Ron Cihak
About Ron Cihak
Ron Cihak is the Principle Engineer for Advanced Development Programs at BLUE ORIGIN, with over 34 years of experience in aerospace engineering.
Title
Ron Cihak is currently serving as Principal Engineer Advanced Development Programs at BLUE ORIGIN since 2022.
Employment History - BLUE ORIGIN
Ron Cihak joined BLUE ORIGIN in 2022 as the Principal Engineer overseeing Advanced Development Programs. His role involves spearheading new initiatives and projects, ensuring the advancement of the company's development programs within the aerospace industry.
Employment History - Lockheed Martin
Prior to his tenure at BLUE ORIGIN, Ron Cihak held multiple roles at Lockheed Martin. From 2009 to 2022, he served as the Systems Engineering Manager / Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test in Denver, Colorado, focusing on systems integration and engineering management. Between 2004 and 2009, he was the VH71 Air Vehicle Lead at Lockheed Martin - Systems Integration Owego in New York. His earlier role as a Structural Test Engineer at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, spanned from 1988 to 1993.
Employment History - Bell Helicopter
Ron Cihak worked at Bell Helicopter from 1993 to 2003, where he held the position of Chief of Engineers in the Mechanical Test Lab. His responsibilities included overseeing mechanical testing and ensuring the structural integrity of various helicopter components.
Education and Expertise
Ron Cihak earned his Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he studied from 1985 to 1988. His expertise includes qualification of spacecraft hardware in structural test environments and Survivability Systems Engineering covering design, integration, analysis, and testing.
Background
With over 34 years of experience in the aerospace prime contractor industry, Ron Cihak has contributed to development and qualification programs across various sectors. He has served notable clients such as the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, NASA, and engaged in FAA certification of commercial aerospace programs.