Timothy G. Riley
Adjunct Professor
Sandia National LabsTimothy G. Riley is a Project Lead for the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) Facility of Sandia National Labs (SNL) and an adjunct professor with Capitol Technology University. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a helicopter maintainer, he served a 23-year career within the Space Shuttle Launch and Landing team at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Following the end of the Shuttle Program, he transitioned to the field of safety and worked with Siemens Wind Energy. His career with SNL began in 2015 as the ES&H/Security & Safeguards lead internal auditor, and in 2018 he assumed his current role as the Program Lead for the Department of Energy (DOE)/SNL SWiFT Facility in Lubbock, TX. He is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Aerospace Science with Capitol Technology University.
New innovations in his field include space safety research and the rapid growth of the commercial space flight industry.
When he is not teaching, he is working towards completion of his Ph.D. dissertation by the end of 2023, tending to his horses and blue healers in New Mexico, and volunteering as a chaplain in his community with military veterans and their families.
He often quotes Mark Twain, “Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret ANYTHING that makes you smile.”
Some advice that he offers to his students is: Commit to being a lifelong learner. I did not receive my bachelor's degree until I was 36 years old and have not stopped learning since. Whether you are going to school right out of high school, or have a family and are taking classes part-time, staying connected with adult learning keeps your mind fresh and active, and greatly enhances your ability to contribute and give back.
Areas of Expertise:
- Project/Program Management
- Space flight mission assurance
- Accident/mishap investigation
- Space flight ground operations
Biography:
Education
PhD Candidate, Aerospace Science, Capitol Technology University
Certificate of Completion of Coursework, Aviation Ph.D. program, Aviation Safety and Human Factors, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
MBA, Florida Institute of Technology
MS, Environmental Management, Webster University
BS, Environmental Management, Rollins College
AA, Eastern Florida State College
Professional achievements
United Space Alliance, Kennedy Space Center, FL - Operations team lead for planning and executing the assembly, integration, testing and pre-launch preparation of the Ares I-X flight test vehicle.
United Space - NASA Constellation Program: Orion Launch Abort System / Ogive Special Study - ground operations SMEE Exploration Ground Launch Services (EGLS) Contract / Altair Lunar Lander, Lander Design Analysis Cycle (LDAC) 3 Special Study - operations evaluator for identified loss of mission risk drivers and potential design changes to improve overall risk profile / Mobile Launch Platform / Launch Umbilical Tower Special Study - design for operations
Boeing Ares I Upper Stage Production Contract Proposal Team - ground operations team member (Huntsville, AL)
NASA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) - United Space Alliance Concept of Ground Operations Study operations section lead
United Space Alliance, Johnson Space Center, Houston - Space Shuttle Flight Crew Equipment EVA Suit Control Systems Process Review
Certifications and licenses
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certified Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic
NASA Certified Space Shuttle Orbiter Move Director
NASA Certified Mishap Investigator
Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) (Academy of Board-Certified Environmental Professionals)
Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) (Project Management Institute)
Certified Safety Professional (CSP) (Board of Certified Safety Professionals)
Honors and awards
Sandia National Labs 30 Year Service Award
Sandia National Labs Spot Award for Identifying a Safety Concern Outside the KAFB Gate
Sandia National Labs Spot Award for Project Management Teammate Procedure Improvement
Sandia National Labs Team Award for Pioneering Zero Waste in Office Spaces at IPOC
Siemens Wind Energy Cash Award for Performance and Leadership in Wind Project Safety
NASA Certificate of Appreciation for Support of the Space Shuttle Program
NASA Group Achievement Award - KSC Ares I-X Developmental Test Flight DFI Tiger Team
NASA Ares I-X Developmental Test Flight Mission Manager’s Flight Commendation
NASA Group Achievement Award - Missions STS-125/STS-400 Dual Flow KSC Ground and Launch Processing Team
NASA Group Achievement Award - Shuttle Ground Operations Processing Class Development Team
United Space Alliance (USA) Performance Award - Authoring and Maintaining Ares I-X Upper Stage Simulator Launch Site Support Plan
USA Performance Award - Constellation Concept of Ground Operations Study Team
USA Performance Award - Human Factors Fact Finding Certification
USA Employee of the Month for Safety, Electrical Hazardous Area Team
USA Performance Award - Orbiter Vehicle Discovery Return to Flight, and Space Shuttles Atlantis/Endeavour Orbiter Maintenance and Modification Coordination of Personnel
USA Safety Award - Developing Metrics and Training
NASA Group Achievement Award - Columbia Recovery Team
USA Performance Award - Orbiter Vehicle Discovery Maintenance and Modification Down Period Personnel Coordination
