Brendan McNelly, EngD

Instructor for the year-long Engineering for Social Innovation section of the Mechanical Engineering Senior Design course. In this role I'm mentoring student teams through the complete engineering lifecycle, guiding them to develop mission-driven solutions, with community and entrepreneurial stakeholders. The course is focused on systems engineering, human-centered design, technical rigor, and preparing students for professional engineering practice so that they can be independently successful engineers upon graduation.

This role is focused on building and integrating hardware and software solutions to test robotic autonomous sytems. The program develops various UAS, USV and UGV prototype platforms that are then utilized to test and evaluate novel algorithms, agentic AI tools, and capabilities for real-world applications. We then iterate on, and apply metrics to, the testing of such platforms and solutions to ensure effectiveness when deployed to end users. By further applying academic research to autonomous systems, our team rapidly integrates new capabilities, and levels of trust, into the hands of forward deployed warfighters. We take early stage concepts and work through the full design, test, and deliver lifecycle. Our tried and tested technologies/tools must remain functional when deployed in the maritime environment. The software developed to evaluate performance against metrics have included UAS platforms, next generation X-ships, base defense, and port security needs. Other topics in the program portfolio include human machine teaming, trust in autonomy, and application of autonomy T&E to specific expeditionary maritime systems. We closely collaborate with the Contested Logistics program to apply these technologies, as well as generative AI and agentic AI to various problem sets. Whether it is improving operational availability through development of a digital assistant or studying the future of AI for various sponsors. This program supports a number of sponsors and projects, to include collaboration with other programs at JHU/APL. The portfolio I manage covers ~30 FTE and has an annual footprint of ~9M across various government sponsors.

This position includes technical and project management roles that support multiple branches of the military. Leadership roles include project manager on USV concept design, installation custom systems on Naval platforms, principal investigator on research and development efforts, and technical lead on various hardware design, T&E and installation efforts. Recent projects have focused on design and installation of electronic systems on US Navy submarines, development of autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, and rapid prototyping of Additive Manufacturing parts and assemblies for various sponsors. These efforts involve significant off-site travel to support strict operational windows and deadlines.

As the section supervisor I was focused on developing and mentoring a team of mechanical engineers, with the goal of expanding out footprint in the uncrewed system and UUV space. During my tenure I hired 10 full time engineers and technicians and 8 interns that spanned all ranges of experience. Mentoring the team members as they focused on career development was the most rewarding part of the job. After three years our team grew to 14 staff and subsequently split into two sections - (1) Subsea Mechanical Engineering and (2) Additive Manufacturing and Design sections.

The role of the Assistant Section Supervisor of the Mechanical Engineering Section (KMT-10) in the Ocean Systems and Engineering Group focuses on assisting the section in providing technical supervision, career coaching, and line management responsibilities. KMT-10's primary engineering efforts include submarine payload development, unmanned vehicle deployment, launch and recovery support, and integration of sensors into maritime platforms for various sponsors. This position is in addition to all technical and project contribution roles.

Design and development of innovative technologies that will have positive impact on American ventures both on home and overseas. Advanced research coupled with team-based projects leads to rapid turnaround on prototypes in order to meet sponsor deadlines.

2013-Present: Force Projection Sector: Undersea Warfare, Mechanical Engineering Group Intern Responsibilities: Building a solid model library of group projects. Creating project designs based on sponsor requirements and design capabilities. Construct testing apparatuses to analyze prototype designs. 2011-2013: Air & Missile Defense Department: Mechanical/Aeronautical Engr. Group Intern Responsibilities: Infrared data analysis and analytical programming for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Optimization and processing of thermodynamic flight models using previous test data. Nonequilibrium aerothermal analysis of radiation heating for a hypersonic reentry probe. Annual summer presentations on completed internship work are available upon request.

Research Project: Multi-Sensor Inspection and Robotic Systems for Dry Storage Casks Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) The project is comprised of numerous groups in academia, however individual tasking is focused on design, testing, construction, and analysis of the sensor delivery system. This system must enter a dry storage cask's limited confinement and remain fully functional while immersed in geometrically constrained and high temperature environments. The robot, and unique sensor packages, will conduct inspection and data analysis to ensure safe dry storage of used nuclear fuel rods. This project involves close collaboration with another graduate student, engineering faculty members, and research professionals. I have also acted as a supervisor to two undergraduate fellows working on the project over the summer.

