People Category: Aerospace Perspectives Series

Roel Van De Velde

Roel Van De Velde earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology in 2001, specializing in Dynamics and Control. After graduation, he held various engineering and sales roles in crash safety and injury biomechanics. He joined ESTECO in 2013 and currently serves as Vice President of Aerospace and Defense. In this role, he is responsible for expanding ESTECO’s presence in the aerospace and defense market.

John Vassberg

Dr. John Vassberg was Chief Aerodynamicist of Boeing’s Phantom Works. He innovated efficiency improvements on more than 20 Boeing aircraft, most notably the introduction of winglets. He’s been awarded some of the highest honors in aerospace engineering, including the AIAA Aerodynamics Award, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineers, Class of 2025.

Christian Sauerland

Christian Sauerland is a Senior Manager, Application Engineering, at dSPACE Inc. He is responsible for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) application engineering for the company’s North American market. He joined dSPACE in 2008 as a project engineer, later progressing into management, and today, he oversees application engineering for HIL and related technology areas. His responsibilities also include the development of e-mobility-related business for dSPACE, including solutions for motor simulation, power electronics, smart charging, and battery management. Prior to joining dSPACE, Christian worked for 10 years in the off-highway and aerospace industries developing embedded software and leading multi-disciplinary teams to develop engineering solutions. Throughout his career with dSPACE, he has gained expertise in the application of tools for embedded controls software, specifically in the area of verification and validation through HIL simulation.

Francisco Flores

Francisco Flores is a Business Development Manager, Aerospace and Defense, at dSPACE Inc. He is responsible for all related activities within the North American market. He joined dSPACE in 2022. His responsibilities include the execution of the business plan for the A&D vertical, along with providing guidance and direction to the A&D Account Managers. Prior to joining dSPACE, Francisco held various sales positions in the aerospace industry within the manufacturing and aircraft/engine parts supply sectors. Francisco is a certified FAA Airframe and Powerplant mechanic who has also worked as a Technical Advisor for a gas turbine engine manufacturer. He also served for 8 years in the U.S. Army as a UH-60 Helicopter mechanic/crew chief.

Evgeni Ganev

Dr. Evgeni Ganev is CEO of EMPS (Electromechanical Power Systems) Consulting LLC. His main interest is in electrification of the aerospace and automotive industries. He is focused on the powertrain of the electric and hybrid propulsion platforms. He has 40 years of engineering experience, 30 of which with Honeywell Aerospace as a Chief Engineer for EMPS. His expertise includes power generation systems, electric drives, and electromechanical actuators as well as aircraft architectures. His work materialized in platforms like: F-22, F-35, International Space Station, Space Shuttle, Predator B, Future Combat Systems, B737, B777, A380, A350, eTaxi/A320 and Next Generation Jammer. Numerous papers, speeches, and more than 50 U.S. patents have been published. He is an active member of AIAA, IEEE, SAE, and ASTM. Evgeni has received many awards including the SAE Charles Manly memorial award.