Profile

Ryan Paplow – Strategic Engineering Consultant & Innovation Leader

Ryan Paplow, Founder and Principal Consultant of Paplow Consulting, LLC, is a strategic engineering consultant with over 30 years of expertise in mechanical design, systems engineering, and product development. Specializing in aerospace, marine, defense, and industrial sectors, he delivers tailored solutions in product innovation, design optimization, and production planning. Ryan has led cross-functional teams, developed advanced technologies, and driven strategic initiatives aligned with business growth objectives.

Consulting Expertise & Core Competencies

• Strategic Growth & Innovation: Guides businesses in innovation strategy, technology integration, and proposal development to advance R&D initiatives.
• Holistic Systems Design: Delivers expertise in mechanical systems engineering, rapid prototyping, and emerging technologies for optimized performance and efficiency.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Builds and mentors high-performing teams, promoting collaboration and operational excellence.
• Project  Management & Risk Mitigation: Provides strategic insights on risk assessment, resource allocation, budget management, and stakeholder relations for successful project execution.

Consulting Services

Ryan partners with startups, established enterprises, and research institutions to deliver high-impact consulting in the following areas:

• Strategic development for product innovation and market positioning.
• Optimization of engineering workflows to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
• Expert guidance in mechanical design, prototyping, and manufacturing processes.
• Support for proposal development aimed at securing funding and advancing research and development initiatives.
• Collaborative problem-solving with a commitment to integrity, excellence, and long-term success.

Industry Experience & Leadership

Ryan brings a strong record of technical leadership from roles at Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, Century Arms International, and Structural Composites, Inc., where he led mission-critical engineering initiatives across the aerospace, defense, and advanced materials sectors. His notable contributions include:

• Developed and integrated the Thin Line Towed Array Handling System for the Columbia Class nuclear submarine, optimizing mechanical reliability, hydrodynamic performance, and mission-critical deployment. Led system architecture design, materials selection, and cross-functional collaboration to meet U.S. Navy standards for durability, stealth, and operational efficiency.
• Engineered undersea electronic packaging for advanced tidal turbine systems, ensuring performance in high-pressure, corrosive environments through innovative thermal management, sealing techniques, and shock resistance. Contributed to renewable energy advancements by integrating electronics with hydrodynamic structures, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to enhance system reliability.
• Designed and executed waterproof validation and testing for NASA’s ORION spaceflight capsule, ensuring environmental sealing and structural integrity under extreme conditions. Developed rigorous test protocols, conducted thermal shock and splash-down simulations, and worked closely with engineers and subcontractors to refine sealing technologies for aerospace applications.
• Led innovation initiatives across marine, aviation, and transportation sectors, driving research and development strategies focused on emerging technologies, advanced materials, and systems integration. Spearheaded cross-functional collaboration to align product development with market demands, regulatory requirements, and cost-efficiency goals, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence.
• Developed a dynamic delivery system that reduced sub-sea surface drag by 40%, earning a Special Recognition Award at Lockheed Martin.
• Conducted comprehensive systems analysis to enhance maintainability and Operational Availability (OA) of hydraulic systems for the Remote Mine-Hunting System during Littoral Combat Ship Integration, significantly increasing Operational Availability (OA) by a factor of days and earning a Special Recognition Award.
• Led risk assessments and mitigation strategies for various mechanical systems, addressing obsolescence challenges in propulsion and hydraulic systems for undersea vehicle platforms. 

Strategic Growth & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Implemented forward-thinking concepts aligned with strategic growth objectives at Structural Composites, overseeing diverse innovation initiatives and ensuring seamless interdepartmental coordination for successful outcomes.
• Mentored early-career engineers , guiding them in product design, manufacturing processes, and production optimization.
• Founded Paplow Consulting LLC, providing businesses with resilient strategies, product development expertise, and technological solutions to transform challenges into growth opportunities.
• Led proposal development for high-value international projects, including a $150M+ engine development facility in Brazil, a $5M+ Multi-Drive regenerative test facility in India, a $2M+ altitude chamber testing facility in Turkey, and a $3.5M+ Multi-Drive test facility for the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Managed and motivated engineering teams to achieve project milestones, ensuring efficiency in design, testing, and implementation across aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors.

Mechanical Systems & Advanced Engineering

• Performed fluid dynamic resistance and powering studies for conceptual Naval UAV designs, including stress/strain analyses on propulsion and sea frame components.
• Designed and presented multiple mission modules for NAVSEA selection in the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fleet, contributing to shipboard launch and recovery systems.
• Engineered a pressure compensated  power module for an array system capable of reaching 20K ft below sea level, supporting deep-sea exploration and defense applications.
• Developed test platforms and associated hydrodynamic faring for the Sonar Data Collection System (SDCS) used on the MARLIN exploration vehicle, enhancing underwater data acquisition capabilities.
• Led the development of a certification test rig for corrosion susceptibility testing for the Navy’s CH53K heavy-lift rotorcraft, ensuring compliance with military standards.
• Designed multiple test systems for aerospace applications including the F35 Joint Strike Fighter, Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbopump, PW6000 Turbofan, and RL10 and RL60 Rocket Engines.  Work included Test Cells, Vacuum Chambers, and Altitude Chambers.
• Designed air-frame integrated components for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) fleet of MC-130s and UH-60s.
• Served as the Lead Instructor of Mechanical Design at New England Tech focusing on Design Fundamentals and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (ASME Y14.5).

Education & Technical Proficiency

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from Old Dominion University and an Associate of Science in Engineering Technology from Northwest Iowa Community College. He possesses advanced proficiency in industry-standard engineering tools, including SolidWorks, ANSYS Workbench, CREO, MATLAB, AutoCAD, and other CAD and simulation platforms.