Experience

• SAIC

  Project Manager / Senior Scientist

  • Managed and participated in internal R&D, commercial, and government projects for the development of hand-held detectors that utilized multiple sensor technologies and data fusion algorithms to minimize false alarm detection of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals
  • Developed new and maintained current business relationships with domestic and international customers to gain incremental business

• Liberty University

  Professor and Director of Chemistry

  Teaching Experience
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Instrumental Analysis
  • Special Topics in Chemistry
  • General Chemistry
  • Seminar
  
  Research
  • Directing student research and analytical method development in the areas of separation, identification, and quantification of total lipids found in microalgae samples.
  
  Professional Development
  • NSF-Sponsored cCWCS Forensic Science Workshop, June 2014
  • LU-Send Faculty Enrichment Trip in Israel, January 2019

• Authentix, Inc

  Senior Scientist

  • Developed customized covert and overt chemical marking technologies and detection devices for deterring fraud, counterfeiting, product diversion and terrorism in domestic and international commercial and government applications
  • Provided technical product support for resolving customer issues with field-detection of chemical markers and taggants
  • Collaborated with Sales and Marketing teams to optimize promotion of Authentix products and capabilities to prospective and current customers

• General Atomics

  Analytical Laboratory Manager / Sr Scientist

  Analytical Laboratory Manager
  • Supervised staff of 4-6 scientists and technicians and 8-10 college interns in preparation, review, evaluation, and validation of analytical data obtained from algal biomass and media samples
  • Assisted in construction and site operation of the Kauai Algae Farm, a pre-pilot plant scale-up facility that successfully produced >12 tons of dried algae in 3 months of operation
  • Led survey for cost-effective removal of contaminants from algal oil and recommended down-selected techniques in accordance with client requirements
  • Designed and implemented efficient databases for tracking and monitoring daily algal growth and productivity
  • Improved overall laboratory workflow through implementation of staff cross-training, batch sample preparation, and automated data processing and analysis
  • Modified and validated GC/MS/FID test procedure for fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) in algal oil by reducing consumption of reagents by 70% and reaction time from 8 hours to 1 hour
  • Developed reliable methods for measurement of algal growth and for determination of algal oil or protein content
  
  Senior Scientist
  • Provided data driven assessment of chemical detector performance against Battle Space Management customer requirements
  • Programmed custom MATLAB scripts to perform statistical analyses and data mining on chemical sensor data
  • Collaborated closely with multidisciplinary technical team and potential customers to define chemical sensor requirements
  • Conducted investigations for the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group at Tinker Air Force Base, with the focus on providing alternative processes and/or disposal methods to minimize plasma spray, spent acid, plating, and perchloroethylene wastes