Zachary Preissman

About Zachary Preissman

GNC Engineer at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Recent M.S. graduate in the Aerospace Engineering department at The Pennsylvania State University with a GPA of 4.00. My research focuses on trajectory planning and optimization for close-proximity spacecraft operations. I developed more computationally efficient and accurate control algorithms for spacecraft docking and rendezvous procedures. These control algorithms utilized regularization techniques and higher-order differential corrections to tackle the highly constrained optimal control problems, while maintaining the highest-fidelity dynamics. From my innovative open-loop solution, I applied a nonlinear optimal feedback controller with path constraint consideration to devise a closed-loop solution to the highly complex docking scenarios under consideration. I successfully defended my Master\'s thesis titled “Safe Trajectory Planning and Control for Autonomous Close-Proximity Spacecraft Operations.”Undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University with a 3.89 GPA, with minors in Spanish Language and Engineering Leadership Development (ELD).Former F-35 Flying Quality Test Engineer at the Naval Air Station (NAS) in Patuxent River, Maryland, in the Summer of 2023. During this experience, I supported flight tests of the F-35B and F-35C variants across a wide domain of flight regimes. Elected President of Sigma Gamma Tau National Aerospace Honor Society for the 20••••23 academic year. Organized networking events and tutoring programs for the department. Awarded the Anthony E. Wolk citizenship award for outstanding leadership within the aerospace department.In 2022, I worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the Control and Analysis of Stochastic Systems (CASS) lab at Penn State, working on a hypersonics study funded by the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics (UCAH), and presented my work at various conferences.In the Summer of 2021, I completed an internship at United Contamination Control in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, as an engineering intern and precision cleanroom technician. I obtained certifications to operate in high-class cleanrooms and was responsible for developing an optimization manual for a new ultrasonic decontamination machine.I have previously worked for Penn State Learning as a Peer Math Tutor and the College of Engineering\'s Career Resources department as an Engineering Career Envoy.

Experience

1. Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer i

   Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

   Jul 2025 — Present · Laurel, MD, US

   Develop guidance algorithms for projects related to the Air and Missile Defense Sector (AMDS)

Education

• Penn State University

  Master of Science - MS

  2023 — 2025

• Penn State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS

  2019 — 2023

• Council Rock High School South

  High School Diploma

  2015 — 2019