Curriculum Vitae for Rick Wagner

Education and Employment

Education:         • PhD, Robotics and AI, University of Southern California,
                     December 1997
                   • MSCS, University of Southern California, May 1994
                   • BSME, University of Hawaii, December 1979

Areas of expertise:

Robotics: Assembly task planning, path and motion planning, network
agents (softbots), grasp planning, and cooperation.

Space: Spacecraft manufacturing, integration, and test planning and
simulation, zero-gravity and dynamics simulation, mechanisms and kinematics,
computer-aided design, and environmental test, with 24 years of experience in
development of mechanisms with thermal, contamination, dynamics, kinematic,
and reliability considerations.

Internet: The first automated design service on the Web:
FixtureNet, the subject of our international journal article;
Research advisor and team leader for a network agent meeting
scheduling system created in Java by a team of graduate students
at USC in 1999.

Teaching: Upper and lower division programming, software engineering,
theory of computation, discrete mathematics, and computer graphics.

Research interests:

Space robotics, object-oriented programming languages,
intelligent network agents, robotic grasp and motion planning, and artificial
intelligence.

Experience:

Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST):

2002-present       Senior Technical Specialist, Integration, Test and Launch
                   Directorate.

2000-2002          Staff Engineer, Mechanical Test Engineering and
                   Test Operations Department. Responsibilities include
                   process simulation and automation, CAD training, and
                   department Webmaster.

1998-2000          Staff Engineer (part time). Software development,
                   computer simulations, department Webmaster, and
                   database and document management in spacecraft assembly,
                   integration, test, and launch operations.

1993-1998          Staff Engineer, Mechanical Development and Test
                   Engineering Department. Responsibilities include:
                   implementing the S&EG product data management system
                   (PDMS), a distributed federated object oriented DBMS,
                   for the solar array products (SAP) center; developing a 
                   system for product solid model integration into
                   spacecraft assembly and test operations; and coordinating
                   training and user support for AutoCAD designers in S&TD,
                   including Web pages creation and maintenance.

1989-1993          Engineering Staff, I&T Operations, project 8482.
                   Responsible for creating and implementing automated
                   assembly and test procedures. Worked with the United
                   States Air Force and the Department of Defense to produce
                   the Militarily Critical Technologies List (MCTL, October
                   1992).

1987-1989          Subproject manager (SPM), Mechanical Integration
                   Engineering, project 8482, with multi-million dollar
                   budget responsibility. Planning and engineering
                   responsibility for all mechanical integration and test
                   activities, including system MGSE requirements, facility
                   modifications, and overall spacecraft schedule.

1985-1986          Section Head, Mechanical Test Engineering, DPD I&T
                   Department. Responsible for all spacecraft mechanical test
                   procedures, test engineering floor support, and personnel
                   hiring and assignments.

1984-1985          Staff Engineer, Manager of Test Operations, Mechanical
                   Systems, project 5081, with responsibility for all the
                   day-to-day spacecraft integration and test activities,
                   including daily schedules and manpower assignments.

1980-1984          Member of the Technical Staff, Mechanical I&T Department.
                   Supported DSCS, DSP, FLTSATCOM, GRO and numbered projects,
                   including spacecraft static load tests, zero gravity
                   simulation for deployment tests, and stiffness and
                   torque-angle tests. Performed the first static load test
                   on a flight spacecraft. Developed computer automated data
                   analysis for stiffness and deployment testing.

University of Southern California, Computer Science Department:

1998-2000          Full time lecturer responsible for the undergraduate
                   curriculum for the Computer Science and the Computer
                   Science/Computer Engineering degree programs. Under-
                   graduate and graduate directed research.

1998               Lecturer (part time), Computer Science 477L, Design and
                   Construction of Large Software Systems.

1996-1997          Teaching Assistant and guest lecturer, Computer Science
                   201, Principles of Software Development. Student
                   member of the USC PhD Admissions Committee.

1994-1996          Research Assistant, Modular Robotics Laboratory. Design
                   and analyse new robotic algorithms for industrial
                   robotics including part feeding (singulation,
                   orientation, presentation) automated fixture design
                   synthesis, and fixture loading. Implemented FixtureNet,
                   the first World Wide Web automatic modular fixture
                   design service.

