Karl Garman

Karl Garman is an Aerospace Engineer in the Office of Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation l Administration (FAA) in Washington, DC. His role in the Office's Space R&D and Innovation Branch includes being the R&D lead for Commercial Nuclear Spaceflight. He serves as one of the two US Department of Transportation's representatives on the lnteragency Nuclear Space Review Board (INSRB) and led the drafting and technical peer review of the public guidance on space nuclear systems - both of which were established by National Security Presidential Memorandum 20 (NSPM-20). Prior to his current role, he led R& D programs in the FAA's NextGen organization to integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the National Airspace System. Earlier in his career, he flight tested experimental aircraft in government, industry, and academia. This included certification of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 747-8F aircraft, systems testing for US Army special operations aviation, and development of the National Science Foundation-funded Airborne Laboratory for Atmospheric Research. An Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), he chaired the AIAA Flight Testing Technical Committee from 2014-2017. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer. (P.E.), a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and holds FAA flight instructor and commercial pilot certificates. Dr. Garman earned a Ph.D. in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University, and also an MA from the US Naval War College (with highest distinction). Outside of his FAA duties, he serves as a reserve officer in the US Coast Guard, currently assigned to the Joint Staff at The Pentagon.