United States Air Force Academy

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Mr. Timothy Siefers

Assistant Professor

Department of Aeronautics

Mr. Siefers
Contact Information

(719) 333-9451

Email

Bio

Enlisted into the U.S. Army from 1998-2005, spending the duration of the enlistment as a MH-60L Blackhawk helicopter maintainer, crew chief, and door gunner in Delta Company 3rd Battalion of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Performed in many foreign or domestic training operations and real-world missions in Iraq and over two dozen various other countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean region.

Military service was followed with jobs as an aircraft mechanic supporting Army aviation assets in Kuwait, Iraq, and Fort Carson, CO from 2005-2006. Then, as a manufacturing technician, supported all manufacturing stages of Adam Aircraft Industries’ efforts to launch a new carbon composite aircraft from 2006-2008.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Aerospace Engineering from University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) in 2010, immediately began employment at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) as a research engineer and undergraduate research team leader and mentor. Following attainment of a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at UCCS in 2013, transitioned to Instructor of Aeronautics at U.S. Air Force Academy. Since being added to the faculty, developed several dozen cadets through a constructivist project-based-learning approach, as both an AE 471 instructor and undergraduate research team leader and mentor. Along the way, supported STEM promotion and outreach efforts, through events like Science Olympiad and DFAN’s Summer Seminar. Additionally, in further service to the USAFA academic community, joined the Faculty Senate in 2017 as a Senator-at-Large for civilian instructors and assistant professors.

Education

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Thermal & Fluid Sciences Focus-University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (2013)

Engineer Intern-Colorado (2010)

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Aerospace Engineering Minor-University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (2010)

FAA Certified Air Frame & Powerplant Mechanic (2004)

Professional Experience

Instructor of Aeronautics, Team Lead-Mentor, and Research Engineer; Department of Aeronautics (DFAN), US Air Force Academy, Colorado (2010-Present)

Carbon-Composite Aircraft Manufacturing Technician, Adam Aircraft Industries, Inc., Englewood, Colorado (2006-2008)

Aircraft Mechanic, L-3 Vertex Contract Field Team, Kuwait and Iraq, (2005-2006)

U.S. Army Blackhawk Mechanic & Crew Chief, Delta Company 3rd Battalion of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Howard Air Force Base, Panama; Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station, Puerto Rico; Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia (1998–2005)

Honors & Awards

DFAN Civilian of the Quarter, Category II, 2015

Army Commendation Medal

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Navy Achievement Medal

War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

War on Terrorism Service Medal

Research and Scholarly Interests

Fluid-Structure Interactions: Parachute Systems

Applied Low Speed Wind Tunnel Testing

Publications

Siefers, T. M., Warren, J. R., Robb, R R., and McLaughlin, T. E., “Venting to Reduce Wind-Induced Loads on an Open Observatory Dome,” 56th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech Forum, 2018.

Siefers, T. M. and McLaughlin, T. E., “Wind Induced Loads on Elevated Shutters of an Open Observatory Dome,” 56th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech Forum, 2018.

Siefers, T. M., Seidel, J., and Bergeron, K., “Deflection and Flutter of Hanging Flexible Plates in Normal Flow,” 56th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech Forum, 2018.

Siefers, T. M., Farrar, W. L., Jones, C. N., McLaughlin, T. E., and Bergeron, K., “Influence of Angle of Attack on Profile Drag and Flow Induced Vibrations of Parachute Suspension Lines,” , 24th Aerodynamics Decelerator Systems Technology Conference, AIAA Aviation, 2017.

Siefers, T. M., Frost, R. J., Lim, S., and McLaughlin, T. E., “Wind Induced Forces on a Hemispherical Observatory Dome with Open Shutter Doors,” 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech Forum, 2017.

Siefers, T. M., Campbell, J. P., Clark, D. K., McLaughlin, T. E., and Bergeron, K. “Quantification of Drag from Flat Suspension Line for Parachutes and the Influence of Flow Induced Vibrations,” 54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech Forum, 2016.

Siefers, T. M., McLaughlin, T. E., and Bergeron, K.. “Wind Tunnel Characterization of Fluid-Structure Interactions for Various Suspension Lines”, 44th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference, AIAA Aviation, 2014.

Siefers, T., “Flow and Vibration Analysis of Parachute Suspension Line,” 2013, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA, 2013.

Siefers, T., Green, K., McLaughlin, T. E., and Bergeron, K., “Wind and Water Tunnel Measurements of Parachute Suspension Line,” AIAA 2013-0064, 51st AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2013.

McLaughlin, T. E., Siefers, T., Reynolds, J., Rowe, K., Duran, S., and Lockhart, T., “Low Velocity Drag Measurements for Bluff Bodies,” AIAA 2011-2548, 21st AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference and Seminar, 2011.