Dr. Andy Brown – NESC Academy Biography

Andy Brown, Ph. D, is an Aerospace Engineer in the Propulsion Structures & Dynamic Analysis Branch/ER41.   He joined MSFC in 1986, and has worked mainly on rocket engine dynamics and loads research, development, and production analysis, but also has performed hypersonic debris impact analysis in support of the Columbia Accident Investigation.  Presently he is leading structural dynamic analysis for the adaptation and re-start of the SSME into the new RS25 engine, which will power the first stage of the Space Launch System.  He has authored or co-authored 8 journal papers and over 20 conference papers covering topics ranging from probabilistic design and loads combination methods to techniques for calculating turbine blade forced response in the presence of asymmetric flow.  Andy has been an active member of the AIAA Structural Dynamics Technical Committee and taught graduate level courses in Structural Dynamics and Finite Element methods while a visiting professor at UNC Charlotte.  He has taught this professional short-course version of “Basics of Structural Dynamics” twice at MSFC and once at KSC.  Andy received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and a Masters and Ph.D. in ME from Georgia Tech.