Fiber-Reinforced Composites Expert
Scott Stephenson
Scott Stephenson
Scott Stephenson
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Scott Stephenson has specialized in providing industry executives with strategic information and analyses pertaining to advanced materials and technologies driving development of innovative products in fiber-reinforced composites, filled polymer systems and high-performance colors since 1997.
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007-2024
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Events
CompositesWorld www.compositesworld.com, at Gardner Business Media. www.gardnerweb.com.
Charged with overall direction of conferences from idea conception to onsite event management by managing both in-house team members and partnering with outside resources, Mr. Stephenson was responsible for overall fiscal responsibility and budget management, hotel contract negotiations, program development and conference marketing. This included recruiting conference chairs, speakers, and instructors
PERTINENT COMPOSITE CONFERENCES:
2017-2024
SAMPE (Society of Advanced Materials and Process Engineering) North America Executive Cabinet
While President in 2022, he also served as interim CEO for seven months and led a successful search committee to find a permanent CEO. He was also a member of SAMPE’s Global Board until 2025.
1993-2007
Vice President at Intertech Corporation and IntertechPIRA (now Smithers)
Managed 5-8 events per year over ten years in Europe, China, and NAFTA regions achieving double digit net profit margins for 90% of the events from 1997-2007. This included a conference that began on 9/11/2001 where only half of the speakers and attendees were present.
High-Performance Resins
Mr. Stephenson has also conducted single client studies for several corporations, including Fortune 500 companies, and organized and edited industry sourcebooks and directories related to reinforced composite materials, pigments and specialty papers. A full list of conferences and publications is available upon request.
1983-1993
Fiber Materials Inc.(FMI) Manager of Fire- Resistant Materials
FMI is a world leader in the manufacture of high-temperature and specialty composites, Stephenson directed development of ablative and low observable coatings and composites for various agencies of the Department of Defense and NASA, including novel densification systems for carbon/carbon and carbon/ceramic materials.
SAMPLE PRODUCTS AND PROGRAMS:
Flexfram 605 Series / Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) Mark 13
Flexfram was a patented, flexibilized, trowable epoxy ablative coating system invented by Larry McAllister and John E. Hill Jr. and manufactured by FMI and specified on the GMLS Rail Launchers manufactured by FMC Corporation (now part of BAE Systems).
As Product Engineer, Mr. Stephenson worked with Naval Systems Warfare Center (NSWC), Dahlgren and FMC to qualify and train subcontractors and then to develop different coating variations and tiling systems for use on vertical and angled surfaces and also non-skid variations for areas with heavy foot traffic.
Flexfram 705 Series / Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
Flexfram 705 was developed by FMI after the US Army requested an ablative coating material that did not contain asbestos or carbon fibers, so we selected an alumina/borosilicate reinforcing fiber system. They also wanted it to be made in three different colors: Desert Sand, Forest Green and 383 Green. Later, they also requested a 20-minute quick-curing system to be applied in the field. The MLRS was originally manufactured by Vought and is now made by Lockheed Martin.
FR1 and FTR402 / Vertical Launch System (VLS) Uptake Plenum Polymer Reinforced Ablator Test Programs
Around 1990, NSWC Dahlgren and FMC began quantifying and qualifying programs to try and replace Fiberite’s MXBE350 rubberized fiberglass/phenolic system used to line the uptake plenum of the VLS. Solid Rocket Motor development was leading to hotter, longer-burning versions. Besides wanting to prevent a hang fire from burning through the bottom plenum, they also wanted to prevent blowing out the exhaust plenum and riser during multiple launch sequences from the various missile types in the launcher system. FMI worked with Dr. Joseph H. Koo (Fellow SAMPE) at FMC to supply candidate materials to develop his subscale ablative test system and then with Dahlgren
on full scale testing using a MK 36 MOD 5 Sidewinder rocket motor test stand. FMI supplied several candidate material systems. FR1 was a ceramic fiber- reinforced furfuraldehyde/resorcinol phenolic system. FTR402 was a fiberglass system under evaluation by Boeing for aircraft interiors.
FR1 performed better than any other candidate material in the initial test matrix.
Alumina Enhanced Thermal Barrier (AETB) Tiles / NASA Ames Research Facility
Subsequent to developing, and Lockheed manufacturing, the Space Shuttle tiles, NASA began developing lighter density tile systems that could be used on spacecraft that would dip in and out of suborbital space under various atmospheric oxygen and potential erosion conditions. Lockheed was the prime contractor, but NASA Ames wanted to qualify a second source. Because of our experience in controlling density in chopped fiber/slurry systems, FMI submitted an RFQ and won the contract for a six-month development program and qualified a second source process.
