James Nelson

About James Nelson

Retired aerospace industry consultant, chief engineer, senior manager, and engineer at Boeing. Consultant to investment managers and industry on aerospace engineering and operations issues. 32 years at Boeing / McDonnell Douglas in Southern California. Senior engineering manager for 17 years. Chief Engineer of Commercial Airplanes Structural Analysis in SoCal for 5 years. Held extended key roles on the development of four Collier Trophy-winning programs: 787, X-37, International Space Station, and C-17. Supported the 737, 747, 767, and 787 programs. Managed numerous large engineering teams with as many as 450 engineers on commercial, government, manned, unmanned, air, space, and hypersonic vehicle programs. Extensive experience with engineering process, FAA, NASA, and DOD product certification, strategic planning, business operations, and risk management. MS in mechanical engineering. Working background in structures and mechanical systems design, analysis, simulation, and testing. Focused knowledge in composite materials, aerodynamics, flight control systems, and components. Licensed instrument rated pilot. Previously licensed and trained as an investment advisor.Specialties: Aerospace Engineering Execution and ProcessAviationProduct DevelopmentProgram ManagementProject ManagementBusiness DevelopmentFunctional ManagementOrganizational DevelopmentSystems EngineeringAerospace Engineering ProcessStructures and MechanismsStructural Strength AnalysisAeroheating and Thermal ProtectionCommercial SpaceCommercial AirplanesManned SpaceFighter AircraftExperimental Aerospace VehiclesPlatform EngineeringMilitary and Commercial Cargo Aircraft

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   Miranda Leigh Nelson Foundation

   Jun 2021 — Present · Huntington Beach, CA, US

Education

• California State University, Long Beach

  MS, Mechanical Engineering

  1991 — 1993

• California State University, Long Beach

  BS, Mechanical Engineering

  1979 — 1984

• College for Financial Planning

  CRPC and APMA, Retirement Counseling and Investment Portfolio Management

  2017 — 2018

• Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce

  Robert Mayer Leadership Academy - Certificate, Leadership, City Government

  2010 — 2011

• UC Irvine

  Certificate, Engineering Management

  1997 — 1998

Skills

• Aerospace Engineering
• Earned Value Management
• Mechanical Engineering
• Finite Element Analysis
• Integration
• Six Sigma
• Testing
• Engineering
• Aerospace
• Space Systems
• Spacecraft
• Aerodynamics
• Catia
• Cae
• Solidworks
• Project Management
• Stress Analysis
• System Design
• Simulations
• Avionics
• Systems Engineering
• Systems Design
• Aircraft
• Requirements Management
• Analysis
• Configuration Management
• Composites
• Program Management
• Engineering Management