Senior Technical Experts Program (STEP) – Disciplines and Experts
STEP comprises an elite cadre of scientists and technical specialists who apply their world-class expertise to the ongoing work of promoting safety-enhancing innovation, policies, and practices in the FAA's regulatory, certification, and oversight programs. Technical disciplines, as well as biographies and contact information for the associated Chief Scientist and Technical Advisors (CSTA) and Senior Technical Specialists (STS) are listed below.
| Advanced Cabin Safety | |
| Amanda Taylor, STS 6500 S MacArthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73169 | |
| Advanced Composite Materials | |
| Larry Ilcewicz, Ph.D., CSTA 2200 S 216th Street Des Moines, WA 98198 Cindy Ashforth, STS 2200 S 216th Street Des Moines, WA 98198 | |
| Artificial Intelligence – Machine Learning | |
| Trung Pham, Ph.D., CSTA 10101 Hillwood Pkwy Fort Worth, TX 76177 | |
| Aviation Fuels | |
| Paul Wrzesinski, Ph.D., STS 6424 Denning Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73169 | |
| Crash Dynamics | |
| Joseph Pellettiere, Ph.D., CSTA 8427 South Park Cir Orlando, FL 32819 | |
| Data Analytics and Tools | |
| Thomas Stafford, STS 2200 S 216th Street Des Moines, WA 98198 | |
| Dynamic Systems | |
| Bimal Aponso, CSTA 2200 S 216th Street Des Moines, WA 98198 | |
| Electric Power Systems | |
| Gaudy Bezos-O'Connor, STS NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23681 | |
| Fatigue and Damage Tolerance | |
| Michael Gorelik, Ph.D., CSTA 17777 N Perimeter Dr Scottsdale AZ 85255 | |
| Flight Meteorological Effects | |
| Cris Bosetti, CSTA 2200 S 216th Street Des Moines, WA 98198 | |
| Flight Simulation Systems | |
Jeffery Schroeder, Ph.D., CSTA Larry McDonald, STS | |
| High Energy Electromagnetic Effects | |
| Rob Steinle, CSTA 2200 S 216th Street Des Moines, WA 98198 | |
| Propulsion Systems | |
| Catalin Fotache, Ph.D., CSTA 1200 District Ave Burlington, MA 01803 | |
| Rotorcraft | |
| Lance Gant, CSTA 10101 Hillwood Pkwy Fort Worth, TX 76177 | |
| Safety and Risk Analysis | |
| Michael Bartron, CSTA 1699 King Street Enfield, CT 06082 | |
| Satellite Navigation Systems | |
| Ken Alexander, CSTA 800 Independence Avenue Washington, DC 20591 | |
| Wake Turbulence | |
| Edward Johnson, Ph.D., CSTA 12 Langley Blvd Hampton, VA 23681 | |
For more information about STEP, contact the Senior Technical Experts Office (AIR-20)
Last updated: Thursday, August 13, 2026