Daniel Pleffken
Assistant Professor and Researcher at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Role
- Instituto Tecnológico De Aeronáutica - Ita at Força Aérea Brasileira - Fab
- Location
- Daytona Beach, FL, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Daniel Pleffken
I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Graduate Studies, College of Aviation, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a research collaborator at the Boeing Center for Aviation & Aerospace Safety, with over 20 years of experience spanning aerospace operations, airworthiness certification, systems engineering, and graduate education.My professional trajectory integrates academic research with extensive applied experience. I am a former Brazilian Air Force pilot with more than 1,500 flight hours on C-295, Cessna 208, T-25, T-27, and E-110 aircraft, followed by leadership roles in airworthiness certification, systems safety, and accident investigation within a military and regulatory context.At DCTA/IFI, Brazil’s military airworthiness authority, I led type certification and continued airworthiness programs aligned with FAA, EASA, and national regulatory frameworks. Between 2016 and 2020, I coordinated Brazil’s military certification processes and served as Deputy Industrial Manager of the KC-390 program, leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and collaborating with international aerospace partners, including Boeing, Embraer, and SAAB.I hold a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), with part of my doctoral research conducted at the University of Central Florida. My research focuses on verification, validation, and certification (VV & C) of advanced aerospace systems, including eVTOL platforms, digital certification frameworks, and the integration of AI-enabled methods into system safety and regulatory compliance.My academic mission is to advance research and graduate education at the intersection of aerospace innovation, certification, and ethics, contributing to rigorous, transparent, and future-ready approaches for the design, certification, and operation of complex sociotechnical systems.Research & Teaching Interests• Aerospace Systems Safety and Risk Analysis• Airworthiness Certification and Regulatory Frameworks (FAA / EASA)• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and VV & C• Digital Certification and AI-Enabled Safety Assessment• eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility Systems• Graduate Education, Research Mentorship, and Industry–Academia Collaboration“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Matthew 6:33
Experience
Instituto Tecnológico De Aeronáutica - Ita
Mar 2022 — Present
Education
Cranfield University
Airworthiness Fundamentals
2019 — 2019
CENIPA
Curso de Investigação de Acidentes Aeronáuticos, Ciências Aeronáuticas
2014 — 2014
INPE
Redundância e Tolerância a falhas de componentes, Engenharia
2018 — 2018
INPE
Mestrando do Curso de Engenharia Gerenciamento de Sistemas Espaciais, Engenharia de Sistemas
2017 — 2019
INPE
Engenharia de Requisitos, Engenharia
2017 — 2017
INPE
Engenharia de Sistemas
2019 — 2019
INPE
Qualidade de Componentes, Engenharia
2018 — 2018
IFI
Curso de Certificação de Produtos Aeronáuticos, Certificação
2017 — 2017
CENIPA
Curso de Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos, Ciências Aeronáuticas
2013 — 2013
Academia da Força Aérea - AFA
Bacharelado em Ciencias Aeronauticas e Administração
2006 — 2009
IFI
Curso de Auditor da Qualidade, Auditoria
2016 — 2016
IFI
Curso de ISO 9001, Normas de Padronização
2016 — 2016
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