Blaine Allen

Multi-disciplinary Engineer
& Aerospace Mechanic

Experienced with rapid problem-solving in stressful situations to imagine and build first principles systems solutions.

Problem Solving

Air Force Crew Chief Mechanic: KC-135 Stratotanker Craftsman

Maintained military aircraft, ensuring continuous and reliable operation of flight systems to accelerate mission timelines.

Responsible for signing off on final system checkouts before crewed flight.

Details below

Engineer & Space Science Educator for the South Texas Astronomical Society

Various engineering and astronomy projects to help “ignite the curiosity of space exploration” in the RGV community.
Guiding engineering of hybrid rocket (NO2 + HTPB) for Brownsville/Los Fresnos student team for 10,000 ft altitude attempt.

STARSociety Website

Engineering repairs for the Observatory at the Brownsville Southmost Library

After the dome collapsed in 2020, the observatory has been out of commission. The city of Brownsville asked our team at the South Texas Astronomical Society to help rebuild the structure, where I took the lead in the engineering effort.

Observatory Overview

2023 NASA Students to Launch

Organized and led a NASA model rocket build program with 50 students to instruct about the Artemis Program and the missions to return to the Moon and beyond.

Project Details

Lead and Organize Regular Community Clean Up Events

Helped remove approximately 4450 gallons of debris from Boca Chica Beach over the last 5 months.

Spreadsheet of Clean Up Data

Engineered fluid flow modeling with differential equations

Developed techniques using differential equations to model fluid systems for applications in complex systems modeling.

Presentation

Engineered electrical time series analysis techniques

Designed pipeline of signal amplification, processing with fast Fourier transforms, wavelet convolutions, and source reconstruction of electrical activity.

Applications to microvolt brain activity are generalizable to other electrical systems.

Presentation

Constructed EEG (electroencephalograph) for brain computer interface applications

Developed electrical electroencephalograph hardware and software. Won first place in design competition for electrical hardware, signal processing, and pattern recognition.

Presentation

Homeless Shelter Shift Supervisor

Leveraged teamwork with algorithmic and engineering thinking to optimize and balance resource supply and demand through daily crisis situations.

Details

Crew Chief
Stratotanker
Mechanic

Supervised and performed the inspection, troubleshooting, and hands-on mechanic maintenance of all aircraft systems. Responsible for signing off on final system checkouts before crewed flights.

Engaged in over 60 temporary duty travel missions CONUS and supported over 700 missions OCONUS and through Middle East combat zone deployment.

Roles in high-paced daily crewed vehicle launching:

Hands-on Technician Maintenance: Proficient with the mechanical and pneumatic tools necessary to install, remove, and test all aircraft systems. Details are in the Tooling section below.
Operations and Logistics: Managed the production and scheduling of aircraft to ensure aircraft were prepared for flight - often high-priority national security missions.
Service Hazardous Systems: ~5000 psi pneumatic nitrogen and hydraulic fluid servicing, gaseous aviators breathing oxygen (GOX), F-108 jet engine fluids.
Inspection of Serviceability, Part Tolerance, and Installation Quality: Inspected aircraft with extreme attention to detail for serviceability, part compliance, corrosion identification, installation errors, flight/mission damage, and manufacturing defects. Aircraft inspection details vary from 30 minutes to 4+ hours (preflight, post-flight, etc.). Responsible for certifying final system checkouts prior to crewed flight.
Documentation: Responsible for the accuracy of vehicle flight and maintenance documents.

Technician
Tasks, Tooling, and Heavy Equipment

Troubleshoot, Test, Install, Replace, Rig, or Adjust (including, but not limited to):

Mechanical: Panels, sheet metal failure/cracks, corrosion identification, windows, flight control surfaces (ailerons, flaps, speed brakes), horizontal and vertical stabilizer, landing gear assembly, brake assembly, cables/wire rope accessories, rivets, fasteners, bolts, clamps, grommets, screws, gaskets, safety wire, etc.
High-pressure Hydraulic/Pneumatic: cylinders, motors, pumps, snubbers, valves, adapters, fittings, couplers, gauges, hoses, o-rings, etc.
Electrical: 3-phase motors, AC motors, DC motors, linear actuators, engine ignitors, radome, centrifugal blowers/fans, switches, relays, solenoids, indicator lights, all aircraft lighting systems, circuit breakers/fuses, breaker/fuse panels, various wiring and wire harness maintenance, etc.
Professional Training & Education: Earned Associate's degree in Aerospace MaintenanceTechnology, which is functionally the military equivalent of the FAA Airframe and Powerplant license.

Heavy equipment operation & Tooling requiring precision manual dexterity:

Personnel Platforms: Daily operation of platforms for maintenance/technician tasks. Trained and licensed with JLG boom lifts, scissor lifts, hydraulic boom lifts, forklifts, and more.
Transport Vehicles: Trained with aircraft tow vehicle operation.
Precision Measuring Equipment: Micrometers, torque wrenches, thermocouples, barometers, jet fuel flow measuring devices, cockpit instrument panel, etc.
Hand Tools and Power Tools: All mechanical and pneumatic tools necessary for any maintenance operation on the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.

Blaine Allen

Problem Solving

Crew Chief Stratotanker Mechanic

Technician Tasks, Tooling, and Heavy Equipment

Crew Chief
Stratotanker
Mechanic

Technician
Tasks, Tooling, and Heavy Equipment