Wendell Stephens

Dr. Wendell Stephens is a part-time instructor at Mission College in Mathematics. He is a full time employee of the US Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate located at NASA's Ames Research Center. Currently, he is the acting Division Chief of the Simulation and Aircraft Systems Division and Branch Chief of the Systems Integration Office. Dr. Stephens started his career as a research scientist with NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia and then transferred to NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. He has written over thirty technical publications in areas of structures, structural dynamics, and software program development for rotorcraft analysis. Between NASA and the Army he has worked on the Viking Project (Mars Mission vehicle), Apollo, Space Shuttle, and various Army rotorcraft such as Comanche and Apache Longbow.

Dr. Stephens received his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Masters Degree in Applied Mechanics, and Doctorate of Science in Applied Mechanics. All degrees were awarded by the University of Virginia. He was also a post-doctoral fellow in Engineering Mechanics at Harvard University. In 1990 he served six months in Washington, DC as an Army LEGIS Fellow. He is also an army veteran having served in Viet Nam. He was honorably discharged after 2 years with the rank of Captain.

Dr. Stephens has taught professional, undergraduate, and graduate courses at various universities over the past 27 years. These courses have included algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, civil engineering technology certification review, physics, engineering statics, dynamics, and finite element analysis of structures. He is the author of one book on Civil Engineering Certification Exam preparation.