Lisa Akers - Chief Engineer/Technical Leader, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company

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Work Background

Lockheed MartinChief Engineer

Mar. 2020United States · HybridThe Chief Engineer has a critical role in overseeing the big picture of the program–the technical details, programmatic details, and process details. All of these have to come together to achieve total success. I enjoy leading this process and supporting everyone in understanding how their contributions make a difference •Chaired Critical Design Reviews for docking integration, pyro system certification, and the European Service Module. Engineering point of contact for the systems engineering group managing the module integration with the core vehicle. •Brought cost-effective digital transformation changes to the Hardware Certification process. Tailoring requirements reduced over 500 hours from the certification process and made artifacts easily available and readable by the customer. •Established a future strategy process and database to evaluate and incorporate innovative ideas from colleagues across the program and line of business. This process drives toward long-term strategy and system architecture to evolve into a 30+ year and $1.5B+/year program. •Headed proposal development for the Launch Abort System mid-air retrieval using a helicopter and barge to capture an unused Launch Abort System after jettison. This proposal is a key affordability initiative that saves of $18-20M per launch. My program planning focus is on developing Statements of Work, systems engineering plans, integrated master schedules, funding milestone reviews, and design reviews. Critical to the effort is subcontract management of proprietary technology enablers. •Technical lead of Workforce Planning team to ensure the Orion team was right-sized for upcoming work. This entailed regular reviews of staffing plans, upcoming schedule milestones, and planned departures/retirements. I wrote job requisitions for 15 senior engineering leaders and managers. •Deep network of experienced professionals and up-and-coming leaders through my connections with SWE, NASA, and other space-focused companies.

Red Canyon Engineering & SoftwareOrion Artemis Ship Captain

Nov. 2019 - Mar. 2020Delivering a spacecraft is far more than making sure the hardware does what it is supposed to. I stepped into this new role and led to an on-time delivery of the Launch Abort System and established a multi-agency process for both hardware and documentation deliveries to the customer • I led a cross-functional team in the assembly and delivery of the Artemis-1 Launch Abort System, managing not only the technical hardware completion, but also the documentation deliveries for the first DD-250 delivery of the Artemis program. • Attention to detail in a delivery of this size is critical. I supervised all aspects of the documentation and hardware delivery of the Artemis-1 spacecraft – build documentation, nonconformance reports, verifications, qualification and acceptance testing, MUAs, configuration management, certification boards, and waivers/deviations. • I interact with NASA customer and program management regularly to update status toward the DD250 and evaluate document delivery strategies, coordinate technical reviews, and ensure compliance.

Red Canyon Engineering & SoftwareOperations/Manufacturing Engineer

Jan. 2012 - Nov. 2019Denver, COMy superpower is empowering my team to trust their experience, embrace their creativity, and speak confidently in solving complex problems with competing demands. I believe that leadership is not being in charge, but taking care of those in your charge. • I led a small team of expert technicians and inspectors in the cradle to grave assembly of eight Orion Launch Abort System vehicles, managing all aspects of the production -- facilities, planning, procurement, transport, assembly, test, launch, and recovery. The assemblies included five test articles and three flight vehicles, including PA-1 in 2010, EFT-1 in 2014, and AA-2 and Artemis-1 in 2019. • I am a nimble thinker and responsive to unplanned events. To accommodate hardware delays and personnel absences I replanned the Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 assembly schedule to reach a $21M milestone 16 days ahead of schedule. • I am often called upon to be a navigator in technical challenges. I stepped in to assist the EFT-1 Crew Module team with wire harness routing and installation. I’m a key author of the Lockheed Martin KSC Ordnance Safety Plan. I’m a recognized technical expert and team leader throughout the Orion program, from engineering to Mission Success, ATLO to safety.

Eagle Aerospace, IncOperations/Manufacturing Engineer

Oct. 2009 - Dec. 2011Denver, COMy superpower is empowering my team to trust their experience, embrace their creativity, and speak confidently in solving complex problems with competing demands. I believe that leadership is not being in charge, but taking care of those in your charge. • I led a small team of expert technicians and inspectors in the cradle to grave assembly of eight Orion Launch Abort System vehicles, managing all aspects of the production -- facilities, planning, procurement, transport, assembly, test, launch, and recovery. The assemblies included five test articles and three flight vehicles, including PA-1 in 2010, EFT-1 in 2014, and AA-2 and Artemis-1 in 2019. • I am a nimble thinker and responsive to unplanned events. To accommodate hardware delays and personnel absences I replanned the Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 assembly schedule to reach a $21M milestone 16 days ahead of schedule. • I am often called upon to be a navigator in technical challenges. I stepped in to assist the EFT-1 Crew Module team with wire harness routing and installation. I’m a key author of the Lockheed Martin KSC Ordnance Safety Plan. I’m a recognized technical expert and team leader throughout the Orion program, from engineering to Mission Success, ATLO to safety.

PanAmSatBusiness Development Manager

Mar. 2000 - Oct. 2003Starting a new business sector within an existing company presents challenges of growth and shifting priorities. I worked to keep my team engaged and encouraged to support their personal growth and achieve business objectives. • As the constellation manager, my responsibilities included life extension and satellite repurposing. I directed the move of the PAS-5 spacecraft at the end of its domestic mission to provide upgraded and new services to communities in Africa and the Middle East and a new $35M income stream for the company. • I led the engineering team in evaluating and mitigating an on-orbit battery failure that limited service of a domestic spacecraft. We developed a strategy to manage power loads and avoid service interruption for our customers. • My team of business development experts secured a $45M contract to bring an FAA navigation payload to a commercial satellite; growing a new business segment and creating key customer relationships within the government services sector.

Lockheed MartinLaunch Operations Engineer

Nov. 1997 - Mar. 2000Vandenberg AFB, CAAs a team leader with much autonomy, I rose to the challenge of being the ground support equipment expert and a key motivator to keep focused on a critical launch date. • With a shoestring budget, I built a team of six committed experts and led them from an empty launch pad to a successful launch in only six months. • Our team was ultimately responsible for evaluating the ground system design, developing test requirements, implementing testing, and performing launch console operations during vehicle checkouts and launch day activities, resulting in five successful launch campaigns from three different launch pads.

United States Air ForceSatellite Operations Engineer, Solar Physicist

May. 1992 - Nov. 1997Schriever AFB, COThere is no better leadership laboratory than the military service. I enjoyed working with people from diverse backgrounds and varying educational experiences. I found that people respond best when given the opportunity and support to succeed. • I was responsible for the day to day operations and anomaly resolution of a $770 million defense satellite constellation. My expert knowledge and skill garnered me a promotion to the coveted satellite engineering group, with responsibility for maintaining and extending the health and mission components of the spacecraft. • To increase operations efficiency, I developed an automated maneuver planner that saved more than 20 hours of planning time for each stationkeeping maneuver.