Dennis Helmich Director, Integrated Military Systems Sandia National Laboratories
Sessions
-
AIAA Defense Forum 2023
Dennis Helmich is the Director of the Integrated Military Systems Program at Sandia National Laboratories. In this assignment, Dennis oversees the work of 400 engineers and technologists devoted to developing and demonstrating superior, cutting edge non-nuclear weapon systems and technologies that give our warfighters a competitive advantage and empower the United States to defend ourselves and our allies at home and abroad. These responsibilities encompass stakeholder and customer relationships with the Missile Defense Agency, Navy Strategic Systems Programs, Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and other government entities.
Dennis Helmich began his career at Sandia in 1989 in what is now the Engineering Sciences Center supporting environmental testing and thermal analysis for weapon systems and components. Dennis joined Weapon System Engineering in 1994 and has provided leadership for Air Force and Navy strategic systems from concept through engineering development and qualification, full scale production, and deployed stockpile support. Following his promotion to Senior Manager in 2012, Dennis served as a Deputy Director in the Stockpile Weapon and Product Realization Program Office. In 2013,
Dennis returned to Weapon System Engineering as one of two senior managers leading the B61-12 Life Extension Program.
In 2016, Dennis joined Integrated Military Systems where he was the Deputy Director of Strike Systems & Aerospace Technologies. Active programs in this portfolio include exploring the development of hypersonic boost-glide weapons, earth penetrator applications, hard target fuzing, operating in GPS- denied environments, in-flight two-way weapon communication/control, advanced thermal protection systems, missile system development, and flight testing to advance nuclear deterrence technologies. Dennis Helmich holds both a Masters and Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.
Dennis Helmich began his career at Sandia in 1989 in what is now the Engineering Sciences Center supporting environmental testing and thermal analysis for weapon systems and components. Dennis joined Weapon System Engineering in 1994 and has provided leadership for Air Force and Navy strategic systems from concept through engineering development and qualification, full scale production, and deployed stockpile support. Following his promotion to Senior Manager in 2012, Dennis served as a Deputy Director in the Stockpile Weapon and Product Realization Program Office. In 2013,
Dennis returned to Weapon System Engineering as one of two senior managers leading the B61-12 Life Extension Program.
In 2016, Dennis joined Integrated Military Systems where he was the Deputy Director of Strike Systems & Aerospace Technologies. Active programs in this portfolio include exploring the development of hypersonic boost-glide weapons, earth penetrator applications, hard target fuzing, operating in GPS- denied environments, in-flight two-way weapon communication/control, advanced thermal protection systems, missile system development, and flight testing to advance nuclear deterrence technologies. Dennis Helmich holds both a Masters and Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.