Danny Gallant
Mechanical Design Consultant
Engineering Technologist 4/Senior Mechanical Designer
Journeyman Precision Prototype Machinist
Tool and Die Maker
SME Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT)
I am a senior-level engineering technologist
and mechanical designer with the rare background of also being a certified
journeyman precision prototype machinist and tool and die maker. I have earned
a reputation for being an “idea man” with a demonstrated track
record of providing innovative, practical, and successful solutions applied to
a wide variety of complex design challenges.
I have more than 40 years years
experience including 36 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). At LANL (now retired) the
scope of my work encompassed the duties of a design or process engineer including
responsibility for key design concepts and decisions that had a direct impact
on project outcomes. I interacted with customers, conducted design reviews,
collaborated with team members across diverse disciplines (including internationally), interfaced closely
with machine shops for part fabrication, specified and procured components, and
worked in the lab/shop to assemble, test, and qualify systems I designed.
For the last 24 years I have also
worked as a mechanical design consultant on projects outside of LANL through my company Gallant
Innovations, LLC. This is now my primary focus since retiring from LANL. Projects have included providing mechanical design and drafting services for complex linear particle accelerator systems,
associated high-power RF systems, and scientific devices. A portfolio of my work can be found at www.gallantinnovations.com.
Professional Experience
|
01/99
to present |
Gallant Innovations, LLC, Santa
Fe, NM · Mechanical design
consulting services. · Provide
mechanical design and drafting services on a remote worker (work from home office) consulting basis
primarily in the fields of linear particle accelerators, high-power RF
systems, and scientific devices. See the porfolio page on my website. · Use web collaboration tools to work directly with client scientists and engineers from anywhere in the world. · Have both a machine shop (including a
Haas VF-2 CNC mill) and a woodworking shop. |
|
|
08/87
to 11/2023 |
Los Alamos National
Laboratory (LANL) · Graduate (1990) of
the LANL Machinist Apprenticeship Program; Nationally Certified Journeyman
Precision Prototype Machinist. First four years at LANL as
a skilled Machinist fabricating highly precise components for numerous
R&D projects. · Progressed to a
career as a Mechanical Designer/Engineering Technologist. Primary areas of design include robotic and
automated systems, custom high-precision machinery, ultra-precision metrology
machines, and special tools, jigs, and fixtures. All of these projects
involve processing and handling of nuclear materials and components in a
glove box environment. · Currently an
Engineering Technologist 4/Senior Mechanical Designer. Duties include;
serving as project leader, interacting with customers and potential
customers, design conceptualization and development, creating presentations,
conducting design reviews, drafting/detailing of engineering drawings,
vendor/fabrication liaison, machining, machine assembly, calibration,
qualification, installation, procedural documentation, directing the work of
team members, providing technical expertise and advice on fabrication and
design issues for team members, mentoring less experienced designers and
engineers, and serving as the SolidWorks CAD administrator. · Selected,
purchased, and set up a product data management (PDM) system for centralized
storage/control of project CAD documents, developed a custom user interface
for management of drawing title block data, established standard working
procedures, developed templates and drawing formats, set-up and trained new
users, and provided technical support. |
|
|
01/86
to 07/87 |
Nelic
Engineering, Albuquerque, NM Largest tool and die contractor in New Mexico.
Some clients were defense contractors, G.E. Aircraft Engines Div., surgical
equipment companies, and a bus manufacturing company. Work included
machining, heat treating, form and surface grinding, die assembling, die
problem solving, die repair, fixture manufacturing, and prototype work. |
|
|
09/84
to 01/86 |
Thompson Machine, Albuquerque, NM Primary clients were Sandia National
Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the jewelry manufacturing
industry. Involved in all aspects of tool and die making including: quoting,
die design and research, machining, heat treating, grinding, die try-out, die
problem solving, inspection, and prototype work. |
|
|
01/83
to 09/84 |
Power Industries, Albuquerque, NM Set-up short production runs on milling
machines, lathes, and screw machines. Made specialty items, fixtures and
prototypes. |
|
|
06/80
to 06/82 |
Gallant Enterprises, Albuquerque, NM Performed contract jewelry manufacturing
work. |
Education and Training
College
|
University of New Mexico 63 credit hours completed towards a bachelor’s
degree in mechanical engineering 3.98/4.0 GPA |
Apprenticeship
|
Nationally certified journeyman precision prototype
machinist. Four year prototype machinist apprenticeship program at
Los Alamos National Laboratory. Graduated in two and one half years (the fastest in the
program’s history) due to credit given for previous experience and
excellent performance evaluations. |
Trade School
|
Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute Machine Trades
Program. 4.0/4.0 GPA. |
Professional Certification
|
Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT)
with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) |
Training and Skills
|
Updated 02/19/2024