top of page

RESUME

ROBERT L. VILLHARD

BSME, JD, PMP


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Proven project management and engineering leader with deep NASA program experience in systems integration, verification, risk management, and mission assurance. Recognized for leading critical initiatives on billion-dollar programs and elevating contractor performance in AI&T. Strengthens system rigor through "test-like-you-fly" methodologies, corrective action leadership, and cross-disciplinary coordination. Core expertise spans spacecraft V&V, advanced R&D, and aerospace IP strategy. Passionate about building high-performing teams and delivering mission success through disciplined project execution.

EXPERIENCE

Paragon Space Development Corporation
Lead Verification Engineer

Sept. 2024 to Now

  • Led the development and delivery of the Requirements Verification Traceability and Compliance Matrix(es) for the Artemis/Gateway HALO life support system (ECLSS)

  • Authored deviation and waiver requests, facilitating compliance and risk management

  • Collaborated with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and subsystem and design leads to drive requirements closure and ensure alignment across disciplines

  • Reviewed and traced system and subsystem requirements to ensure verifiability

  • Performed requirements gap analysis, found large gap affecting all subcontractors, and developed approach to filling gap with existing artifacts and minimal design/analysis

  • Identified large verification scope creep; proposed plan to reduced verification process manhours by 50%

Red Canyon Software and Engineering
NASA Project Manager for AI&T

Sep. 2021 to Sep 2024

Project Management

  • NASA Project Manager at contractor design, assembly, integration, & test site

  • Co-Chaired Daily AI&T Coordination Meeting with Contractor Project Manager

  • Identified issues needing immediate attention & managing contractor responses

  • Identified potential long-range issues & coordinating resolution with NASA SME

  • Evaluated schedule and project performance metrics e.g. BEI, CEI, and EAC

  • Identified concerns for risk board (RMB) consideration and participating in board

Systems Engineering

  • Lead effort to restore adherence to the MARs and replanning of V&V to establish a

  • test-like-you-fly and test-at the-lowest-level approach (including vibration/shock, TVAC, EMI/EMC, functional, etc.)

  • Evaluated contractor Verification and Validation (V&V) plans

  • Evaluated project level reqs. & RVTM (Requirements Verification & Tracking Matrix)

  • Determined that requirements needed clarification & updating

  • Evaluated IMS (Integrated Master Schedule) cross-disciplinary coordination tasks

  • Experienced/working familiarity of Jira, Confluence, MS Project and Access, CPM and CCPM scheduling, MIL-STD-810 DOD Test Methods Standard, NPR 8000.4 NASA Risk Management Procedure, Agile Practice Guide, NPR 7123.1 NASA Systems Engineering Processes, and NASA-STD-7120.5 NASA Project Management.

Trailblazing Astronautics
Project Manager and Chief Technology Officer

April 2017 to Oct. 2024

  • Developed remote spectrographic (breath composition) sensors with MBSE and AI: ChatGPT & Dall E, and beta-tested pre.dev (AI design & prototyping engine)

  • Wrote engineering SOW (Statement of Work) and negotiated with engineering firms

  • Planned/scheduled development, mfg., test, verification, & certification efforts

  • Developed project budget, cash flow plan, and investment requirements

  • Performed research validating science behind products & performed conceptual design

  • Designed prototype: selected components and signal processing architecture

  • Developed CONOPS and performed requirements capture, derivation, & flow-down

Sierra Space Company
Lead Mission Assurance Engineer

Jan. 2021 to Sep. 2021

  • Managed Human Landing Systems (Artemis), Lessons Learned postmortem study

  • Combined MA and V&V schedules: enabling MA earned value (EV) management

  • Prepared BOEs (Basis of Estimates) and schedule/resource estimates for proposals

  • Drafted company Mission Assurance plan tailoring it to commercial market

The Villhard Patent Law Firm
Technology Officer/Chief Executive Officer

Jan. 2002 to Jan.2021

  • Delivered "World Class" (as described by intl. Customers) technology law services.

