Steve Chappell

About Steve Chappell

Over 34 years of proven project, system engineering, research, development, testing, and operations leadership with recent emphasis on:− Building and leading distributed, multidisciplinary project teams of highly capable and motivated individuals working together toward a common set of goals− Establishing the big picture architectures, requirements and interfaces that are needed to achieve specific operational outcomes and then following through with optimized designs− Implementing lean engineering and management philosophies based on the principle that teams are at their best when they are guided by a clear vision and a limited amount of time to achieve success− Operationally driven design of systems through the building and testing of functional prototypes of increasing fidelity to understand the capabilities that are truly needed and those that aren\'t and to drive out integration issuesI\'ve also served my community in Boulder County, Colorado, for nearly 30 years as a professional mountain search and rescue volunteer for Rocky Mountain Rescue. I\'m currently an Operations Leader, able to take command of our team of > 60 experienced rescuers and help people in need of assistance (from injuries, illness, or being lost) anywhere in mountainous terrain where standard urban-based techniques are ineffective. Across my time on the team, I\'ve held the positions of President, Field Director, Training Director, Leadership Development Chair, Helicopter Committee Chair, Equipment Committee Chair, and numerous other roles as needed.

Experience

1. Principal Systems Engineer Project Lead, Formulation Team, Ace

   Blue Origin

   Aug 2022 — Present · Denver, CO, US

   Member of the Systems Formulation Team within the Advanced Concepts & Enterprise Engineering (ACE) business unit. Systems Formulation provides architecture and system definition and modeling, concept exploration, and mission design expertise to the broader Core Formulation Team: a multidisciplinary group of systems thinkers capable of versatile analysis with an emphasis on speed, technical credibility, adaptability, and contextual analysis. The team operates in a fast-paced agile process to sequentially nurture ideas and formulate early concepts into next-generation technologies, systems, and programs to advance our future of living and working in space sustainably. We apply technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to positively support Blue\'s vision.

Education

• University of Colorado Boulder

  PhD, Aerospace Engineering Sciences

  2003 — 2006

• University of Colorado Boulder

  MS, Aerospace Engineering Sciences

  2001 — 2003

• University of Michigan

  BS, Aerospace Engineering

  1987 — 1991

Skills

• Technical Rescue
• Requirements Management
• Emergency Management
• Mountaineering
• Csep
• Exercise Physiology
• System Design
• Disaster Response
• Space Exploration
• Rational Doors
• Search & Rescue
• Integration
• Wilderness First Responder
• Technical Writing
• Requirements Traceability
• Mountain Rescue
• Aerospace Engineering
• Requirements Verification
• Systems Engineering
• Systems Design
• Nims
• Satellite
• Rescue Diver
• Spacecraft
• Concept of Operations
• Fortran
• Space Systems
• Trade Studies
• Project Management
• Satellite Ground Systems
• Underwater
• Interfaces
• Engineering Management
• Simulations
• Engineering
• Aerospace
• Software Engineering
• Master Scuba Diver
• System Architecture
• Satellite Systems Engineering