Zachary Ladonis
Investor at Lockheed Martin
Zachary Ladonis
Investor at Lockheed Martin
Washington, District of Columbia
Overview
Work Experience
Corporate Venture Capital Senior Investment Analyst
2021 - Current
Actively seeking strategic investments in companies that are developing cutting edge technologies in core businesses and new markets important to Lockheed Martin.
Aeronautical Engineer
2019 - 2021
Led a team of four engineers through challenging engineering analysis, wind tunnel testing, simulation construction, and design tasking for Department of Defense Rapid Acquisition program. Coordinated closely with customers managing up to $10M for cutting edge innovation. Consulted with multi-disciplinary design teams efficiently iterating to the best viable solution. • Orchestrated a team of four multi-disciplinary engineers in the planning and execution of a $10M DoD Rapid Acquisition program for aircraft integration. Utilized Agile practices coordinating progress and shortcomings bi-weekly with the customer for increased transparency. Managed testing asset acquisition coordinating supplier bid selection and interfacing with the vendor. • Developed root cause-corrective action machine learning algorithm for production development program. Created graphical user interface and image classification neural network MATLAB based algorithm for automatic production defect analysis. Strategy drove program to decreased production costs when a defect occurs by 75%. Estimated $1.6M yearly program savings. • Developed meta-heuristic algorithm to eliminate human in the loop analysis. Paralleled genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization algorithm development to minimize cost. Implemented in program integrated flight simulation and onboard flight software for real-time in the loop flight analysis. Estimated program savings totaled $3 million over a two-year scope.
Associate Systems Engineer
2017 - 2019
Aerodynamics Engineer - Creation of aerodynamic models, flight simulations, design of aerodynamic bodies, wind tunnel testing, and big data analytics.
Warrington College of Business
2020 - 2021
Led a team of 5 peers through an international consulting engagement assisting a beverage start-up in risk assessment, value creation, and Plug&Play venture capital valuation. Created valuation documentation based on discounted cash flow analysis, business market growth prospectus, and global pandemic response. Investigated potential revenue streams of the beverage product through external events, client capture, and consumer data sales. Created international investment portfolio minimizing investment risk over a short-term and long-term scope. Analyzed the Chilean capital markets, political landscape, and economics to formulate the optimal investment strategy based on maximizing investor returns for minimal risk. The resultant data recommended investments into the mining and energy sector through third-party market listings.
Laboratory Technician, Design Analyst
2014 - 2017
Excelled as an undergraduate college intern in the Adverse Environment Rotor Test Stand conducting simulated analysis, test methodology studies, and pretest prediction of icing aerodynamics. Constant communication with customers and retention of Fortune 500 companies yielded 100k in graduate student funding. • Created methodologies and test facility plan for the capture of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Titan program. Program scope included landing on Saturn’s moon Titan through adverse space conditions; program total funding across multiple universities totals $850M.