Lucas Valdez Bio

Lucas Valdez is the Co-Chief Technology Officer (Co-CTO) of V&M Global Solutions LLC, along with his twin brother Mario. Lucas received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from The University of New Mexico in 2009, his MS in Mechanical Engineering from The University of New Mexico in 2011 and his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2015.

 

Lucas has worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory since 2005, with the exceptions of a three-year span from 2012-2015 while completing his doctoral studies, and a two-year span from 2018-2020 while working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Lucas’s area of expertise is in dimensional metrology and precision manufacturing related to non-nuclear and nuclear manufacturing programs, as well as system engineering of weapons systems, associated within the laboratory’s mission critical work. During his doctoral studies, Lucas’s research focused on developing novel measuring instruments and methodologies for large-scale, industrial components. His real contribution to the field was implementing integrated measurement methodologies using robust numerical algorithms and novel machine design principles for creating a unique measuring system, hardware and software, for large-scale components. In the realm of precision engineering, Lucas’s interest is specifically in precision metrology and manufacturing, where his concentration has been in dimensional metrology applications such as, non-contact metrology and optical metrology and precision manufacturing applications such as, 5-axis machining and machining dynamics. Lucas has recently become fascinated in additive manufacturing (AM) with an intent to understand the build or “layering” process and how those build errors effect the mechanical properties of the part and minimization of post-process machining.

 

Currently, 2020-present, Lucas works at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Systems Engineering in one of the Warhead groups, where he concentrates on production efforts on Life Extensions Programs, leading Air Force Fighter Jet qualification testing for stockpile and sustainment needs and surveillance engineering projects on current stockpile legacy systems.

 

Lucas has published a several of conference proceedings in highly-regarded publications such Coordinate Measurement Society and The American Society for Precision Engineering and has a patent pending for work done during his doctoral studies. Lucas is, 2016-2018, the former Vice-Chair of the Technical Leadership Committee for Precision Manufacturing for the American Society for Precision Engineering.