United States Air Force:

1969-1978          Communications Electronics Technician, USAF, with extensive
                   and varied experience in microwave, analog/digital, and
                   satellite ground systems. Duty stations included Keelser
                   Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi (Air Training Command
                   (ATC)); Bellows Air Force Station, Waimanalo, Hawaii (Air
                   Force Communications Service (AFCS)); Tinker Air Force Base,
                   Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (2nd Mobile Combat Communications
                   Group); McClellan Air Force Base, Sacramento, California
                   (AFCS); Wheeler Air Force Base, Wahiawa, Hawaii (AFCS).

IEEE Robotics and Automation Society:

2006-present       Founding Co-chair of the Space Robotics Technical Committee

Publications

International

Rick Wagner, "Grippers for Space Locomotion," International Conference on Robotics and Automation, a presentation to the Orbital Robotics Workshop, Pasadena, California, USA, May, 2008.
Rick Wagner and Hobson Lane, "Lessons Learned on the AWIMR Project," International Conference on Robotics and Automation, a presentation to the Space Robotics Workshop, Rome, Italy, April, 2007.
Harald Schiferl and Rick Wagner, "A Distributed Model for Game Computing," Third International Conference on Application and Development of Computer Games, Hong Kong, April, 2004.
Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Castanotto, and Ken Goldberg, "FixtureNet: Interactive Computer Aided Design via the WWW," International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, June, 1997. Web version.
Richard Wagner, Yan Zhuang, and Ken Goldberg, "Fixturing Faceted Parts with Seven Modular Struts," The International Symposium on Assembly and Task Planning, IEEE, August 1995.

National

Rick Wagner, Hobson Lane, and Brett Kennedy, "An Autonomous Walking Inspection and Maintenance Robot (AWIMR)," American Astronautical Society (AAS), Proceedings of the 28th Annual Guidance and Control Conference, February 2005.
Rick Wagner and Hobson Lane, "Space Robotics," a presentation to the NASA Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM), hosted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, California, December 2004.
Richard Wagner, "Implementing Linked Lists in Visual Basic," PC Developer magazine, Australia, December issue, 1993.
Richard Wagner, Fun Programming with Visual Basic, Chapter 13, Que Computer Books, a division of Prentice Hall, 1992.

Regional

Rick Wagner, "The Viewing Stones of Mars," Golden Statements, the magazine of the Golden State Bonsai Federation, May-June, 2004.
Dale Hall, Bob Hosken, and Rick Wagner, "Robotics Instruction Course," Beach Cities Robotics, FIRST team 294 high school course text, October 2003.
Richard J. Wagner, "String Tree Utility Data Structure and an Order n Sort," TRW Conference on Power Computing, April 2001. Web version.
Richard J. Wagner, "An Algorithm for Wiring Bonsai," Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai Newsletter, January 2001. See also the Web version.
Richard J. Wagner and Charles P. Wright, "Spacecraft Production Simulation," TRW Modeling and Simulation Conference, March 1999.

Patents

String Tree Utility Data Structure and an Order(n) Sort, U.S. patent number 6,741,999, May 25, 2004.
Double Knee Longeron Truss, a deployable structure for space applications, patent pending.
Electrostatic Foot for Space Robot Locomotion, patent pending.
Arthopodal Sticky Footed Space Walking Robot Gait, patent pending.

Miscellaneous Awards, Contests, and Certificates

2009 Certificate "in recognition of your contributions to the 2009 Engineering, Technology, and Careers Course, presented at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Space Systems Division, June 10, 2009.

2009 Award of Recognition for "participation, commitment, and outstanding achievement with the Beach Cities Robotics team," Redondo Beach Unified School District, June 9, 2009.

2008 Certificate of Thanks for Support to National Engineers Week 2008 from Northrop Grumman Space Technology.

2008 Clean Air Congress Membership Certificate in recognition of commitment to clean air, June 5, 2008, South Coast Air Quality Management District.

2008 Certificate of Appreciation for Inspiring Youth as a 2008 FIRST Mentor, by Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder.

2008 Elected President, Torrance Democratic Club.

2008 Plaque awarded by the Mayor and Torrance City Council, "In Appreciation" of service on the 2008 Strategic Plan Committee.

