Kenneth Hicks is a senior aerospace systems engineer and project manager with over 29 years of experience in systems design, development of space and terrestrial systems, and technology management. He has worked as an independent consultant, at Logyx LLC, and spent his career at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he held several manager and leadership roles developing new technologies, evaluating concepts, and championing approaches to improve communications, payload operations, and crew safety. Hicks has extensive experience coordinating multi-institutional teams and developing proposals to promote partnerships between NASA, industry, and commercial partners.

1. Kenneth Alan Hicks
Senior Aerospace Systems Engineer, Project Manager, Technology Development/Risk
Manager, Business Developer, Program/Project Technologist, Technical Writer, and
Independent Aerospace/Commercial BusinessConsultant
Office Address:10300 Arrow Rt. Apt14-04, Rancho Cucamonga,CA,91730
Email:kenhicks50@yahoo.com
Contact: 909-660-2484
I am a successful Aerospace Engineerandleaderwithover29 yearsof experienceinsystemdesign,and directing
the developmentof high-payoff space and terrestrial systemsforcritical applications. I alsoparticipate in,orchair
project/Programreviewsandconsultwithcustomersandsponsors asaninternal partneroras a neutral-third-
party underNon-Disclosure Agreements. I workwell inProject/Programdevelopmentand Technology
Managementsettingsandalsoworkeasilyincoordinatingfocused anddisruptive researchanddevelopment,
technologymaturationandvalidationenvironmentsincludingdeploymentandoperations. I workwell asa team
leader,teamplayer,andasa principal orsoloactor inthe field. Itravel well,trulyenjoyworkingwithpeople.I
enjoychallenges.
SKILLS:
 Program, Project and Technology Management, Mission and Systems Quality Assurance, Requirement
Development and Negotiation, Strategic Planning
 SystemEngineering,Electronicsdesignanddevelopment,test,andqualification,RequirementsManagement,
Verification and Validation, Field testing and coordination
 Facilitatingtechnologyinfusionintocritical mission/sortieapplications (ITAR/IP/DOD/Competition Sensitive)
 Coordinatingnewbusinessdevelopment, CompletiveMarketAnalysis,Make-buydecisions,RiskManagement
 Team Formulationand Leadership, Team player, Team/Project Consultant, Proposal Development, Tackling
difficult objectives
 Technical Writing
 Networking in both Government and non-Government settings, Industry, Academia, Foreign Partners
 Solid computer and presentation skills
WORK EXPERIENCE
Independent Corporate Consultant
June 2013 to Present, Independent Corporate Consultant
I am an independent consultant for both new business start-ups and established organizations that require
experienced outside views and consultation. Chair or participate in reviews, proposal development and evaluation
under Non-Disclosure Agreements. I am also the Vice President for Marketing and Contracts at South Sea
Incorporate located in Southern California
Senior Systems Engineer, New Business Consultant, Technical Writer, Proposal Developer, January
2012 to July 2013
Logyx LLC – MountainViewCalifornia,Personal Office inRanchoCucamonga,California,SeniorSystemEngineer,
proposal/projectdeveloper,proposalwriter/new businessconsultant,riskidentification,avoidance and
containment,Newbusinessdeveloper
JPL Career, March 1985 to January 2012

