Robert Retsch has over 36 years of experience in aerospace engineering and management. He has held leadership positions for over 28 years, managing programs from proposals through production and delivery. His areas of expertise include program management, contracting, planning, cost estimating, scheduling, customer interfacing, and more. He currently works as a consultant providing expertise in systems engineering and project management.

1. Madison, AL
bretsch@cogengrconsulting.com
bretsch@wowway.com
925.200.9542
Cognitive Engineering
Consulting, Inc.
Robert A. Retsch
36 Years Experience in Aerospace
www.cogengrconsulting.com

2. CAREER SUMMARY 3
LEADERSHIP SUMMARY 4
RESUME 5
EXPERIENCE 6
HIGHLIGHTS 9
EDUCATION 10
CONTENTS
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3. CAREER SUMMARY
• 36 YEARS OF WIDELY DIVERSIFIED PROFESSIONAL
WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELDS OF ENGINEERING
AND MANAGEMENT.
• ASSIGNMENTS RANGED FROM PROPOSALS TO
PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY.
• 28 YEARS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
• SPECIFIC AREAS OF EXPERIENCE & DISCIPLINE:
 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
CONTRACT NEGOTIATION
 LONG RANGE PLANNING/COST/SCHEDULING
 SHORT RANGE DETAIL PLANNING/COST/SCHEDULING
 COST ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
 CUSTOMER/VENDOR INTERFACE
 SUBCONTRACT MANAGEMENT
 FORMAL PRESENTATIONS, PDRS AND CDRS
 PROPOSALS
 CONCEPTUAL TO DETAIL DESIGN
COMPOSITES
 MANUFACTURING OVERSIGHT
 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING
FAILURE REVIEWS
ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
FIELD SUPPORT
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4. 4

5. Cognitive Engineering Consulting, Inc.
ROBERT A. RETSCH
Madison, AL 35758
mailto:bretsch@cogengrconsulting.com
(925) 200-9542
___________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY
Diversified background of 36 years in the Aerospace Industry with the last 28 years in various leadership positions.
Skilled at planning and organizing in a team environment for product design, development, and manufacturing.
Demonstrated skills in areas of communication, administration, vendor management, and customer interface.
EXPERIENCE
LOCKHEED-MARTIN MISSILES & SPACE CO. Huntsville, AL 2009 to 2014
Assigned to Targets & Countermeasures Program as Cost Account Mgr. and Booster Lead. Responsibilities
included product development, program acquisition, cost estimating, trades, CAIVS, staffing, customer interface,
integrated Master Schedule and directing technical efforts. Other assignment was Manager for Air Launch and
Ground Support Equipment. Responsible for program values up to $63M. Security Clearance Top Secret
LOCKHEED-MARTIN MISSILES & SPACE CO. Sunnyvale, CA 1990 to 2009
Assignments included leadership positions ranging from Design Lead to Project Manager. Accountable for systems
development, design, manufacturing, testing, and delivery. Skills honed include short to long range planning,
budgeting, cost and schedule accounting, facilities planning, staffing, subcontract management, and formal
presentations to domestic and international customers. Program assignments include:
Space Based Infrared Satellite Airborne Laser Classified Programs ACES Program
Portable Antenna Telemetry Sys. Fleet Ballistic Missile Orion Program
LOCKHEED AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS CO. Burbank, CA 1981 to 1990
Held entry and five growth positions in ADP’s design organization (Skunk Works) on various development programs
including Stealth Technology. Burbank career culminated as project team leader for 25 engineers on a $13M project
for the Advanced Tactical Fighter program. Skills developed in disciplines including project management,
supervision, rapid procurement, and administration. Technical skills included composite/metallic structures design,
adhesives, electrical and hydraulic systems, rapid tooling, and preventative maintenance.
SELF EMPLOYED Sewickley, PA 1976 to '1981
Organized, operated, and promoted three businesses to fund full-time college education.
PRATT & WHITNEY AIRCRAFT CO. West Palm Beach, FL 1972 to 1975
Engineering Assistant responsible for statistical and maintenance records, repair, refurbishment, and testing of
experimental gas turbine engines and their components.
TOOL SKILLS
Cost Accounting / Earned Value Management
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Access, Visio
EDUCATION & PERSONAL
Continued Education and Training Lockheed, UCLA, and Adult Education
BS, Mechanical Engineering Geneva College
AS, Special Technology Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

