Mahhad Nayyer

About Mahhad Nayyer

https://linktr.ee/mnayyerI am an aerospace and systems engineer with extensive experience delivering medium-scale to complex engineering projects across the space and aviation domains. I bring a high-energy, self-motivated, and disciplined approach to problem-solving, particularly in projects of a novel, interdisciplinary, or first-of-a-kind nature.My expertise spans the conception, design, and development of experimental and operational infrastructure, including graduate student laboratories, mission operations centers, and ground station facilities. I am proficient in technical specification development, requirements engineering, and implementation planning, with a strong systems-thinking mindset that enables traceability from stakeholder needs to operational outcomes.I have hands-on experience conducting market analysis and sectoral surveys across New Space, commercial space, and Space 4.0 ecosystems, with a particular focus on Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and space sustainability–driven architectures. I actively practice project management, with demonstrated application of Agile methodologies and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to manage complexity, reduce risk, and accelerate delivery.My background also includes rigorous maintenance and flight-line operations experience for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, providing me with a strong appreciation for operational realities, safety-critical systems, and lifecycle engineering.Beyond technical execution, I bring inspirational and inclusive leadership, particularly in cross-cultural and international environments, where I actively promote principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. I have gained valuable field and educational exposure through engagements with NASA Johnson Space Center, the USAF Test Pilot School, and ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre, which have shaped my global and systems-level perspective on aerospace engineering.I have traveled to 30+ countries across Asia, Europe, and North America, enriching my ability to collaborate across cultures and operate effectively in global teams. Alongside my professional work, I maintain a strong commitment to community service and volunteerism at local, national, and international levels.I am also an active public speaker and science communicator, delivering special lectures on space awareness, space technology, orbital debris, and the history of human spaceflight to diverse audiences globally.

Experience

1. Co Lead Space Safety and Sustainability Project Group

   Space Generation Advisory Council

   Oct 2023 — Present

   Leadership & Program Development PG Co-Lead)- Launched “Webinar Wednesdays”, delivering 7 high-impact webinars on space safety and sustainability; ensured permanent public access via SpaceGen YouTube- Curated interdisciplinary programming, including a documentary-focused webinar on Terraforming Ascension with filmmakers and space architecture experts- Revitalized PG operations by creating 10+ new volunteer roles and onboarding contributors across research, partnerships, communications, media, and graphics teams- Designed and implemented standardized onboarding documents, timelines, and research intake forms, significantly streamlining member integration and project execution- Led PG website modernization, now recognized by PG Coordinators as SGAC’s strongest project group website.Research, Conferences & Global Engagement- Led and co-authored multiple flagship research projects presented at IAC 2024, COSPAR, and ESA Clean Space Days, covering STM, SSA, zero debris, and EO-based disaster warning systems- Delivered keynote presentation at ESA Clean Space Days 2024, catalyzing a proposed ESA Zero Debris–SGAC partnership for the 2025 event- Initiated and led inter-PG collaborations Satellites PG; PG/UNCOPUOS project), strengthening cross-domain research integration- Enabled new international academic collaboration with Yonsei University following COSPAR presentation- Supported regional SGAC chapters (Azerbaijan, Nigeria) as speaker, organizer, and moderator on space sustainability and SmallSat futures- Served as SGAC webinar speaker on optical sensor–based SSA- Oversaw 15+ peer-reviewed research papers presented across three international conferences in 2024, representing a record increase for PG.

Education

• United States Air Force Academy

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Astronautical Engineering

• United States Air Force Academy

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Humanities/Humanistic Studies

• Purdue University

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

• Technische Universität Graz

  Masters of Engineering, Space Systems and Business Engineering

  2020 — 2021