Carlan W. Silha, PhD

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Analysis and Integration Team (AIT) Leader, Seattle WA
Chief Engineer. 1997-1999

Managed the systems engineering, specifications, speciality engineering, and all engineering proposal efforts for the new solid-state phased array radar 737 based aircraft named Wedgetail. Managed approximately 50 engineering personnel directly and responsible for over 250 engineering staff. Performed two major design engineering reviews with our customer, the Royal Australian Air Force, signed off all drawings as Senior Design Engineer (SDE) and conducted trade studies to improve aircraft performance. Wrote, reviewed and approved all engineering sections of the Proposal and participated in contract negotiations. Retired in January 1999 after the proposal was submitted.

Boeing Operations International Inc., Heerlen, The Netherlands and Geilenkirchen, Germany
Vice President 1992 - 1997

NATO AWACS Support Manager responsible for program activities within Europe. Provided management and administrative liaison between NATO management organizations, National Ministers of Defense, industrial participation/offset country managers and administered support contracts for the collocated Boeing personnel to the AWACS Main Operating Base. Performed direct interface to the NATO program office (NAPMA) for modernizing the NATO AWACS fleet of aircraft by coordinating and advising on all program management functions including engineering evaluations. Wrote, coordinated and obtained approval of the Industrial Participation Agreement (Offset Agreement) between Boeing and NAPMA. Led a team to evaluate and select European subcontractors for integration into the program.

Commercial Avionics Systems (CAS), Seattle, WA
IDWA and Technical Subcontracts Manager. 1991-1992

Managed the Sony subcontract for the audio and video subsystems of the 777 Aircraft Development. Responsible for integration of the equipment in the 777 Cabin Management System along with interfacing and testing the equipment in the 777 Airplane. Provided engineering liaison to Sony and built specifications and interface documentation. Also responsible for managing the Subcontract to Argo Systems for the Avionics Test Station (STE) used for the automated checkout and test of all CAS LRU’s delivered to the 777 Program.

Proposal Support, Seattle WA
ENDO LEAP and Brilliant Pebbles Proposals. 1990-1991

Technical Subcontract Manager for the missile program ENDO LEAP proposal including subcontractor evaluation and building SOW’s and Specifications for the subcontracted program. Selected and negotiated the major subcontracts for the prime proposal. Evaluated and supported cost/technical negotiations with the US Government.
During the same period, participated on the red team for Brilliant Pebbles. Was responsible for reviewing specifications, SOW’s and Manufacturing planning. Participated in the loss analysis presented to D&SG.

Saudi Arabia Peace Shield Program, Seattle WA
Technical Subcontracts Manager. 1986-1991

Managed over $500 M in subcontracts. Implemented the concept of management by multi-functional Integrated Product Teams (IPT’s) and supported the functional organization in designing the original Subcontract Management Guide published for use by BD&SG. Management activities included hardware and software for air defense consoles, communications privacy equipment, telephone switching equipment, procurement of and facilities for 17 GE long-range radar’s. Managed up to 60 people working on the engineering, development, integration and test of the subsystems into our Boeing product baseline.

Research, Development and Acquisition Program Management
United States Air Force Systems Command, 1965 - 1986

Retired from the USAF with nearly 21 years of engineering, research and development experience. Performed all aspects of program management from a detailed designer, a project engineer to the last assignment as Program Manager for the Royal Thai Air Defense System. Worked as a research engineer in the Air Force Propulsion Laboratory, Air Force Materials Laboratory, as well as a materials engineer and manufacturing engineer/manager on several major weapon systems, e.g. B-1, ALCM, F-16. Worked in the NASA space program for 3 years and was assigned to HQ Systems Command working as the program element manager for the USAF’s Manufacturing Technology Program.

EDUCATION:

University of Southern California, M.S. Systems Management, 1984
Defense Systems Management College, Program Management Course 79-1, 1979
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Ph.D. Program, Materials Science
University of Idaho, M.S. Metallurgical Engineering, 1966
University of Idaho, B.S. Metallurgical Engineering, 1965