existing and planned GPS constellation.
Career Path Development. Identified and modeled U.S. Air Force objectives in terms of officers’ career
Resume – Elham Ghashghai, PhD
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paths to achieve the expertise and diversity needed for future environments.
Survivable Networks. Developed algorithms and heuristics to enhance survivability of communication
networks under attack
Member of staff, The Aerospace Corporation 1997-1999
GPS Operational Requirements Document Analysis (ORD). Supported the ORD for GPS in order to
provide better service for civil, commercial, and scientific use of GPS
Teaching Experience
Instructor, Mathematics, Operations Research, and Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, 1991-
1997
Adjunct Faculty, System Engineering Case Studies LMU fall 2008, Model Based System
Engineering; LMU fall 2010. SLEP
Adjunct Faculty, Network Flows, USC Spring 2009, Industrial and System Engineering Department
Introduction to Management Sciences, USC Spring 2010
Additional Activities to Promote the Use of Science and Technology
• Serve in student advisee committee at LMU
• Invited by State Department to give lectures on the use of sciences in numerous universities in
Morocco
• Active member of the Aerospace science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program
Papers
Ghashghai E., “GPS Availability of the Terrestrial Navigation,” Proceedings of the Institute of
Navigations, June 26-28, 2000.
Massatt, P. and Ghashghai, E., “GPS Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring.”
Massatt, P. and Ghashghai ,E., “A Position-Domain RAIM Algorithm for Improved Safety and
Availability,” Proceedings of the Institute of Navigations, June 1- 3,1998.
Ghashghai, “A Communication Network for Integrated ISR,” MILCOM conference 2004.
Ghashghai, E., “Kosovo Lessons Learned: Communications,” Santa Monica, CA, RAND, AB-482-
AF, 2000.
Ghashghai, E., Lewis, Roslind “Issues affecting internet use in Afghanistan and developing countries
in the Middle East,” IP-231, 2001.
Ghashghai, E., “Communication Networks to Support ISR-Strike Platforms,” TR-159, 2004.
Buchan, Glenn et al. “Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Force Mix Study: Final
Report," DRR-2485-AF.
Harris, Elwyn et al. “Challenges of Establishment and Sustainment of U.S. Military Space
Capabilities,” RAND/DRR-2812-AF 2002. The Future Mix of U.S. ISR Forces. 2004 RB-112.
Resume – Elham Ghashghai, PhD
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Moore et al. “Next-generation gunship analysis of alternatives. Vol. I, final report,” MR-1795, 2004.
Kennedy et al. “Interim report on analysis of materiel alternatives for meeting Air Force aerial
refueling requirements,” MG, 2005.
Lewis, Rosalind et al. “Building a Multinational GNSS - Economic and Modernization Implications
for GPS: An Initial Look.” MG-284, 2005.
Bonds et al. “Assessing the vulnerability of civil and commercial space services to system failures,”
MG-252-AF, 2005.
Aerospace Publications:
MILSATCOM Commercial Acquisition Options Assessment: XR Evaluation of SMC-32 Request for
Information (RFI) TOR-2010(1106)-4
Application of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Technology to Protect Return Links from
UAVs TOR-2009(8582)-2
Preliminary Evaluation of Opportunities for DoD Utilization of ICO Hardware TOR-2010(1106)-2
Trends in the Commercial Telecommunication Market and Implications to DoD Commercial Satellite
Usage TOR-2010(1106)-3
MIMO Overview and Space Applications TOR-2010(1106)-3
Commercial SATCOM Competitive Landscape TOR-2010(1106)-4
Potential Protection Capabilities on Commercial Satellites TOR-2010(1106)-5
Military Utility Analysis of Tri-Layer Communication TOR-2013-00854
Network Architecture Analysis of Tri-Layer Communication System TOR-2013-00857
Risk Metric Application to the Resilient Basis Study TOR-2013(1106)-3
Network Coverage and Risk Analysis: Integrated JALN and Space Layer TOR-2013-00856
Tri-Layer Integration: Space, Airborne, Ground/Surface Communications Network Architecture
TOR-2013-00883
Tri-Layer Integration: Space, Airborne, Ground/Surface Communications Network Cost TOR-2013-
00884
Book Chapter
Ghashghai, E. and Rardin, R.L., book chapter in “Linear Time Algorithm to Design Survivable
Networks on Special Graphs,” published in Evolutionary Optimization 1999
Resume – Elham Ghashghai, PhD
