Abaris Training Resources Inc. announces Dr. Greg M. Mellema has rejoined the organization as director of operations for Abaris, worldwide (Mellema was a full-time instructor at Abaris from 1998 to 2008). Mellema’s new responsibilities as director of operations will consist of developing new curricula as well as overseeing existing course material, professional development of faculty and staff, managing and developing strategic partnerships, overseeing day-to-day training operations, supporting business development, and conducting both funded and internal research.
Mellema is a career aircraft mechanic, combat veteran, teacher, author, and subject matter expert in the manufacture and repair of advanced composite structures. He has over 36 years of experience working on both manned and unmanned military and civilian aircraft with a special emphasis on advanced composite materials. He holds a B.S. degree in Professional Aeronautics, an M.S. in Aeronautical Science, and a Ph.D. in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has been an active Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic since 1988 and holds an Inspection Authorization (IA) from the FAA. While with the Nevada Army National Guard, Mellema served 16 months as Shop Chief for the Airframe Shop at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF VI).
Recently, Mellema was an Assistant Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where he taught composite labs for engineering courses and advised students on senior capstone projects and funded research. Previously, he founded the U.S. Army’s Advanced Composites Lab at Redstone Arsenal in 2010. There he designed and built prototype advanced composite parts as well as modernizing composite repair tools, processes and procedures across all Army aviation platforms.
Mellema is a co-author of the Abaris textbook titled Essentials of Advanced Composite Fabrication and Repair, First and Second Editions, chairman of CertTEC’s composite certification committee, and is a member of SAMPE, AMT Society, holding certifications in composites/composite repair from both SAE and CertTEC. In his spare time, he conducts research focused on advanced composites as well as aviation maintenance human factors.
