Most of ATA’s senior engineering staff have worked together as a team for more than 25 years. They are widely known in the structural dynamics field as industry leaders in the application of test and analysis to develop successful designs for aerospace and other highly engineered structures.

Mary Baker, Ph.D., P.E.
President

Dr. Baker's expertise is in application of computer methods to structural dynamics and continuum mechanics with particular experience in satellite system engineering, launch vehicle and road vehicle dynamics, and simulation and testing of electronic equipment and consumer products for shock and vibration environments.

Dr. Baker brings 30 years of experience in project engineering to the ATA team. Prior to formation of ATA, Mary served as Vice President and General Manager of SDRC's Advanced Test and Analysis Division and guided this group for most of its 24-year history.

Significant projects include dynamic analysis, testing, and design during the development of an upper stage engine with an extendible nozzle; modeling and simulation of many aspects of liquid rocket components including turbo-pump thermal and vibration issues; design of communications shelters for mobility and transport; integration of multidisciplinary simulations tools particularly for spacecraft; and mechanical engineering of medical products.

Dr. Baker earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Applied Mechanics from the California Institute of Technology. She received her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin in Engineering Mechanics. She is a licensed professional engineer in the state of California.

Paul A. Blelloch, Ph.D.

Dr. Blelloch’s technical expertise is in the analysis of complex dynamic systems in the aerospace industry, particularly in the areas of control-structure interaction, optimization, model reduction, dynamic loads, model updating, and vibro-acoustics. He has written over 30 technical papers. During his tenure with SDRC, Dr. Blelloch served as a Project Engineer, Senior Project Engineer, Senior Technical Advisor and finally as Director of Aerospace Projects, responsible for SDRC’s western region Aerospace consulting business. As well as managing and performing a large variety of projects for various NASA centers and both large and small aerospace companies, Dr. Blelloch has developed advanced methods for analysis of control-structure interaction problems, model reduction of dynamic systems, damping of coupled systems, non-linear dynamic response, fluid slosh, pressure stiffening of tanks, rapid payload reanalysis, sensor selection for modal testing, model updating and development of launch vehicle buffet loads.

Paul received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ralph D. Brillhart

Mr. Brillhart brings over 23 years of testing experience to ATA. His previous experience with SDRC includes project management in Testing Services, performing a wide variety of dynamic and static durability and qualification testing of structures. He has become recognized worldwide for his modal testing expertise and has helped innovate many new methods implementing current computer technology. Since 1977 he has held the following positions at SDRC Western Regional Operations: Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Director of Test Projects. During that time, he helped transform a small troubleshooting test group into the leading independent modal test organization.

Ralph received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Dynamics and Control, from the University of California, Davis. In 1977, he received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

David L. Hunt

Mr. Hunt’s technical background includes many years in the application of experimental methods to modal testing. He has authored numerous technical papers on the subject and continues to serve on the Advisory Board for the International Modal Analysis Conferences. Dave began his career at SDRC in 1972 and joined the San Diego office in 1976. He served SDRC in a number of technical and business capacities, and together with Ralph Brillhart, helped establish the SDRC ATA group as the leader in the modal test community. Since 1993, Dave has held the position of Aerospace Business Manager. His role at ATA is Business Development for Aerospace and Testing. His responsibilities include client relationships, proposals, contracts, as well as technical consulting to ATA modal testing projects.

Mr. Hunt obtained his B.S. in Engineering Analysis/Mechanical from the University of Cincinnati in 1976.

Chris Kubik

Mr. Kubik's expertise is in the application of computer methods to resolve the design problems induced by static and dynamic loads on automotive and aerospace structures. In addition, Mr. Kubik has considerable expertise in the organizational and technical aspects of process re-engineering developed through his five years assisting Ford Motor Company implement a new product development process facilitated by the I-deas CAD/CAM/CAE and Metaphase PDM software products. He is currently responsible for bringing ATA Engineering technology, services and solutions to customers located in the Eastern United States.

