Dr. Bauer has been serving as an adjunct professor at the Worldwide College of Business since 2009. In addition, he has been an aerospace scholar-practitioner for over 30 years, performing in various roles with the United States Marine Corps, Hughes Aircraft Company and Lockheed Martin. The more exciting programs he has been involved with as a program manager are F-16, F-117, F-22, F-35, U-2, SBIRS (Space-Based Infrared Radar System), ULA (United Launch Alliance) and Hypersonic IRAD. Dr. Bauer currently works at the Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (Skunk Works) in Palmdale, California. He also serves as chairperson of the Executive Committee and Industry Advisory Board for the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics.
Bauer's educational background includes a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin in Industrial Technology, an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin in Safety-Loss Control, an M.S. from the University of Southern California in Systems Management, an MBA from Kennesaw State University and a Ph.D. from Capella University in Organization & Management-Leadership. His dissertation was “A Success Paradigm For Project Managers in the Aerospace Industry.”
His professional credentials include Program Management Qualification Level 3 (Lockheed Martin), Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner), Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Lockheed Martin) and two U.S. Patent awards. Dr. Bauer has also received hypersonic engineering recognition awards from the Engineers Council in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025.
During time off, he enjoys swimming, biking and running. His favorite events are 5Ks, 10Ks, Marathons and an Iron Man. The most exciting thing he has ever done is land an F-4J (VMFA 235) on the USS Enterprise at sunset and cat-launch a day later at sunrise.
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Organization and Management: Leadership, Capella University
M.S. - Master of Science in Safety, University of Wisconsin-Stout
M.S. - Master of Science in Systems Management, University of Southern California
M.B.A. - Master of Business Administration in Business Administration - Experienced Professional, Kennesaw State University
B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology: Manufacturing Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Stout
PMI-ACP
PMP
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Level 3 Qualified Program Manager (Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin: Excellence Award (United Launch Alliance IT Separation Team, 2009)
Lockheed Martin Nova Award (Program Management, 2012)
The Engineers' Council: Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award (Hypersonic University Engagement Team, 2020)
The Engineers' Council: Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award (Hypersonic Big-Bet IRAD Team, 2020)
The Engineers' Council: Outstanding Engineering Achievement Merit Award, 2021)
The Engineers' Council: Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award (Hypersonic University Research & Workforce Development, 2022)
The Engineers' Council: Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award (Boost-Glide Reference Vehicle for University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics, 2024)
The Engineers' Council: Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award (Pulsating Heat Pipe Performance Modeling with Liquid Metal Coolants Under Hypersonic Aerothermal Heating, 2025)