Cliff Searfass, Ph.D.
About Cliff Searfass, Ph.D.
Cliff Searfass, Ph.D., is the Manager of NDT Engineering at Blue Origin, overseeing non-destructive testing of flight hardware and leading various inspection initiatives.
Current Position at Blue Origin
Cliff Searfass, Ph.D., currently holds the title of Manager of NDT Engineering at Blue Origin. In this role, he oversees the non-destructive testing (NDT) of flight hardware for various spaceflight systems. His responsibilities include planning and executing an annual capital expenditure budget of $6-8M and an operating budget of $1M. Cliff also develops and maintains personnel qualification and certification for his team, ensuring they meet the high standards necessary for critical spaceflight operations.
Previous Experience in NDT Engineering
Before becoming the Manager of NDT Engineering, Cliff Searfass worked as an NDT Engineer at Blue Origin from 2019 to 2021. Prior to his time at Blue Origin, he served as a Senior Engineer at Structural Integrity Associates from 2012 to 2018. His work history also includes a stint as a Visiting Scientist at Hitachi Research Labs in Japan for seven months in 2012. These roles have provided Cliff with a wealth of experience in non-destructive testing and engineering.
Educational Background
Cliff Searfass completed his Ph.D. in Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State University between 2009 and 2012. He also earned a Master's degree in Engineering Science from the same institution from 2006 to 2008, and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from 2001 to 2005. His extensive education has equipped him with a robust foundation in engineering principles and non-destructive testing methodologies.
Expertise in Ultrasonic Inspections
Cliff Searfass is recognized as a subject matter expert in phased array inspections, having accumulated over 2500 hours of field experience in ultrasonic inspections. His expertise extends to developing custom ultrasonic probes for novel inspection applications. He works closely with design engineers to ensure components are designed with inspection processes in mind, optimizing hardware and techniques for inspecting composite structures, friction stir welds, GTAW, electron beam, and laser weldments, additive manufactured components, castings, and thermal protection systems.
Role in Boards and Committees
Cliff Searfass is an active member of various Material Review Boards (MRB) and fracture control boards at Blue Origin. His involvement in these boards underscores his comprehensive understanding of material integrity and safety, ensuring that all spaceflight components meet rigorous inspection and certification standards.