Fundamentals of Systems Engineering (APPEL-vFSE)

Dave Di Pietro is a systems engineer with over 30 years in aerospace development with NASA, Navy, and Air Force systems, both human and robotic. Most recently, as Senior Engineer for Advanced Concepts and Architectures at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), he led or served as mission systems engineer on over 20 advanced space mission designs from low Earth-orbiting to interplanetary. While at GSFC, he also served as Launch Service Manager and Systems Manager for Medium Delta II launch services and as a member of the NASA Headquarters (HQ) Office of Chief Engineer Systems Engineering Working Group that developed NASA’s system engineering policy requirements and the NASA Systems Engineering Handbook. Before going to GSFC, he was the Thermal Control System Manager for Space Station Freedom at the NASA HQ Space Station Freedom Program and Operations Office during preliminary and detailed design. Before joining NASA, he was an advanced design engineer for aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and propulsion systems at the Naval Air Systems Command.

He holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Aerospace Engineering, with a focus on propulsion, high-speed aerodynamics, and high-temperature gas dynamics. He is a private pilot and a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.