Saff, Charles R.
Summary
Mr. Saff is a retired Technical Fellow most recently providing
guidance for system level certification and qualification in the
Boeing Research and Technology organization. He is leading a
multi-national team for NATO-STO for the development of
Guidelines for Structural Design and Qualification of Unmanned
Military Aircraft. He has been Program Manager or Principal
Technical lead for several multi-company programs in
technology development and transition for DARPA/Navy (the
Accelerated Insertion of Materials Program, '00-'03), NASA (the
High Speed Research Program, '89-'96), and DARPA/USAF (X45A Structures Integration and coordination with the USAF
Composites Affordability Initiative, '01-'04).
Mr. Saff held positions of leadership within the research and
development groups of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing
throughout his career. He personally performed research and
development in strength, fatigue and post-buckling of metallic,
composite, metal matrix composite and hybrid materials during
his career. In more than 40 programs, he has developed and
validated strength and fatigue methods and designs for
structures fabricated from all of the aforementioned material systems. He received the Jack Lincoln
Award from the Air Force Aircraft Structural Integrity Program in 2005 for his work ensuring the integrity
of aircraft structures.
Mr. Saff has been a member of the USAF Scientific Advisory Board and was Vice Chair of the SAB
Committee on Sustainment of Aging Aircraft. Mr. Saff was chair of the FY 2012 review of the AFRL/RB
SAB Review.
For AIAA, Mr. Saff served as Director for Structures, Vice President of Technical Activities and
Chair of the Ethical Conduct Panel as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Saff is an AIAA Fellow
as well as a Boeing Technical Fellow. He has been a member of ASTM for many years, serving as
Committee Member, Committee Chair and International Conference Chair.
Mr. Saff served on the National Academy of Science Committee on Light-Weight Design for Air,
Land, and Sea Vehicles and on the Sustainment of USAF Aging Aircraft.
Mr. Saff has over 41 years of experience in the analysis, design and certification of aircraft
structures.
Education:
University of Missouri – Rolla: MS, Engineering Mechanics, 1976, with Honors
Purdue University: BS, Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering, 1971, with Highest Distinction
Certifications:
Systems Engineering, October 2007.
Design for Low Observability, July 2005.
Program Management, March 2003.
Current Position:
Mr. Saff is a retired Boeing Technical Fellow in Structures Technology for Boeing Research and
Technology.
Fellowships
1998, elected Fellow of the AIAA
1997, Boeing Technical Fellow in Structures
1990, elected McDonnell Douglas Technical Fellow in Materials and Structures
Professional Affiliations
Member of the USAF Scientific Advisory Board and Chair of the AFRL/RB Review for FY12, 20082012.
Chair of NATO-RTO AVT-174 Guidelines for Structural Design and Qualification of
Unmanned Military Air Vehicles, 2009-Present.
Chair of Ethical Conduct Panel for AIAA Board of Directors, 2008-2011.
Elected Vice President of Technical Activities for AIAA, 2004-2007.
Elected member of Board of Directors of AIAA, 2000-2003 and 2004-2007.
Active member of ASTM since 1980.
Member of Advisory Boards of
Purdue University Aero and Astro School since 2000;
Engineering Department at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville since 2006; and
Mechanical Engineering School at Washington University – St. Louis from 2006-2012.
Recent Honors and Awards
2012
2012
2011
2010
2010
2008
2007
2006
2006
2005
2005
2004
Exemplary Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Air Force.
NATO AVT Panel Excellence Award for Leadership of AVT-174.
Chair for the Science and Technology Review of AFRL/RB by the USAF Scientific
Advisory Board.
Vice-Chair of the Study of Aging Aircraft Sustainment for the USAF Scientific
Advisory Board.
Member of the National Academy of Science Committee on Light Weight Design for
Air, Land and Sea.
Member of the USAF Science Advisory Board.
Chair NATO-RTO AVT-174, “Guidelines for Structural Design and Qualification offor
Unmanned Air Vehicles.
Boeing Phantom Works Silver Phantom Award for structural demonstrations performed under
the Marquee Project focused on the next generation of commercial transport aircraft.
Telly Award for the Best Inspirational Segment for Non-Profit Organization for “From the Sands
to the Stars,” an AIAA Vision for the Future of Aerospace.
John W. Lincoln ASIP Award from the USAF for significant contributions to the integrity of
aircraft structures.
Honorary Fatigue and Fracture Award and Lecture delivered at ASTM Mtg. in Dallas, TX.
Vice President of Technical Activities for AIAA and Member Board of Directors
Papers and Presentations
Mr. Saff has published more than 50 reviewed technical papers and has made more than 25
presentations at the request of numerous conferences, universities, NASA and DoD.