Ronald A. Wingfield is a recognized expert in the Airworthiness Certification and System Safety of civil, public, commercial derivative, and foreign commercial/military aircraft. He has over 30 years of demonstrated industry and government Systems and Airworthiness engineering team and leadership experience successfully planning, leading, and executing a multitude of manned, unmanned, fixed, and rotary-wing air vehicle system major and minor acquisition (ACAT I, II, and III), modification, and sustainment programs directly with the US Army (SRD), the US Navy (NAVAIR), the USAF (AFLCMC), DARPA, the UK MoD, and the FAA.
Mr. Wingfield has served as the US Army’s Fixed Wing Project Office (FWPO) Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA) Airworthiness Sustainment Engineering Lead (EO-5C, RC-12X/N, RO-6A, Saturn Arch, EMARSS S/M/V/G, C-12), the Director of Engineering - Airworthiness for Leonardo DRS (T-X, T-100), the Office of Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD) Airspace Integration, Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Task Force Airworthiness Sub-IPT Lead, the Lockheed Martin Airworthiness Certification Lead for the VH-71 VXX Presidential Helicopter Program, the US Army Special Operations Aircraft Division, US Army Systems Readiness Directorate (SRD) Technical Lead for the MH-47D/E/G Chinook Helicopter and has held multiple Senior/Principal leadership and Team Airworthiness positions, such as but not limited to working with General Atomics (UCLASS, MQ-20 Avenger), US Falcon/Boeing (KC-46 Pegasus), Viking Air Ltd (DHC-7), Bombardier (DHC-8), Leidos/Dynamic Aviation, Beechcraft/King Air (350/350ER, Model 300), Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney Canada (PWC), and Airbus.
Mr. Wingfield serves as the Vice President for the Association of Airworthiness Professionals and co-authored the Department of Defense Handbook, MIL-HDBK-516C, Airworthiness Certification Criteria, which establishes certification criteria, standards, and methods of compliance used in the determination of airworthiness of all manned and unmanned, fixed and rotary-wing air systems. He is the key contributor to the NASA contracted MTSI 2012, “Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Classification Schemes Study Final Report,” 31 August 2012, used as citation for NASA/TM-2013-217969, Perspectives on Unmanned Aircraft Classification for Civil Airworthiness Standards, Langley Research Center, Feb 2013. He has been a keynote panel speaker at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) on Verification, Validation, and Certification of Autonomous Safety Critical Functions, Ground Collision Avoidance, Airborne Collison Avoidance, and Obstacle Avoidance.
Mr. Wingfield is currently a Lead Airworthiness Engineer for Bell/Textron in Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programs and specifically for the V-280 Valor, the 360 Invictus, and the DARPA TTO Bell High-Speed Vertical Take-off and Lift (HSVTOL) Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane Project.
He has a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and holds an FAA Mechanic License. He is a US Army Aviator/Veteran with ten years of service. He is a member of the Vertical Flight Society and the Army Association of America (AAAA).
Related Courses
In aerospace and aviation, managers and engineers need to understand airworthiness and the property of an air vehicle or aircraft system configuration to safely attain, sustain, and terminate flight per approved usage limits. This course imparts concepts of both initial airworthiness certification—verifying that the design and production of a specific air vehicle system conform to its described flight envelope—and continuing airworthiness—ensuring that, at any time in its operating life, the aircraft complies with the airworthiness requirements in force and is in condition for safe operation.
Discover the principles of airworthiness with Northrop Grumman's Airworthiness Foundations course. This comprehensive 32-hour program, designed for engineers, managers, and regulatory personnel, delves into the procedures and standards vital for maintaining aircraft airworthiness. Join us in pushing boundaries in air and space while contributing to our mission. Learn, grow, and enhance your understanding of the Department of Defense's airworthiness certification criteria for all military air vehicle systems.
Northrop Grumman's Airworthiness Skills Workshop is a key opportunity for engineers, managers, and regulatory personnel to enhance their airworthiness assessment skills. This rigorous 32-hour program builds upon your skills and knowledge from the Airworthiness Foundations course and deepens your understanding of military airworthiness standards in aircraft design. Join us to progress your journey from novice to journeyperson, contributing to a culture of innovation and expertise.
Caltech's Airworthiness Skills Workshop is a key opportunity for engineers, managers, and regulatory personnel to enhance their airworthiness assessment skills. This rigorous 28-hour program builds upon your skills and knowledge from the Airworthiness Foundations course and deepens your understanding of military airworthiness standards in aircraft design. Join us to progress your journey from novice to journeyperson, contributing to a culture of innovation and expertise.