6. EXPERIENCE
LOCKHEED MARTIN MISSILES & SPACE CO.
SUNNYVALE, CA & HUNTSVILLE, AL
MARCH 1990 TO PRESENT
MECHANICAL ENGINEER SR. STAFF
• ASSIGNED TO TARGETS PROGRAM
• PAST ASSIGNMENTS RANGED FROM DESIGN LEAD TO
PROGRAM MANAGER (PATS PROGRAM)
• RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED ALL ASPECTS OF SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, TESTING, RCS, AND
DELIVERY
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: Top Secret (Granted 1-31-14)
• SKILLS HONED INCLUDE:
 SHORT TO LONG RANGE PLANNING
 EFFICIENT COST ACCOUNTING & SCHEDULE EXECUTION
 ORGANIZATION
 FACILITIES PLANNING
 SUBCONTRACT MANAGEMENT
 FORMAL PRESENTATIONS – DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS
PATS PROGRAM
PROGRAM MGR.
PATS PROGRAM TEAM
AIRBORNE LASER .
SBIRSPROGRAM
SCAMP.
FLEET BALLISTICMISSILE
HEO PALLET .
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6
TARGETS PROGRAM

7. EXPERIENCE
LOCKHEED AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS CO.
BURBANK, CA
JULY 1981 TO FEBRUARY 1990
DESIGN ENGINEER
• HELD ENTRY LEVEL AND 5 GROWTH POSITIONS
• PROMOTED TO HIGHEST DESIGN LEVEL IN 7 YEARS
• CAREER CULMINATED IN POSITION OF TEAM LEADER FOR 25
ENGINEERS ON $13M PROJECT
• SELECTED FOR COMPANY FUNDED MGMT. TRAINING
• TECHNICAL SKILLS DEVELOPED IN AREAS OF:
 STRUCTURES DESIGN
 COMPOSITES & METALLIC STRUCTURES
 ADHESIVES
 ELECTRICAL & HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS
 FIELD SUPPORT
 CUSTOMER INTERFACE
ATF CREW OF THE MONTH
YF-22ADVANCED TACTICAL
FIGHTER
F-117ASTEALTHFIGHTER
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7

8. EXPERIENCE
PRATT & WHITNEY AIRCRAFT CO.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL
OCTOBER 1972 TO JANUARY 1975
• ASSEMBLY, TEAR DOWN AND INSPECTION
• STATISTICAL AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS
• TEST SUPPORT
• TEST DATA REDUCTION
• FAILURE MALFUNCTION REPORTS
ENGINEERING ASSISTANT
J-58 EXPERIMENTALGAS TURBINE ENGINE
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8
SR-71Blackbird

9. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
PRODUCTIVITYIMPROVEMENT
AWARDS
CERTIFICATES
OF ACHIEVEMENT
SALARY PERFORMANCE
APPRAISAL
PERFORMANCEASSESSMENT
Robert Retsch was the team leader and
facilitated the process of collecting and
evaluating the large quantity of data which the
team evaluated. Bob brought an unbiased
point of view to the team which ensured that
any conclusions made were supported by the
data. He laid out and drove the schedule plan
for accomplishment of the task in the time
frame required... D. A. Banks
The design team, under the
direction of Robert Retsch, both
designed and completed 56
detailed drawings of a composite
antenna, battery box, assemblies,
and deployment mechanisms for
SCAMP field communication
system Critical Design Review in
less than one month….This effort
was instrumental in LMSC’s
retention of the SCAMP DEM/VAL
contract. C. Vollersen
Mr. Retsch was asked to take over the final design,
procurement, fab. and assembly of the PATS Project
while it was over run and behind schedule. He
faced an adversarial atmosphere at first but was able
to evaluate the project and redefine the schedule and
cost elements….Bob’s “can do” attitude coupled with
his programatic skills has been the main reason this
$8M project has been turned around…. M. Parker
SUPERIOR
PERFORMANCEAWARD
FBM
US NAVY AWARD
7
As a CAM…Bob helped
complete a very visible,
highly valuable program
milestone meeting all
requirements and on
schedule. He continues to
perform at a high level in
meeting program
expectations. K. Forrest
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10. EDUCATION
BS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING GENEVA COLLEGE
AS SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY PITTSBURGHINST. OF AREONAUTICS
• COMPOSITES MANUFACTURING UCLA
• COMPOSITES DESIGN UCLA
• TRANSITION TO SUPERVISOR LADC
• EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION LADC
• BUSINESS ETHICS MGMT. LEEP
• EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING LEEP
• HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE LEEP
• SUCCESSFUL DELEGATION LEEP
• EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION LADC
• STRESS FOR DESIGNERS LEEP
• PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY LADC
• SALARY PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL LADC
• DESIGN FOR COMPETITIVENESS LMMS
• BEING EFFECTIVE W/DIFFICULT PEOPLE LMMS
• MS OFFICE PRODUCTS SELF
• BASIC ACCOUNTING ADLT ED
• COST ACCOUNTING LMMS
• KEPNER TREGOE PROJECT MANAGMENT LMMS
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PROFESSIONAL
CONTINUED EDUCATION
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