2. Manager for (NASA/JPL) Center Partnering and Flight Opportunities, Mission Science Directorate, Jet
Propulsion Laboratory – Pasadena, CA - January 2009 to January 2012
Task Leader for Commercial Technology Concept Evaluations. Efforts focused on the improvement of
deep-space and near-earth satellite communications and data processing capabilities for the NASA Deep
Space Network (DSN). I performed proposal developments to promote more efficient communication
and data dissemination methods for the DSN. Over this time period I also championed new approaches
for payload management and crew safety on board the International Space Station (ISS) with a focus on
payload and crew “situational awareness”, crew safety and payload operations. In addition I was the
Project Manager working on the behalf of the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), teaming with the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) engaged in a “technology race”
that was solicited by the Defense Advanced Research Program Agency (DARPA) in order to validate
conceptual ideas of multiple spacecraft collaborating and operating as a single entity “Fractionated
Satellites” (F6).
Manager for Technology Infusion and Flight Validation, System Modeling and Analysis Program Office,
Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Pasadena CA – August 1998 through January 2009 (Multiple Roles)
Liaison betweenNASAAmesResearch Center(ARC),NASA DrydenFlight ResearchCenter (DFRC), and the NASA
Caltech/JetPropulsionLaboratory (JPL). This work promoted partneringand competitive market arrangements.
As a fieldagentIsetthe stage for newtechnologydevelopments, Programs and Projects between NASA Centers
and commercial/industrial partners. This work included strategic alliance planning and competitive market
analysis and substantial interactions with partnering agencies across the United States.
ProcessEngineerfor the developmentofnewJPL FlightProject Practices (FPP).Thispositionspecifically targeted
towardsthe evaluationof new technologies, utilizationobstacles,andenhancementof technology returnson
investmentbyloweringtechnologyriskandincreasingthe utilizationof NASA sponsoredtechnology
developments.
Technology Development Advisor for the Strategic Systems Technology Program Office (SSTPO)
Established pilotVerificationandValidation(V&V) projectsthatfocusedonthe evaluationof advanced
managementandproductdevelopmentITtools intendedtostreamlineproductdevelopmentlifecycles.I
developed“stage-gate”trial processesandsuccessmetrics inordertoevaluate “realistic”value-addedif these
practicesand tools if they were implemented incommercial andGovernmentsettings
Overthistime period, Ialsomanageda multi-institutional teamof NASA engineers,testpilots, technologists,and
industrypartnersthatsuccessfullydemonstrated the feasibility IntegratedSystemHealthManagement(ISHM)
technologies(model andphysics-basedlearningengines) inreal-time applications. These seriesof technology
demonstrations flew successfullyonboardanF-18 fighterjetatEdwardsAFB/DrydenFlightResearchCenter.
Implementation Technologist, NASA Cross-Enterprise Technology Development Program (CETDP),
NASA Code-S
NASA HQ Level-2positionasa Program“TechnologyImplementationSpecialist”. Iparticipatedinthe formulation
and implementationof thisNASA Programthatheldoversightoverthe majorityof all new NASA technology
developmentsandintegrationintosystemsbothinside andoutsideof NASA. Responsibilitiesincluded:Proposal
developer,reviewer,andadvisortoNASA, Industry,andAcademiaasa neutral thirdparty.

3. Additional Background (Projects and Technology Development)
Lead Engineer for the NASA X-33 Avionics Flight Experiment (AFE) March 1995 to August 1998
Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Pasadena, California, Led a team tasked with the development and validation of an
integrated avionics system and an advanced inertial navigation suite of technologies for the experimental X-33
Reusable LaunchVehicle. Thisprojectdemonstrated(2X) improvements inperformance, power, mass, and cost
efficiencies over current space-qualified Inertial Navigations Systems.
Task Manager/Senior Engineerfor the DOD sponsored Space Technology Research Vehicle – II
Electronics Test Bed (ETB) Project
Coordinateda multi-interestteamformedfromUSindustry,academic,Governmentscientists,researchers, and
engineersthatdevelopeda suite of six specialized spacecrafthealthmonitoring experimentsthatwere literally
gluedorboltedontothe vehicle asballastorutilized unusedmassandsurface area on the spacecraft. This
experimentflew flawlesslyandincreasedourunderstandingof in-situspacecraftenvironmentalhazardscaused
by solaractivity,andprovidedin-situmonitoring,atverylow cost. This pavedthe wayfor inexpensive vehicle
situational awarenessand protectionfromthesekindsof space environmental hazards.
Lead Engineer /Task Lead for the Clementine spacecraft - Radiation RELiability and Assurance
eXperiment (RRELAX) project, 1994 to 1996
Formedand leda team that rapidlydevelopedacompactspace environmentmonitoringsysteminorderto
establishthe robustnessof newApplicationSpecificIntegratedCircuit(ASIC) technologiesinthe hazardousspace
radiationenvironment. The experimentsflewin1996 and workedflawlesslythroughoutthe ClementineMission.
Computer Science/Electrical Engineer and Technology Developer March 1985 through January 1994
DesignedcustomVery-Large-Scale-Integration (VLSI) circuits/sensors thatwere highlyspecializedforuse inspace
and terrestrial monitoringsystems.Thesesensorsystemswere integratedanddeployedsuccessfullyoverthe late
1980’s and early1990’s and continue tobe the standardof radiationandimagingtechnologiesto date. Thiswork
pioneeredthe use of inexpensiveandlightweightspacecrafthealthsensingtechnologies andledtonew
discoverieswithinNASA,andthe FederalAviationAdministrationincreating “shadow”systemsthat
demonstrated thatsolid-state technologiescouldsafelyreplace mechanical switchingsystems
Education: B.S. Computer Science and Engineering. University of La Verne, 1987
Technology Management Certificate, California Institute of Technology, 2003
Sergeant/Instructor – NASA/JPL Fire/Urban Search and Rescue, FEMA certified
Advanced water rescue, certified diver
Awards: NASA/JPL Technology and Applications Program: Two Exceptional Achievement awards for team
leadership, U.S. Government Exceptional Achievement Medal for NASA/JPL Constellation Project Leadership,
Seven NASA/JPL Group Achievement Awards