WHO WE ARE

About Us

Vertex Aerospace is committed to providing expertise in engineering services that meets and where applicable exceeds our customer's requirements and expectations.

Vertex Aerospace strives to provide excellence in engineering services by placing emphasis on product quality, customer satisfaction while adapting to the changing needs of our clients and the industry.

Vertex Aerospace can accomplish these goals by developing the next generation of engineers through our proven mentoring process that we have acquired over 25 years engineering experience supporting NASA, DoD and Commercial programs.

Vertex Aerospace prides itself on providing a cost-effective solution to its customers by implementing an efficient management system that allows the company to be economically competitive in today's market where low cost and high efficiency are a commodity.

Our Team

Nicholas M. Teti

President/CEO
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1985
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Rommel N. Zara

Vice President/CTO
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, 2000
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Evan T. Alexander

Sr. Thermal Engineer
M.E. Aerospace Systems, 2015
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

B.S. Aerospace Engineering, 2011
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Mark C. Aukerman

Jr. Thermal Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2021
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Ethan T. Burbridge

Thermal Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2018
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Alex B. Chuchra

Chief Thermal Engineer II

Michael D. Commons

Sr. Thermal Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2012
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Thomas (Richard) Dodge

Sr. Thermal Engineer
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, 2015
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2012
University of Delaware, Newark, DE

TRAVIS M. FRAZIER

Sr. Thermal Engineer
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2013
University of California, San Diego, CA

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2011
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Jong S. Kim

Chief Thermal Engineer I
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1994
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Kevin B. Kim

Chief Thermal Engineer

M.E. Mechanical Engineering, 1999
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1990
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

SHANNON G. MACMASTER

Thermal Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2020
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Emily A. Maheras

Jr. Thermal Engineer

M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2023
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2020
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Carson S. McDonald

Sr. Thermal Engineer
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, 2012
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Gilbert (Wes) Ousley

Chief Thermal Engineer II
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1977
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Brian A. Parsons

Thermal Engineer

M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2018
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2017
State University of New York, Binghamton, NY

Matthew R. Patsy

Thermal Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2020
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

John K. Ritz

Jr. Thermal Engineer
B.S. Engineering, 2024
University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Santino V. Rosanova

Sr. Thermal Engineer
B.S. Physics, 2012
Mary Washington College. Fredericksburg, VA

Jason A. Solimani

Chief Thermal Engineer I
B.S. Aerospace Engineering, 2006
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Nicholas (Nico) Teti

Technical Communications Specialist
B.A. Communication and Sales, 2021
Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD

Jordan L. Thompson

Sr. Thermal Engineer
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2013
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2011
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

AWARDS

ESPRIT DE CORPS

Recipient: Michael Commons

October 29, 2024

 

Michael Commons was recognized with an Esprit de Corps award at the October 2024 LEO All Hands meeting. This award is one of the quarterly LEO Internal awards and was approved by the LEO Awards Board. The Esprit de Corps award was given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the NOAA-21 (JPSS-2) Solar Array Chassis Current Tiger Team investigation.

 

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UNSUNG HERO: GOES-R

Recipient: Kevin Kim

2024

 

Kevin received an “Unsung Hero” award for his work on GOES-R and eagle eyes detecting an issue with the CCOR instrument during close outs.

 

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Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal

Recipient: Emily Maheras

2023

 

This prestigious NASA medal was awarded to Emily Maheras for outstanding engineering efforts on the Integrated LCRD Low Earth User Modem and Amplifier Terminal payload's active and passive cooling design and analysis. This award is given for individual efforts for applications of engineering principles or methods that have resulted in a contribution of fundamental importance in this field or have significantly advanced the state of the practice as demonstrated by an application to aerospace systems.

 

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TDRS-M LAUNCH SUCCESS

Recipient: Nicholas Teti

August 18, 2017

 

The Vertex Aerospace President/CEO has been supporting the NASA Space Network Project (Code 452) since 2002 providing extensive experience associated with the thermal control system of the TRW TDRS 3-7 satellites (Generation 1) and the Boeing TDRS 8-10 satellites (Generation 2) and the Boeing TDRS 11 through 13 satellites (Generation 3). Mr. Teti utilizes his experience and knowledge to monitor the health and safety of the thermal control systems for the Gen 1, 2 and 3 TDRS satellites while providing oversight of additional Vertex Aerospace thermal engineers contributing analytical support to the Code 452 TDRS sustaining engineering team.

 

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ROBERT H. GODDARD AWARD

Recipient: Nicholas Teti

January 12, 2016

 

This is a senior award given to the individual or team who has provided leadership in ground breaking space and aeronautics capability to the USA.

SILVER ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Recipient: Nicholas Teti

November, 2015

 

This prestigious NASA Silver Achievement Medal is awarded to Government and non-Government individuals or teams by NASA Center Directors for a stellar achievement that supports one or more of NASA's Core Values, when it is deemed to be extraordinarily important and appropriate to recognize such achievement in a timely and personalized manner.

SAE FOREST R. MCFARLAND AWARD

Recipient: Nicholas Teti

2011

 

This award recognizes individuals for their sustained outstanding contributions toward the work of the SAE Engineering Events in the planning, development, and dissemination of technical information through technical meetings, conferences, and professional development programs at SAE events or outstanding contributions to event operations in facilitating or enhancing the interchanges of technical information.

Established in 1979, this award is administered by SAE Engineering Events and honors the late Forest R. McFarland who was himself an outstanding session organizer, a chairman of the Passenger Car Activity and a member of the Engineering Meetings Board. Funding for this award is through a bequest by McFarland to SAE and consists of a framed certificate presented at an appropriate event.