1) [Jan 2015 - Present] Design of a semi autonomous robot that can analyze the stability and effectiveness of nuclear dry cask storage. This project is funded by the Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP). The design is limited by structural, electronic, temperature, radiation and motion loading constraints. A significant amount of microinterfacing occurs. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Sean Brennan, Mechanical Engineering Department, and Dr. Karl Reichard, the Penn State University Applied Research Laboratory. 2) [Sept 2014 - May 2015] This project at PSU's Larson Transportation Institute (funded by the Department of State) is focused on building improved defenses (street-scape and landscape designs) that are able to withstand a terrorist attack. These embassy defenses are designed to withstand the impact of a 15,000 lb truck traveling between 30 and 50 mph. This project involves mechanical, civil, structural, and geological engineering expertise. I am training to improve the modeling and testing capabilities when using LS-Dyna; in order to simulate a crash before any full scale tests. 3) [Jan 2015 - May 2015] Design of an autonomous RC vehicle. Using an Arduino, the vehicle chassis could respond to sensor commands to follow a painted course. The vehicle microprocessor analyzed color commands, coupled with PD control, to autonomously drive along a variable course. This autonomous function also used basic rollover algorithms to limit rollover and implement speed control during high speed turns. This was part of an independent project for ME445. 4) Other various vehicle dynamic, robotics, automation and sensing project within Dr. Brennan's Intelligent Vehicles and Systems Group (IVSG).

Graduate Teaching Assistant for the mechanical engineering undergraduate "Fluid Flow" course. I assist students with homework, audit class, and grade assignments. As a teaching assistant I hold office hours and am able to tutor students on the material being taught in class.

Designed, machined, and built a prototype structure conducive to measuring precise fluid motion of the Mayfly insect. In order to create the experiment hygiene safety, laser cutting training, and laser training was completed. Currently using high speed cameras and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) for experimentation and analysis of the prototype biomimetic pumping arrays.

Responsibilities: Manage and control baseball games and any coach/player/parent distractions, be on time, prepared with the knowledge of all rules and conditions, and make sure all other staffed umpires are also prepared

Responsible for care and oversight of 7-10 children for 8 hours a day. Plan and execute projects/events to keep campers/parents/coworkers engaged. Ensure that all hired junior counselors are capable and enthusiastic.

My dissertation, titled "Advances in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Technologies for Enhanced Harbor Protection" was completed as part of my Doctor of Engineering degree. Along with the dissertation, I authored for conference papers, one patent, and one manuscript (pending publication). The work presented was the culmination of many years of prototype vehicle development; focused on supporting the harbor protection challenges that remain difficult in the subsea domain. I owe a debt of gratitude to my advisors, Dr. Louis Whitcomb, Dr. Stephen Carr, Dr. Jim Bellingham, Dr. Marin Kobilarov, and Dr. Jin Seob Kim. The following link provides more information about the program: https://engineering.jhu.edu/doctor-of-engineering/about-the-program/

Completed a M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering while a full-time employee of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Coursework was completed part-time, outside of normal office hours. In addition to the degree, I pursued the Robotics concentration. Respective coursework covered various electrical and computer engineering skills as they relate to the cross-domain field of mechatronics.

My MS thesis, shown in the publication section, is titled: Design of a Nuclear Inspection Robot: considering dimensional, force, sensor packaging, and thermal constraints The research project that relates to my thesis topic is funded by the Nuclear Energy University Program and directed at the creation of a multi-sensor inspection and robotic system to ensure the safe storage of used nuclear fuel in dry storage casks. Research was completed in collaboration with Dr. Sean Brennan (PSU) and Dr. Karl Reichard (PSU/ARL). I determined overall packaging constraints for the build, in addition to initial design for delivery and cooling systems. This interest in Defense Engineering has also led to involvement in other research projects related to protective barrier systems, vehicle dynamics and interaction during impact, robotic systems to interact with dirty/unsafe environments, and other intelligent vehicles and systems. For more information see Research Assistant under work experience.

Dean's List (multiple times) Honors College Citation Clark School of Engineering (Departmental Honors) Pursued extensive academic, teamwork, leadership and social skills to complete complex engineering and community service related tasks while an undergraduate student.