Daniel Pleffken

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

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