Carbon/Carbon, Low-Observable Composites and Coatings, and Carbon/Ceramic Work
Mr. Stephenson was the program engineer on several commercial carbon/carbon product lines, including Filcarb ® molds and pistons, 2D materials for glass fixtures, aircraft brake development programs and high- performance clutch plates. In addition, he also contributed to several “Black” and other Special Access Programs for agencies of the DoD in the areas of low observables and carbon/ceramic materials. Carbon/Carbon, Low-Observable Composites and Coatings, and Carbon/Ceramic Work
Mr. Stephenson was the program engineer on several commercial carbon/carbon product lines, including Filcarb ® molds and pistons, 2D materials for glass fixtures, aircraft brake development programs and high- performance clutch plates.
In addition, he also contributed to several “Black” and other Special Access Programs for agencies of the DoD in the areas of low observables and carbon/ceramic materials.
EDUCATION
B.A. in Botany, minor in Chemistry
University of Iowa
Postgraduate Studies in Polymer Chemistry
University of Maine
BOARDS:
-Maine Composites Alliance
-Maine Technology Institute
-SAMPE
2007-2024
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Events
CompositesWorld www.compositesworld.com, at Gardner Business Media. www.gardnerweb.com.
Charged with overall direction of conferences from idea conception to onsite event management by managing both in-house team members and partnering with outside resources, Mr. Stephenson was responsible for overall fiscal responsibility and budget management, hotel contract negotiations, program development and conference marketing. This included recruiting conference chairs, speakers, and instructors
PERTINENT COMPOSITE CONFERENCES:
- The Global Outlook for Carbon Fiber (held annually from 1998 - 2022)
- Injection Overmolding of Composites
- Thermoplastic Composites for Automotive Applications
- High-Performance Composites for Aircraft Interiors
- High-Performance Fibers
2017-2024
SAMPE (Society of Advanced Materials and Process Engineering) North America Executive Cabinet
While President in 2022, he also served as interim CEO for seven months and led a successful search committee to find a permanent CEO. He was also a member of SAMPE’s Global Board until 2025.
1993-2007
Vice President at Intertech Corporation and IntertechPIRA (now Smithers)
Managed 5-8 events per year over ten years in Europe, China, and NAFTA regions achieving double digit net profit margins for 90% of the events from 1997-2007. This included a conference that began on 9/11/2001 where only half of the speakers and attendees were present.
High-Performance Resins
Mr. Stephenson has also conducted single client studies for several corporations, including Fortune 500 companies, and organized and edited industry sourcebooks and directories related to reinforced composite materials, pigments and specialty papers. A full list of conferences and publications is available upon request.
1983-1993
Fiber Materials Inc.(FMI) Manager of Fire- Resistant Materials
FMI is a world leader in the manufacture of high-temperature and specialty composites, Stephenson directed development of ablative and low observable coatings and composites for various agencies of the Department of Defense and NASA, including novel densification systems for carbon/carbon and carbon/ceramic materials.
SAMPLE PRODUCTS AND PROGRAMS:
Flexfram 605 Series / Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) Mark 13
Flexfram was a patented, flexibilized, trowable epoxy ablative coating system invented by Larry McAllister and John E. Hill Jr. and manufactured by FMI and specified on the GMLS Rail Launchers manufactured by FMC Corporation (now part of BAE Systems).
As Product Engineer, Mr. Stephenson worked with Naval Systems Warfare Center (NSWC), Dahlgren and FMC to qualify and train subcontractors and then to develop different coating variations and tiling systems for use on vertical and angled surfaces and also non-skid variations for areas with heavy foot traffic.
Flexfram 705 Series / Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
Flexfram 705 was developed by FMI after the US Army requested an ablative coating material that did not contain asbestos or carbon fibers, so we selected an alumina/borosilicate reinforcing fiber system. They also wanted it to be made in three different colors: Desert Sand, Forest Green and 383 Green. Later, they also requested a 20-minute quick-curing system to be applied in the field. The MLRS was originally manufactured by Vought and is now made by Lockheed Martin.
FR1 and FTR402 / Vertical Launch System (VLS) Uptake Plenum Polymer Reinforced Ablator Test Programs
Around 1990, NSWC Dahlgren and FMC began quantifying and qualifying programs to try and replace Fiberite’s MXBE350 rubberized fiberglass/phenolic system used to line the uptake plenum of the VLS. Solid Rocket Motor development was leading to hotter, longer-burning versions. Besides wanting to prevent a hang fire from burning through the bottom plenum, they also wanted to prevent blowing out the exhaust plenum and riser during multiple launch sequences from the various missile types in the launcher system. FMI worked with Dr. Joseph H. Koo (Fellow SAMPE) at FMC to supply candidate materials to develop his subscale ablative test system and then with Dahlgren
on full scale testing using a MK 36 MOD 5 Sidewinder rocket motor test stand. FMI supplied several candidate material systems. FR1 was a ceramic fiber- reinforced furfuraldehyde/resorcinol phenolic system. FTR402 was a fiberglass system under evaluation by Boeing for aircraft interiors.
FR1 performed better than any other candidate material in the initial test matrix.
Alumina Enhanced Thermal Barrier (AETB) