Darren spent 11 years at Failure Analyst, a private materials engineering consulting firm, first as a technician during college and then as a metallurgical engineer, before moving to NASA where he worked for 8 years, becoming a specialist in pressure systems, cryogens, and hypergolic propellants. Darren gained extensive experience with Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) technology, composite strand testing (measuring effects of composite stress ruptures), root cause failure analysis, and materials testing, and was their metallurgy lead for failure investigations.

Darren brings years of experience in materials performance characterization and is now contracted by Jacobs Technology (WSTF) to provide engineering and technology support to their Metallurgical Department.  Darren is a professor at UTEP (Materials and Biomedical Engineering) and also functions as Director for Center for the Advancement of Space Safety and Mission Assurance Research at UTEP.

As noted above, Darren has distinguished himself as a specialist in many disciplines, including using SEM/EDS, XCT, XPS, and various other electronic inspection devices and techniques, and WHA is honored to announce a Consulting Agreement with Darren Cone.