USA Performance Award - Mission STS-104, Main Propulsion System Recirculation Manifold R&R Team Lead
USA Launch Operations Letter of Appreciation for Directorate Employee Morale Support
USA Launch Operations Letter of Appreciation for Mission STS-87 USMP-4/Spartan 201-04, Orbiter Processing Facility Support/Critical Orbiter Closeouts
NASA Group Achievement Award - Mission STS-75 TSS-1R/USMP-3, Main Propulsion System #1 LH2 Prevalve R&R Team
Lockheed Space Operations Company (LSOC) Letter of Commendation for Mission STS-61 1st Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission
LSOC Letter of Commendation for Sustained Performance During Preparations for Launch
NASA Group Achievement Award - Mission STS-47 Spacelab-J, Main Propulsion System Gaseous Oxygen Disconnect Inspection Team
Shuttle Processing Contract (SPC) Letter of Appreciation - Mission STS-46 TSS-1/EURECA Deployment, Orbiter Auxiliary Power Unit Anomaly Resolution
NASA Safety Certificate of Appreciation for Maintaining a Standard of Excellence
NASA Letter of Appreciation for Mission STS-47 Spacelab-J, Orbiter Gaseous Oxygen Leak Investigation
LSOC Letter of Appreciation for Mission STS-46 TSS-1/EURECA Deployment, Orbiter Landing Support
LSOC Letter of Appreciation for Mission STS-49 Intelsat VI Repair, Space Shuttle Main Engine Heatshield Removal and Reinstallation
LSOC Letter of Commendation for Mission STS-40 Spacelab Life Sciences-1, Orbiter/External Tank Electrical Mate
LSOC Letter of Commendation for Mission STS-35 ASTRO-1, Orbiter Offload from Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
LSOC Letter of Commendation for Mission STS-38 DoD, Space Shuttle Vehicle Rollback from Pad/Destack
U.S. Air Force 608 CAMS Airman of the Month Award (September 1986)
U.S. Air Force 608 CAMS Airman of the Month Award (March 1986)
Research and publications
Riley, T.G. (2021). An analysis of space flight missions and mishaps through the lens of weaknesses in the application of mission assurance. Technical paper submitted for the 11th IAASS Conference “Managing Risk in Space” (virtual event). The Netherlands: International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety.
Riley, T.G. (2020). Evolution of safety management within the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) Facility program. Technical paper submitted for the 38th International System Safety Conference (virtual event). Norfolk, VA: International System Safety Society.
Riley, T.G. (2019). Managing industry risk: Commercial space flight safety reporting. Technical paper submitted for the 37th International System Safety Conference. Norfolk, VA: International System Safety Society.
Riley, T.G. (2019). Providing assurance in 21st century space transportation – Does commercialization, innovation, and agility necessarily equate to a new paradigm in safety assurance? Technical paper submitted for the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) 2019 Making Safety Happen Conference. The Netherlands: IAASS.
Academia contributor, BSR/ANSI/AIAA S-102.0.1-2018 American National Standard: Capability-based mission assurance program – General requirements (2019). Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Riley, T.G., (2018). Making the case for mission assurance in the commercial space flight industry: A review of historical relevancies and their contribution to the current body of knowledge. Technical paper submitted for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space Forum 2018 conference. Reston, VA: AIAA.
Carnival, S. A., & Riley, T.G., (2000). City of Satellite Beach, FL, Key Management Activities Vegetative Management Plan & Fire Management Plan for the Satellite Beach Conservation Site Florida Communities Trust Preservation 2000, PROJECT NUMBER 98-044- P8A. Researched and written as satisfaction of an internship administered by Vance Geiger, Ph.D., professor, Rollins College, FL.
Organizations and affiliations
Academy of Board-Certified Environmental Professionals (ABCEP) – Member
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) – Student Member
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) - Member
American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) – Professional Member
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) - Member
Fraternal Order of Elks
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - Member
International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) - Professional Member
International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) - Member
International System Safety Society (ISSS) - Member
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - Member
National Space Society (NSS) - Member
Project Management Institute (PMI) - Member
Risk Management Society (RIMS) – Professional Member
Volunteer/Service experience
Rescue Riders Motorcycle Club - Chaplain
AIAA U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to Technical Committee 20, Subcommittee 14 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Academy of Board-Certified Environmental Professionals (ABCEP) Certification Review Board Task Force Member
American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) New Mexico Chapter - President
Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) - Mentor
AIAA S-102 Mission Assurance Standards Working Group (S-102 MASWG) - Mission Assurance Subject Matter Expert
Comprehensive Surety Partners (CSP) - President/Owner – Assurance consulting to aviation/aerospace/high risk industries
Professional website, blog, social media handles