Dr. Larry Ilcewicz is the FAA’s Chief Scientist and Technical Advisor (CSTA) for Advanced Composite Materials. He has been with the FAA since 1998, where he supports composite aircraft structures airworthiness, certification, education, and research. He has been involved in accident and incident investigations, as well as numerous other service problems involving composite aircraft structure. His work to establish the rules, policy, guidance, and detailed best practices for standard composite aircraft protocol has shaped new guidance related to composite/bonded materials and processes, environmental effects, analysis procedures, structural substantiation, manufacturing methods, and maintenance practices. Dr. Ilcewicz provides training on composites to the FAA and its delegations.

Prior to his work at the FAA, Dr. Ilcewicz spent 17 years at Boeing, where he supported commercial transport aircraft programs, including Boeing 737, 757, 767 and 777 aircraft in various stages of development, production, and service. Much of his Boeing career focused on composite structural development and challenges, but he also had numerous manufacturing interfaces, including design cost model developments. Dr. Ilcewicz has authored and co-authored more than 80 technical publications. In 2013, he was the sole DOT person to receive a Presidential Rank Award. He earned a B.S. in Wood Science from Michigan Technological University, an M.S. in Wood Science from Oregon State University, and a dual-degree Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering/Wood Science from Oregon State University.