David Pratt is a highly experienced engineer with a diverse background in materials science and energy systems. He holds a Master of Engineering in Energy Systems/Materials from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Science in Materials Science & Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, David has worked in various roles such as Principal Technical Consultant at Nexight Group, Materials Engineer at the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Senior Principal Engineer at Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. He has also held positions at companies such as Boeing, General Dynamics Land Systems, and Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. Throughout his career, David has been involved in a wide range of projects and has expertise in areas such as materials selection, materials testing and analysis, and process development. He has also been actively involved in research and development in the field of energy systems, with a focus on renewable energy and sustainable materials. In addition to his technical expertise, David is also fluent in Spanish and has a strong understanding of international markets and cultures. This has allowed him to work effectively on global projects and collaborate with teams from diverse backgrounds. He is always seeking new challenges and opportunities to apply his knowledge and skills in innovative ways.

David Pratt, PE

Versatile, experienced metallurgical engineer with experiences in aerospace/defense and the energy sector.

About

Education

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

MEng, Energy Systems/Materials / December, 2017

Urbana, Illinois, United States of America

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

SM, Materials Science & Engineering / September, 1994

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

BS, Metallurgical Engineering / 1992

Urbana, Illinois, United States of America

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

BA, Spanish / May, 1992

Urbana, Illinois, United States of America

Experience

Nexight Group

Principal Technical Consultant / January, 2025 — August, 2025

• Supported Department of Energy technology managers in supervising DOE-funded research programs • Assessed technical presentations and funding applications to DOE • Led teams that researched technical information for technical roadmaps and internal and external publications • Supervised and mentored junior staff

Senior Technical Consultant / July, 2022 — December, 2024

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Materials Engineer / December, 2020 — May, 2022

• Reviewed license renewal applications from nuclear power plant licensees to confirm adherence to required operational procedures and record maintenance • Supported advanced manufacturing technological study group • Represented the NRC to ASME Committee for Additive Manufacturing

Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems

Senior Principal Engineer - Materials & Processes / July, 2018 — November, 2020

Senior Principal Engineer – Materials & Processes July 2018 – November 2020 • Reviewed engineering schematics for appropriate materials choices, finishes, and processing • Supported manufacturing groups, material review boards, and failure review boards • Interfaced with customers to review materials lists from vendors • Supported design engineers with materials selection and processing advice

SGT, Inc.

Contractor/NASA Materials and Processes Asssurance Engineer / October, 2015 — March, 2016

• Reviewed Materials and Processes Requirements for various NASA projects at Goddard Space Flight Center to streamline unnecessary requirements from documentation and minimize schedule impacts due to materials or processing deviations • Participated in Material Review Boards and Failure Review Boards to review schedule-impacting material and process failures • Oversaw investigation of thin-film deposition failures

Boeing

Materials and Processes Engineer / January, 2008 — September, 2015

• Provided metallurgical expertise as consulting member of 8 interdisciplinary efforts: materials selection, process expert and failure analysis • Created and interpreted materials and process specifications, including modification of 2 existing specifications • Supported quality assurance engineers at industrial surveillance and audit trips as technical expert reviewing process paperwork, inspecting processes in real-time • Reviewed materials and process substitutions and failure for risk versus technical acceptability to minimize schedule impacts and costs • Did failure analyses and laboratory quality checks • Wrote white paper to propose inclusion of aluminum-lithium alloys in helicopter airframe designs

Kalman & Company

Contractor/Senior Anaylst for Advanced Technology / July, 2006 — March, 2007

• Served as technical expert for program management and technology transfer at Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program • Prepared briefs on nanotechnology research associated with Program

General Dynamics Land systems

Senior Materials Engineer / April, 2003 — July, 2006

• Created and interpreted material and processing specifications • Conducted failure analysis investigations for vehicle subsystem design groups • Provided metallurgical expertise as consulting member of design groups • Supported quality assurance and industrial surveillances by reviewing process travelers and monitoring in-process work

Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc.

Senior Materials Engineer / March, 1999 — March, 2003

• Interpreted material and processing specifications and modified 4 existing ones • Designed and managed qualification project to develop new brazing method • Conducted failure analyses for equipment groups • Provided metallurgical expertise as consulting member of pump development and instrumentation and controls groups • Reviewed 50 welding vendor submissions to assure they met nuclear coolant system requirements for integrity and reliability • Designed and managed material qualification program to introduce new plastic material to a pressurized coolant system

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