Derek Schmidt

Derek Schmidt is an experienced engineering professional specializing in flight safety and quality assurance within the aerospace sector, currently serving as the Head of Flight Safety at ABL Space Systems since October 2020. Prior roles include Lead Regulatory Operations Engineer, Design Reliability Engineer, and Regulatory Operations Engineer at ABL Space Systems, and Quality Engineer positions at Aerojet Rocketdyne and UTC Aerospace Systems. Notable accomplishments include a significant reduction in product nonconformances at Aerojet Rocketdyne and the implementation of efficient processes and tools in various projects at companies such as SpaceX and Fairbanks Morse Engine. Derek's educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and further studies in Data Analysis at UC Berkeley Extension.