Chad Davis

Biography

Prior to joining the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Practice, he built a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years in human spaceflight, aerospace systems engineering, military aviation, and program leadership. He currently serves as Senior Manager of Human Spaceflight Systems Engineering at Northrop Grumman, where he leads systems engineering activities supporting NASA’s Artemis, Gateway, Commercial LEO Destination, Commercial Resupply Services, and future human exploration programs.

Throughout his aerospace career, he has held leadership positions supporting the development and operation of numerous NASA and commercial spaceflight programs, including the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) for Gateway, Cygnus cargo missions to the International Space Station, Orion Launch Abort System, rocket engine development (for Antares & the space shuttle) and advanced deep-space habitation concepts. He has led spacecraft integration, mission operations, systems engineering, test programs, and digital engineering initiatives while collaborating with NASA, international partners, commercial industry, and government agencies.

In addition to his industry leadership, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and as Assistant Director for DoD Human Spaceflight Payload Engineering in the U.S. Air Force Reserve with the Space Test Program detachment at NASA JSC. He is a USAF Command Pilot with more than two decades of military aviation experience supporting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, special operations, and homeland defense missions flying multiple weapon systems.

Education

• PhD, Systems Engineering, Concentration in Space Systems (pending defense), Colorado State University
• MS, Aerospace Engineering (Summa Cum Laude), University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• BS, Engineering Science and Mechanics, Minor in Aerospace Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Research

• Human Spaceflight Systems Engineering
• Spacecraft Habitation Systems and Lunar Infrastructure
• Mission Operations and Crewed Spacecraft Development
• Space Exploration Architectures and Moon-to-Mars Missions
• Hypersonic Systems and Atmospheric Reentry
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Digital Engineering and Space System Architectures
• Human Systems Integration (HSI) and Human Factors Engineering (HFE)

Professional Service

• Senior Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
• Member, International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
• Member, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society

Certifications

• FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)
• Active TS/SCI Security Clearance
• USAF Command Pilot, Evaluator & Instructor

Awards

• Multiple NASA and Human Spaceflight Program Team Recognition Awards
• Multiple RNASA Team Stellar Awards and Nominations
• Orb-1 Mission Honors Award
• Orbital Sciences Warp 10 Award
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Air Medal
• Air Force Commendation Medal
• University of Tennessee Engineering “T” Senior Honor

Selected Publications

• C. Davis and R. Sega: “Using MBSE in Feasibility Study by Developing a Reference Architecture for a Deep Space Habitat.” AIAA SPACE Conference, 2017.
• C. Davis and K. Peek: “Feasibility Study for Using Cygnus as a Habitat in Deep Space Exploration.” AIAA SPACE Conference, 2016.
• C. Davis and K. Peek: “Cygnus Return to Flight: The View from the Mission Director’s Console.” AIAA SPACE Conference, 2016.
• C. Davis and J. E. Lyne: “Commercial Transportation to the International Space Station Using Commercial Off-the-Shelf Hardware.” AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Conference, 2010.