ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christian Smart is the Chief Data Scientist with Galorath Federal, a leading international supplier of parametric cost models and data analytics consulting services. He supports NASA and the Department of Defense in the application of analytics for cutting-edge programs, including nuclear thermal propulsion for crewed space transportation and hypersonic weapon systems.

Dr. Smart’s professional career has focused on parametric cost analysis and cost risk analysis of space flight and weapon system programs and related areas, such as machine learning, regression analysis, cost and schedule risk analysis, probabilistic risk assessment, and the project management policies that support best-in-class cost and schedule analysis. He led the development of a quantitative cost risk analysis capability for the NASA/Air Force Cost Model. Dr. Smart participated in the development of a probabilistic risk analysis for the Space Shuttle. He led and edited the publication of a cost estimating handbook for the Missile Defense Agency. Dr. Smart developed a joint cost and schedule quantitative risk analysis for the Ares I launch vehicle and served on the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee (also known as The Augustine Commission), for which he was awarded an Exceptional Public Service Medal by NASA in 2010.

Dr. Smart served as the Cost Director for the Missile Defense Agency for several years, leading a team of more than 100 estimators. He is a longtime member of and is certified by the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA). Dr. Smart currently serves as the Vice President for Professional Development for ICEAA. He has written extensively about cost modeling, parametric cost estimating, and cost risk analysis. Dr. Smart has won numerous best paper awards at cost estimating conferences. He has been accredited as a Certified Reliability Engineer by the American Society for Quality.

Dr. Smart has BS and BA degrees in mathematics and economics from Jacksonville State University, and a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He, his wife, and their young son live near Nashville, Tennessee.