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May - Space Systems Engineering Senior Design Projects at UTEP
Dr. Smith will present senior design team projects in the Industrial, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering Department at the University of Texas at El Paso partnered with Northrop Grumman to address current research areas in space exploration.
A. Protection from MMOD (Micro-Meteoroids & Orbital Debris):
Research and development for MMOD protection for satellites in LEO. As LEO becomes more crowded with massive constellations of small satellites the risk of impact from a man made or natural object will continue to increase.
B. Heat Rejection from a Nuclear-Reactor Powered Satellite: Spacecraft must dissipate excess heat from small nuclear reactors in a safe and reliable manner to assure science mission success.
C. GEO Waterfall: AR (Artificial Reality) technology was utilized to develop a Geo Waterfall visualization of cloud debris formations in space along with the effects on local orbital regimes, providing a more effective way to train and analyze complex, mission critical concepts relating to orbital dynamics and space operations.
Eric D. Smith is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), an R1: Research 1: Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity, a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). He works within the Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering (IMSE) Department, in particular with the Master of Science in Systems Engineering Program. He earned a B.S. in Physics in 1994, an M.S. in Systems Engineering in 2003, and his Ph.D. in Systems and Industrial Engineering in 2006 from the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. He performs research at the interface of systems engineering, cognitive science, and multi-criteria decision making.
Past Events
April 4/25/25
Human Factors in Display and Design and Integration. A Pilots Perspective with Christopher Kendl
Christopher Kendl has been an Aerospace Professional for over 35 years. In his current position with Flight Safety International Chris serves as a Senior Pilot Instructor and Pilot Examiner at the Flight Safety International Learning Center in Lafayette, LA. Chris provides instruction for a whole host of domestic and international clients including
the United States Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration, numerous Fortune 500 companies and the governments of Canada, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, Trinidad, Mexico, and Brazil.
Prior to joining Flight Safety Chris served in engineering support and courseware development for the Bell 525, the world’s first commercial fly-by wire helicopter at Bell Textron in Forth, Texas. Other positions include Deputy Chief Instructor for the Augusta-Westland Corporation Northeast Training Center, Safety Manager for AAG
Sikorsky, consultant for the United States Air Force, and Airline Pilot for Champion Airlines.
Chris is a military veteran and military Aviator with 25 years combined and reserve service with the United States Army and United States Coast Guard as an Instructor Pilot, Weapons Officer, Electronic Warfare Officer, and Safety Manager with 5,500 hours of flight experience in various airplanes and helicopters, and over 3,000 hours as a pilot instructor Chris holds a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle University with an emphasis in Human Factors.
Come for the topic, stay for the Flight Simulator Tour!!!
March - 3/20/2025
After chapter announcements, our featured speaker (in-person) will be Brice Howard/Founder of Syntric Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to advancing space robotics by guiding the industry through kinematic architecting and robotic in-space logistics. The topic he will present is "Process Based Critical Problem Solving". His bio and picture are below.
Mr. Brice Howard has spent the last two decades at the intersection of space and robotics. In the first decade of his career, he had the opportunity to design and lead the development of spaceflight hardware for both Bigelow Aerospace and NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). He was part of the team that successfully launched Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 into orbit. At NASA JSC, Brice worked with the Advanced Space Suit team, gaining critical exposure to lunar logistics and the systems required for long-term success. He led the effort to redesign and certify the SAFER jet pack, which remains in use aboard the International Space Station. Closing out his first decade, he joined NASA’s team competing in the DARPA Robotics Challenge, where he and his team designed and built the humanoid robot known as Valkyrie.
In his second decade, Brice transitioned into entrepreneurship, first cutting his teeth at the startup Intuitive Machines before setting out on his own to found companies that aligned with his passions for space and robotics. In 2016, he launched Nexus Technologies, a company focused on bringing automation to manufacturing. In 2021, he co-founded Novium, an engineering services company specializing in the electrification of spaceflight hardware. Now, in 2025, Brice has founded his latest venture, Syntric Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to advancing space robotics by guiding the industry through kinematic architecting and robotic in-space logistics.
Brice holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, pursued graduate studies in controls at Texas A&M University, and earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Houston.
Beyond his work, Brice is a devoted husband to his wife, Addie, and a proud father to their 18-year-old daughter, Madison. He is happiest when he is building—whether it’s challenging hardware, complex systems, high-performing teams, or robust organizations. He thrives on bringing order to chaos and simplifying the complex. Passionate about demystifying spaceflight hardware, he is committed to empowering industries with enabling technology and driving the next generation of innovation in robotics and automation.