Walter Sierra

Prolific author and space transportation systems expert with 45+ years of progressive experience in systems engineering and integration of aerospace and defense systems, systems analysis and trade studies, formulation of system requirements, verification, and validation. Author of a four-book series (2017-2021) entitled Beyond the Saga of Rocket Science which is easily readable for those interested in the history of the world's space programs: (1) The Dawn of the Space Age, (2) Avoiding Armageddon, (3) In Space To Stay, (4) The Never-Ending Frontier. These books have received excellent reviews by Kirkus Reviews, the US Review of Books, Foreword Clarion Reviews, Pacific Book Review, and Blue Ink Review. Previously authored two hefty reference books for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics related to complex space transportation systems and associated systems analysis, trade studies, and design: Space Transportation: A Systems Approach to Analysis and Design (1999) and Design Methodologies for Space Transportation Systems (2001). I am employed part-time at the University of Central Florida as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department where I teach a senior capstone course in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Design. I have broad experience in systems engineering and integration, including planning and executing complex projects, product definition and development, project and program requirements definition, verification planning and execution, process improvement, problem solving, optimal balancing among conflicting requirements for performance, cost, reliability, and risk.