SEATTLE, WA — Raisbeck Engineering has promoted two within the company to executive positions. Tyler Chase, formerly the director of operations, is now the vice president of operations, overseeing all quality control, quality assurance, IT, facilities and PMA functions the company. Gary Lidstone, previously serving as the director of engineering, is now the vice president of engineering, and will lead the engineering group in their continuing innovation of productivity-increasing systems for business and commercial aircraft and their government derivatives. Lidstone also directly manages all personnel in the engineering department and its external resources, such as DERs and consultants. Both will report to the chief operating officer, Sam L. Jantzen Jr.
"We are extremely pleased to have someone with a high level of experience and knowledge such as Tyler," says Jantzen. "He has been an integral part of the company for over 17 years and has supervised quality control, production, document control, FAA liaisons, and PMA."
Chase started his tenure in the grassroots of Raisbeck 1992, when he was responsible for all shipping, receiving, and purchasing for the company. He later assisted with research and development projects, flight tests, national trade shows, and established initial relationships and contracts with all current vendors. He was promoted to purchasing manager in 1996, and director of quality assurance in 1999. In his most recent position as director of operations, he analyzed all operations within the facility to ensure productivity and logistics matched the company's goals and objectives.
With nearly three decades of experience as a senior level engineer, Lidstone concentrated his career in the aviation industry after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University. After graduating in 1980, he joined Garrett Turbine Engine Company as a propulsion engineer, responsible for the analysis, design, and testing of inlet and exhaust systems for turbo prop type aircraft.
Five years later, Boeing Military Airplane Company recruited Lidstone to be a senior engineer, responsible for analysis and design of inlet exhaust systems for various hypersonic aircraft. In 1990, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group appointed him to the position of Lead Engineer for the exhaust system on the Boeing High Speed Civil Transport program. During this time, Lidstone's tasks included scale model analysis, design, fabrication and testing, full scale internal and external CFD analysis, and analytical modeling in support of aircraft performance studies.
In addition, Lidstone served as team leader of the NASA, General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, McDonnell Douglas, and Boeing suppressor nozzle development team. In 1997, Lidstone joined Adroit Systems Inc. (ASI) where he initially developed performance codes and analyzed associated trade studies for pulse detonation engine air breathing and rocket applications.
After two years he became Propulsion Programs Manager and oversaw all government funded pulse detonation combustion air breathing and rocket application development activities. In 2001, ASI was purchased by Pratt & Whitney and became the Seattle Aero sciences Center (P&W SAC). In 2003, Lidstone was named Division Manager P&W SAC, leading the research and development group of pulse detonation combustion technology.
In his most recent position with Pratt and Whitney, he directed the SHOCK System detonation soot blower demonstrations, service projects and installations as Operations Manager.
"We are fortunate to have someone with Gary's talent as our Vice President of Engineering," says Jantzen. "He has a deep and broad base of experience of ongoing design of products ranging from jet engine exhaust systems to the aerodynamics of supersonic aircraft. His leadership and mentoring skills will be valued greatly in his new assignment."
For more information visit www.raisbeck.com.