Chris brings 30 years of engineering and management expertise including 23 years with SDRC and EDS PLM Solutions. During his tenure at SDRC, Chris held numerous positions of responsibility including Manager of the Automotive Advanced Test and Analysis business in Detroit, Michigan. He was also the first Operations Manager of ESTECH Corporation, an SDRC and Nissan joint venture headquartered in Yokohama Japan which was created to provide engineering services to Japanese automotive and aerospace industries. In these and in other management capacities he was responsible for the organizations' financial performance, hiring, staffing and technical project management.

Mr. Kubik earned his M.S. and B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Akron and earned an M.B.A. from Xavier University.

Gareth R. Thomas, Ph.D.

Dr. Thomas has over thirty years consulting experience in the application of computer-aided engineering techniques to develop and enhance structural designs in many different industries. His technical focus most recently has been on insuring adequate safety in rides and attractions for the entertainment industry.

Prior to ATA Engineering, Dr. Thomas worked in various capacities at SDRC for over twenty years. In that time he managed functional groups that serviced clients in industrial, aerospace, automotive, and process industries. He has worked on major consulting and research projects in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa and Australia. Between 1994 and 1996 he managed the SDRC San Diego Advanced Test and Analysis entity.

Dr. Thomas received his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Cornell University. He holds a M.S. in Structural Engineering from Cornell University. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineer from Imperial College, England.

Joseph D. Titlow, Ph.D.

Dr. Titlow’s expertise is in nonlinear dynamics and vibrations. He has worked extensively in structural dynamics, hydrodynamics, fluidelasticity, and earthquake engineering. He holds several patents in the area of mass flow and density measurement. Dr. Titlow is currently responsible for ATA’s operations in the Los Angeles District.

Joe brings 37 years of technical and management experience to ATA. He joined ATA from Measurement Analysis Corporation in Torrance, California where he was manager of System Engineering and Technical Assessment consulting. Previously, Joe was supervisor of the Research and Development Group at Micro Motion, Inc. in Boulder, Colorado. He was responsible for all R&D aspects of Coriolis mass flow measurement. In addition Joe has been an independent consultant to major corporations and federal R&D groups.

Dr. Titlow earned his Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. in Applied Mechanics from the California Institute of Technology. He also holds a B.A. in Physics from Bowdoin College.

Håvard Vold, Ph.D.

Dr. Vold plays a leadership role in the development of new products and services for the structural dynamic analysis and testing of mechanical and aerospace products for ATA's expanding client base. Dr. Vold brings a wealth of experience which directly complements ATA's services and products in the areas of structural dynamics analysis and test.

Dr. Vold is known for his inventions in experimental dynamics and modal analysis. His algorithms are licensed to a number of leading suppliers of mechanical engineering test data analysis software systems including Brüel & Kjaer and MTS. He holds patents in redundant robotic manipulator motion control and is a two-time recipient of the Society of Automotive Engineers' Arch T. Colwell Merit Award, among several other awards.

Dr. Vold holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Oslo, Institute of Mathematics.

Dr. Young's technical expertise is in the application of computer-aided engineering software to the modeling, analysis, simulation, and design of dynamic systems, with particular expertise in modal analysis, component mode synthesis, control/structure analysis, and vehicle applications. Recently, he has been applying his technical and management experience to help clients improve their product development and data management processes.

During Dr. Young's tenure of 21 years with SDRC, in one of his positions, he served as Director of PDM Methodology in the Metaphase Technology Division and was responsible for the development, documentation, and deployment of best practices and methodologies for the implementation of Enterprise Product Data Management (EPDM) solutions. From 1994-1996 he was SDRC's Program Manager supporting the implementation of Metaphase EPDM at The Boeing Company. Dr. Young was Director of Engineering, SDRC Western Regional Operations, responsible for hiring, training, and supervision of all engineering and support staff, the staffing of all engineering projects, and management of the computer facilities and test laboratory. He also managed the Integration Services business. Since 1979 he has held the following positions at SDRC Western Regional Operations: Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Manager of Analytical Services.

He earned his Ph.D. and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. He received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His specialization was in Dynamic Systems and Controls for all degrees.