Career Background:
Mr. Watkins is a highly motivated Systems Architect with over 10 years of well-rounded engineering and management experience in fields of avionics architecture, civil aircraft certification, research & development and flight-test engineering. Most recent work concentration is devoted to Aircraft Platform Computing Systems and Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA). Experienced at working under pressure with demanding financial and time requirements. Over 3 years of program management experience with responsibilities focused on meeting program requirements and managing customer expectations.

As a systems engineer he has architected systems, engaged in systems integration within a systems-of-systems architecture, developed innovative civil aircraft certification strategies, invented new opticalmechanical remote sensing systems and completed flight test demonstrations. As a systems architect and certification focal, Mr. Watkins has helped to innovate the Boeing 787 Common Core System (CCS) avionics computing platform. As a Flight Test Director, Mr. Watkins has successfully completed a challenging flight test program that pushed the limits of the aircraft test bed and crew. While he served as the MOADS program manager, Mr. Watkins dedicated his time to an aircraft avionics research and development project in order to develop a new air data system technology, namely an optical air data system for both military and commercial aircraft. Currently he has devoted his attention to the field of Platform Computing Systems and Integrated Modular Avionics. He is working certification on the Boeing 787 CCS program. He is also architecting next generation platform computing systems and is leading engineering support for new business developments.

Recent Programs

• Common Core System (CCS) computing platform [Integrated Modular Avionics]
  (Built for the Boeing 787 Commerical Airliner: "Dreamliner")
• Molecular Optical Air Data System (MOADS) Airborne LIDAR
• Joint Optical Air Data System (JOADS) Airborne LIDAR
• Molecular and Aerosol Detector for Clear Air Turbulence (MADCAT)
• Reusable Launch Vehicle Air Data System (RLVADS)
• GroundWinds atmospheric direct detection LIDAR
• Robotics: Automated Wafer Cartridge System (AWCS). Technology demonstration for space-grown thin film semiconductor material in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Alternative Energy: Advanced Metal To Energy Conversion (AMTEC)
• Dimango: radio transmitter radiation pattern optimization for mass-produced household remote-controlled power switches
  

Publications:

• "2008 Year-in-Review: Digital Avionics", Aerospace America December 2008: 48-49, Chris Watkins, Richard Katz, AIAA Digital Avionics Technical Committee, Reston, VA, December 2008.
  http://www.aiaa.org/aerospace/images/articleimages/pdf/Information&LogisticsSystems1.pdf

• "Design Considerations for Systems Hosted on Integrated Modular Avionics Platforms", Christopher B. Watkins, Randy Walter, 27th AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), St. Paul, Minnesota, October 2008
  Awarded Best Session Paper
  http://www.ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=4702747
  
  
• "Transitioning from Federated Avionics Architectures to Integrated Modular Avionics", Christopher B. Watkins, Randy Walter, 26th AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), Dallas, Texas, October 2007.
  http://www.ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=4391842
  
  
• "Digital Avionics Handbook, Second Edition", chapter entitled "Genesis Platform", Chris Watkins, Randy Walter, Cary Spitzer (editor), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, December 2006.
  [Link to book on Amazon]  [Link to book on CRC Press]
  
  
• "Integrated Modular Avionics: Managing the Allocation of Shared Intersystem Resources", Christopher B. Watkins, 25th AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), Portland, Oregon, October 2006.
  http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=4106349
  
  
• "Modular Verification: Testing a Subset of Integrated Modular Avionics in Isolation", Christopher B. Watkins, 25th AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), Portland, Oregon, October 2006.
  http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=4106353
  
  
• "Molecular Optical Air Data System (MOADS) Prototype II", Christopher B. Watkins, Charles J. Richey, Peter Tchoryk, Jr., Greg A. Ritter, Michael Dehring, Paul B. Hays, Carl A. Nardell, Russell Urzi, International Optical Society (SPIE) Defense and Security Symposium, Orlando, Florida, April 2004.
  http://spiedl.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=PSISDG005412000001000010000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes
  
  
• "Molecular Optical Air Data System (MOADS) Flight Experiment", Christopher B. Watkins, Charles J. Richey, Peter Tchoryk, Jr., Greg A. Ritter, Paul B. Hays, Carl A. Nardell, Theodore C. Willis, Russell Urzi, International Optical Society (SPIE) AeroSense Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 2003.
  http://spiedl.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=PSISDG005086000001000236000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes
  
  
• "Molecular Optical Air Data System (MOADS)", Peter Tchoryk, Jr., Christopher B Watkins, Scott Lindemann, Paul B. Hays, Carl A. Nardell. International Optical Society (SPIE) AeroSense Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 2001.
  http://spiedl.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=PSISDG004377000001000194000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes

Relevant Certifications and Professional Affiliations::

• American Institue of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), SENIOR MEMBER, 2005-present
• AIAA Digital Avionics Technical Committee, served as Publications Chair, Outreach Subcommitee Chair, 2007-present
• International society for optical engineering (SPIE) member, 2001-2005
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) member, 2002-present
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Licensed Private Pilot
• Licensed Amateur Radio Operator (Technician + Class)
• Professional Engineer Certification Part 1 (Fundamentals of Engineering)

Employment:

• General Electric (GE) Aviation, Grand Rapids, MI
  GE Aquired Smiths Aerospace in 2007
  Systems Architect, Platform Computing Systems, 2007-present
  
  
• Smiths Aerospace (Smiths Group PLC), Grand Rapids, MI
  Boeing 787 CCS Systems Certification Focal, 2006-2007
  Boeing 787 CCS Systems Engineer, 2004-2006
  
  
• Michigan Aerospace Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI
  Program Manager, Research Engineer, 1997 - 2004
  Founding Employee. Member of original team.
  
  
• Ann Arbor Aviation Center, Ann Arbor, MI
  Software Engineering Consultant, 2002 - 2008
  
  
• AutoBULLET Automotive News Publication, Dallas, TX
  Technical Director, 2002-2003
  
  
• Advanced Modular Power Systems (AMPS), Ann Arbor, MI
  Engineering Tech, 1996-1998
  
  
• Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM), Ann Arbor, MI
  Engineering Tech, 1996-1997
  
  
• Dimango Products, Brighton, MI
  Electrical Technician, 1994-1995

Education:

• M.S. Systems Engineering, 2011 (expected)
  Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly University of Missouri-Rolla), Rolla, Missouri
  
  
• B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1999
  Kettering University (formerly GMI Engineering & Management Institute), Flint, Michigan
  

Co-curricular activities:

• General Aviation (Private Pilot)
• Amateur Radio operator (Technician-Plus Class)
• Photography
• Small business owner & manager: Watkins Imaging (www.WatkinsImaging.com)