Mr. Paul Gradl
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Biography
Paul Gradl is a principal engineer and subject matter expert at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Gradl serves as a Principal Investigator and leads several projects for additive manufacturing of liquid rocket engine engines and supports a variety of development and flight programs over the last 18 years. He authored and co-authored over 80 journal articles and conference papers; published a book under AIAA “Metal Additive Manufacturing for Propulsion Applications” in 2022; holds five patents; and regularly teaches courses in additive manufacturing. Gradl is the recipient of numerous NASA and industry awards and medals; an Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), member of SME, and serves on several additive manufacturing industry and government committees and as an advisor to industry. Gradl was named one of “The Most Influential Personalities of Additive Manufacturing in 2020” by 3Dnatives and the recipient of “Engineer of the Year” by AIAA in 2022.
Affiliations
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Honors and Awards
2022 AIAA Engineer of the Year
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
For exceptional engineering and technical innovation developing metal additive manufacturing techniques, advanced materials, and large-scale techniques for rocket components while proactively promoting technology transfer.
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
For championing technology innovation including laser brazing, white light inspection, high speed dynamic digital image correlation, and additive nozzle manufacturing.
2021 Hermann Oberth Award
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Greater Huntsville Section
In recognition of outstanding individual scientific achievement in the field of astronautics and advancement of the aeronautical sciences.
2021 Aubin AM Case Study Award
Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
Rapid Large Scale Additive Manufacturing of Full-scale RS-25 Engine Nozzle Liner.
2019 ASME Aerospace Propulsion Division Technical Committee Best Paper Award
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Propulsion Technical Committee
“GRCop-42 Development and Hot-fire Testing Using Additive Manufacturing Powder Bed Fusion for Channel-Cooled Combustion Chambers” DOI: 10.2514/6.2019-4228
2019 AIAA Liquid Propulsion Best Paper Award at Propulsion and Energy Forum
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Additive Manufacturing and Hot-fire Testing of Liquid Rocket Channel Wall Nozzles Using Blown Powder Directed Energy Deposition Inconel 625 and JBK-75 Alloys” (AIAA-2019-4362)
2011 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
For exceptional leadership, engineering excellence, and technical contributions made in the design, development, and test of advanced coatings for the J-2X nozzle extension.
2012 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
For Successfully integrating Structured Light Scanning Technology into the J-2X engine and RS-25 engine hardware design, analysis, and fabrication process.