  • Evaluated Technology Readiness Levels of inventions in collaboration with Inventors/Subject Matter Experts

  • Recommended Intellectual Property/Commercialization/Go-To-Market Strategies with Chief Technical Officers and Chief Executive Officers

  • Wrote 100s of patent applications covering diverse technologies including: semiconductor manufacturing, turbo machinery, rocket engines, jet engines, composites, telecommunications, micro processors, operating systems, machine vision, bio-signal processing, intervertebral implants and surgical tools, interocular lenses, electronic flyback power converters, fiber optics, networking hardware, waste water treatment, etc.

Boeing Space and Defense
Research and Development Manager: FDIR

April 1997 to Dec. 2001

  • Instrumental in Earning $1B (Billion) in Launch Services by (in the words of the USAF/NASA) "providing particularly strong integration"

  • In first 3 mos. leading Delta IV SHM research & development, turned team around.

  • Defined SHM architecture & requirements validation/verification-model, tool, & process.

  • Interpreted poorly misunderstood and key SHM (Systems Health Management) requirement in manner favorable to Boeing and persuaded USAF/NASA to adopt interpretation.

  • Conceived of proprietary algorithm to compare FMEA and enterprise-wide measurements list and generate numerically valid measurements of failure isolation capabilities​

  • Adapted algorithm to be extendable and extended same to all subsystems (LOX, LH2, RS-68 engine, GN&C, avionics, structures, etc.) and IPTs (ground, payload, common booster core first stage, all upper stages, payloads, ground support systems, manufacturing, and test facilities)

  • Presented SHM and FDIR architecture and system details to USAF/NASA CDR (Critical Design Review)

Frucon/PC&E
Industrial Instrumentation and Controls Engineer

Feb. 1994 to April 1997

  • Scheduled (I&C) design/build projects (semiconductor crystal pulling, epitaxial growth, and final cleaning and petrochemical facilities)

  • Designed, Specified, and oversaw installation and testing of numerous I&C) systems

  • Programmed numerous industrial computers including PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and DCSs (Distributed Control Systems)

Boeing Space and Defense
Lead ISS Propulsion/Avionics Integration Engineer

Oct. 1989 to Jan. 1994

  • Lead ISS propulsion system control system architecture trade study defing numbers and distribution/locations of control computers

  • Lead FMEA for avionics systems (C&DH & EPS) interfacing with propulsion system

  • Integrated propulsion hardware with avionics (GN&C, EPS, telemetry, and C&DH) hardware including 28 VDC power system, MIL-S-1553 control bus and MDM controller)

  • Integrated propulsion software with C&DH software and hardware

  • Performed preliminary study of Shuttle payload bay and robotic arm avionics to determine integration requirements and capabilities relative to propulsion hardware expected to be Shuttle and arm payloads

  • ​Presented ISS propulsion/avionics architecture and system details to NASA Safety Review Board

Lockheed
JSC Propulsion Test Facility Manager

June 1986 to Oct. 1989

  • Managed propulsion (RCS, APU, etc.) qualification and development test systems design, fab., ops. etc.

  • Determined scope test setups and operations in collaboration with NASA (customer) Test Directors, management, and other stakeholders

  • Scheduled test system design, fabrication, build, checkout, and operations

  • Troubleshoot test system and (flight article) test unit anomolies

  • Responsible for safe operations and conducted area wide (56 Team Members, 5 power, propulsion, and pyrotechnics) test facilities) safety stand down, inspection, and review

  • Managed team of 10 (2 engineers, 4mechanical technicians and 4 electronic technicians)

  • Coordinated facility activiites with Calibration Lab, CLeaning Lab, and grounds and facilitiesengineering

EDUCATION

Project Management Professional (PMP),   Project Management Institute(PMI)

Juris Doctorate (J.D. -Law), Whittier Law School:

  • ​LSAT Score: 91st Percentile and Mensa Member

  • Aced Real Property

  • Aced Federal Courts (Toughest Class in Law School)

  • Aced Patent Law

  • Aced Government Contracts 

​​

Electrical Engineering Post-Bac. work, University of Houston,included Deep Space Telecommunications, Microprocessor Design (Lab), and Assembly Programming

Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering (BSME), Missouri University of Science and Technology, Cum Laude

© 2025 Trailblazing Astronautics

Trailblazing Astronautics and ESETI -SEI&T are service marks of Trailblazing Astronautics.

bottom of page