Nicholas joined the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) in 2026 as a Project Engineer for the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense. Managed by NCDMM in partnership with America Makes, the Hub drives economic growth across Northeast Ohio and the state. He brings more than 15 years of combined experience in engineering, manufacturing, defense, and the military. In his role, he supports the planning, development, and execution of technical projects for customers and stakeholders, helping advance Hub objectives and deliver solutions within defined scopes, schedules, and budgets.
Prior to joining the Youngstown Innovation Hub, Nicholas most recently served as a Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Level III Examiner with Fairbanks Morse Defense’s Hunt Valve Division, where he provided engineering consultation and technical expertise to support process improvement and compliance with specifications. He also developed procedures, training, and quality programs supporting critical components used in U.S. Navy submarine and aircraft carrier programs. Earlier, he was a mechanical engineer at the company, supporting the design, manufacturing, and troubleshooting of valves, hydraulic systems, and pressure boundary components for maritime applications. He provided engineering support to manufacturing operations, conducted root cause and failure analyses, and evaluated nonconformances of critical application components.
Nicholas began his career in the U.S. Navy, serving as a Multi Mission Helicopter Aircrewman. During his service, he managed aviation scheduling, supervised and instructed personnel, and conducted flight operations.
He holds a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Youngstown State University and ASNT Level III certificates in Magnetic Particle, Liquid Penetrant, and Visual Testing methods.
