NSE Composites was founded in 1996 with a passion for the future of advanced composites. Since then, NSE has completed hundreds of projects spanning a wide range of industries, and has played an important role in the development of composites for use in primary structural applications in commercial aircraft.
NSE Composites is managed by principal engineer D.M. Hoyt. Together with NSE’s engineering staff and consultants, he brings several decades of combined experience to any composite structures application project.
D.M. HOYT
Principal Engineer
D.M. Hoyt (“Hoyt”) has over 30 years of experience with aerospace structures and composite material applications. Since forming NSE in 1996, he has served as a project manager and principal investigator for numerous engineering contracts involving structural analysis, testing, design, repair, and certification of composite materials. Projects have included the development and validation of analysis methods and allowables, detailed structural analysis, damage tolerance evaluations, and test program planning. Hoyt’s areas of specialization include static and fatigue delamination growth, bolted and bonded joints, progressive damage finite element analysis, and composites failure characterization. Before forming NSE, Hoyt worked at Boeing on the 777 aircraft program in the areas of composite analysis methods and allowables, composite elevator stress analysis, and 777 production line support (structures liaison). Hoyt is a member of ASTM-D30, SAE, SAMPE, ASME, and is an active participant in the Composite Materials Handbook (CHM-17) working group. Hoyt earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Washington.
ALLEN FAWCETT
Senior Technical Consultant
Allen Fawcett has over 35 years of experience in complex aircraft structural design, analysis, and certification. Allen made significant contributions to the 7J7, 777, 787, and 777X development and certification for the Boeing Company and ended his Boeing career guiding structural development on the NMA (New Midsize Airplane) while also becoming a STF (Senior Technical Fellow). His early work in BCA (Boeing Commercial Aircraft) advanced composite structures development helped lay the basis for the 777 composite structure, which in turn formed the foundation for the 787. He established requirements, criteria, and compliance procedures for composite structure, establishing precedence for future designs. Allen is a recognized industry expert for design and certification of composite structures and, through his involvement in FAA/Industry workshops, has played an important role in the development of FAA regulations with a focus on Advisory Circular 20-107B and its future revision. Allen helped to develop and validate innovative 787 structures such as the co-cured multi-spar horizontal stabilizer and 3D woven/stitched resin transfer molded main landing gear braces. He also focused on developing and certifying bonded structure. In 2015 the FAA appointed him to support the industry ARAC (Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee) tasked to recommend updates to damage tolerance and fatigue airworthiness standards. Since 2005, Allen also represented Boeing in the FAA-led IRCWG (Industry/Regulatory Composite Working Group) developing certification standards and guidance materials for composite structures. Allen joined NSE in 2020 and serves as a consultant on composite structural development programs. He also remains active in the composites technical community through his role as co-chairman of the Damage Tolerance Task Group for CMH-17 (Composites Materials Handbook 17). Allen earned his BS in 1983 in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University.
MARK LOBO, PhD
Senior Stress Engineer
Mark Lobo is a structural analyst and finite element analysis (FEA) specialist with over 25 years of experience in the aerospace, manufacturing, and construction industries. He has worked with NSE since 2001, where he has been involved in a wide variety of composite structures projects. These projects have focused on predicting the strength and stability of composites with damage or defects, including complex failure mode interaction and damage progression. Mark has extensive experience with non-linear FEA using ABAQUS, MSC.Marc, and ANSYS, including contact modeling, VCCT and cohesive interactions, progressive damage analysis, and finite element technology development for specialized applications. In addition, Mark uses his expert knowledge of applied mechanics, numerical analysis, and computer programming to develop standalone analysis methods and tools for predicting strength and stability. Mark earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington.
MATT MEYERS
Senior Stress Engineer
Matt Meyers is a structural analyst with over 25 years of experience in the composites, automotive, and oil/gas industries. He has worked with NSE since 2008, where he has been involved with composite structures projects related to large-notch residual strength, non-traditional layups, bolted joints, allowables, stability, and analysis method validation (COSTADE). He has a strong working knowledge of finite element analysis (ABAQUS and ANSYS), including progressive damage via interface elements, eigenvalue analysis, and non-linear response. He also has extensive experience with statistical methods, designed experiments, and test data analysis, and is proficient with Fortran, C#, and Visual Basic coding. Matt earned his MS in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
TOM WALKER
Principal Engineer (Emeritus)
Tom Walker is a structural analyst with over 35 years of experience with composite aircraft structures. He has been with NSE since 2000. He is currently semi-retired, and provides consultation to NSE on topics related to his areas of expertise. As a former principal engineer at NSE, he managed and served as principal investigator for a variety of technical contracts, largely related to residual strength and damage tolerance. Prior to joining NSE, Tom spent 20 years in Boeing’s Commercial Airplane unit, where he was involved in the development and application of advanced composite concepts to primary structure. He has extensive experience in developing and validating analysis techniques, as well as structural testing. Tom is an industry expert on the residual strength of composite sandwich panels and stiffened laminate structure. He was actively involved in Composites Materials Handbook 17, where he was co-chairman of the Damage Tolerance Task Group from 2001-2015. Tom earned his MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering from the University of Washington and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Washington.
DOUG GRAESSER, PhD
Principal Engineer (Emeritus)
Doug Graesser has over 30 years of experience in design and analysis with composite materials and aerospace structures. He joined NSE in 2001. His primary responsibilities include project management and lead investigation for technical contracts related to development of software analysis tools for engineering applications. Doug is the chief architect of a structural optimization tool used in the design and analysis of composite panels for fuselage and wingbox structures. Doug also has extensive experience with detailed finite element analysis using ABAQUS and ANSYS involving progressive damage simulation, linear and non-linear stability, and non-linear material behavior. Prior to joining NSE, Doug spent 10 years as a structural engineer with the Boeing Company. His experience includes the 747, 767, and 777 airplane programs, and the NASA Advanced Composite Technology (ACT) fuselage development program. Doug earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Washington.