Tim Higgins is an expert in quality control; for the last eight years he worked as a NASA Safety and Mission Assurance Specialist assigned to the NASA Resident Management Office at the Aerojet Rocketdyne campus in Canoga Park, California. Making Aerojet Rocketdyne a better contractor was the primary purpose of his efforts; his work included uniting teams comprised of Aerojet Rocketdyne personnel, NASA personnel, and Defense Contractor Management Agency (DCMA) personnel, as well as leading value stream mapping events, process failure modes and effects analyses, and problem investigations.

Tim also conducted learning sessions and workshops in the understanding and management of variation, problem analysis, cause analysis, decision making, problem prevention, and management practices.

Prior to NASA, Tim spent 27 years at Aerojet Rocketdyne in the engineering department, the manufacturing operations department, and the quality department. Tim’s career has been focused on quality management; he served as the Quality Advisor to the Director of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Program, the improvement coordinator for the Vice President of Quality, and was a member of the Total Quality Management office.

Tim’s experience also includes Manager of Technical Services, Manager of Configuration and Data Management, and Division Cause and Corrective Action focal. He has contributed to programs possessing a wide variety of products and approaches, such as the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Program, the MX Peacekeeper ICBM Program, and the Space Shuttle Main Engine Program.

One of Tim’s career highlights was developing a technique to analyze causes of events and display the causal interactions to create better insight into potential corrective and preventive interventions. He is recognized as a leader who spearheaded the corporate cultural transition from the traditional approach to cause analysis the newer approach.

Tim has an MA in English, and is certified in Total Quality Management from California State University Northridge. He also holds a California Secondary Teaching Credential and a California Secondary Administrative Credential.