2007 Certificate of Thanks for support to the 2007 Northrop Grumman Space Technology Volunteer Program.

2007 FIRST Award, presented "In Grateful Appreciation," by Beach Cities Robotics team 294, May 26, 2007.

2007 Appointment by City Council, Torrance Strategic Plan Committee.

2006 Certificate, Commissioner Certification Training, City of Torrance, October.

2006 Certificate, Northrop Grumman Space Technology, Lean Event P1131--Improve IT&L Readiness Review Process, August.

2006 Certificate of Appreciation, California Academy of Math and Science.

2006 Elected Vice President, Torrance Democratic Club, April 12.

2006 Certificate of Appreciation, for outstanding contributions as a mentor, Beach Cities Robotics, FIRST team 294.

2006 Certificate of Graduation, Grassroots Public Service Academy, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, February 23.

2006 Certificate of Proficiency, Non-Conforming Material Review Training, January 20.

2005 Certificate of Recognition, For Beach Cities Robotics, The Manhattan Beach Unified School District, May 18.

2005 Trade Secret Award, Offset In-Plane Membrane Tensiometer, Northrop Grumman, February 14.

2004 Elected Membership Chairman, Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai.

2003 Certificate of Completion, Six Sigma Green Belt Training, April 25.

2003 Certificate of Appreciation, Redondo Union High School, for outstanding support to the senior class carreer event, April 29.

2002 Elected Program Chairman, Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai.

2001 Certificate of Appreciation, The Planetary Society, for participating in SETI@home.

2000 Elected President, Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai.

1998 Elected Second Vice President, Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai.

1998 Certificate of Appreciation, Upward Bound Internship Program, Harvey Mudd College, August 6th.

1997 Certificate of Appreciation, Upward Bound Internship Program, Harvey Mudd College, August 7th.

1996 Certificate of Appreciation, Upward Bound Internship Program, Harvey Mudd College.

1995 Certificate of Completion, Proposal Team Member Program, TRW, Inc., August 9.

1994 Certificate of Completion, Master's Fellowship Program, TRW, Inc.

1994 Certificate of Completion, AutoCAD Designer, MTI College, November 22.

1994 Certificate of Completion, Basic AutoCAD, TRW, Inc., November 10.

1993 Certificate of Achievement, Recognition Award Program, TRW, Inc., November 2.

1992 Master's Fellowship award, TRW, Inc.

1991 Certificate of Achievement, TQM/CPI, TRW, Inc. Employment Training Panel.

1991 Graduate Record Exam, 700, 670, 550, June 1.

1989 Runner-up Trophy, Tennis Doubles, Torrance Parks and Recreation Department.

1986 Certificate of Completion, Space Station Operations, TRW, Inc. after hours course.

1985 Certificate of Completion, Space Station Payload Integration, TRW, Inc. after hours course.

1985 Certificate of Completion, Cost/Schedule Control System Criteria training, TRW, Inc., March 22.

1982 Certificate of Completion, Dynamical Systems and their Applications, TRW, Inc. after hours course.

1979 IQ test administered: 163 on the Weschler scale.

1978 Honorable Discharge, United States Air Force, rank of Staff Sergeant, August.

1975 First Place Trophy and $200 prize, California Open at Berkeley chess tournament, class D.

1974 First Place Trophy, Tinker Air Force Base chess tournament, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

1973 Certified CPR instructor, United States Air Force.

1973 NASA soldering certificate, United States Air Force.

1973 First Place Trophy, Oklahoma City Chess Association, November Open.

1972 First Class Radiotelephone Operators License, Federal Communications Commission, Honolulu, Hawaii.

1972 Diploma, First Class FCC License Course, Cleveland Institute of Electronics, April 6.

1972 First Place Trophy, Oklahoma City Chess Club, Fall Tournament.

1969 Selected for involuntary service in the armed forces of the United States of America, May.

1969 IQ test administered: 98th percentile, AFQT, Oakland Induction Center, United States Selective Service.

1967 Diploma, Salinas High School, Salinas, California.

1965 Certified SCUBA diver, Salinas, California, YMCA training program.

1965 Second Place Trophy, Western Model Car Championship (slot car racing).

1955 Blue Ribbon, Horsemanship, annual Corral De Tiera Horse Show.

For more information send e-mail to the obfuscated address: Rick dot Wagner at NGC dot com

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