1. Alexander Downest
axdownes@gmail.com (443) 867-4991
Objective
To contribute to cutting edge research and design of manned and unmanned deep
space exploration systems; to increase the safety and security of America’s warfighters by
providing improved communication and missile defense systems
Education
Graduate of US Army Engineer School April 2015
Maneuver Support Center of Excellence – Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering – Space Track August 2014
A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland – College Park, MD
Graduate of Reserve Officer Training Corps May 2014
University of Maryland Army ROTC – College Park, MD
Experience1
Operations and Logistics Officer December 2010 – present
244
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Engineer Company, Maryland Army National Guard – Baltimore, MD
∇ Responsible for training and operations planning as well as logistic support for 140 soldiers
∇ Led 30 soldiers as Detachment Commander, planned and supervised 11 construction projects
across the state of Maryland during a two week period
∇ Directly accountable for over $2 million in equipment, vehicles, and tools for a 6 month period
with no losses or injuries
∇ Appointed Company Operational Security (OPSEC) Officer, fully trained in protecting sensitive
and classified information
Systems Integration and Risk Management Lead January 2014 – May 2014
University of Maryland Space Systems Laboratory Senior Capstone Project
∇ Worked as a Systems Integration engineer on POLUS, an artificial gravity space habitat, asteroid
science vessel, and entrant in the NIA’s RASC-AL competition
∇ Held key role in developing project timeline and system requirements flowdown for over 40
student engineers working in six design teams
∇ Developed and presented extensive risk analysis, mitigation, and contingency operations matrix
for Critical Design Review by professional Aerospace Engineers
Skills / Activities
∇ Maintains a Secret Security Clearance and FBI Background Check
∇ Practiced with engineering software, including: Wildfire 4.0, Creo (Parametric, Direct, and
Simulate), NX, Inventor, LabView, MATLAB, Gantt Project, MS Project, and Microsoft Office
∇ Proficient with common engineering hardware, including: breadboards and circuits, oscilloscopes,
wind tunnels, pitot probes and other pressure sensors, resistance temperature detectors, wave
generators, stroboscopes, and reflection polariscopes
∇ Experienced with Army and NASA Composite Risk Management formats
∇ Member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Society of the Engineer
∇ Outstanding stage presence and presentation skills following fifteen years in professional choirs,
four years in ROTC, and two years in the Maryland Army Band
∇ STEM volunteer and mentor for annual National Capital Area Youth Leadership Conference at St.
John’s College in Annapolis, MD
References available upon request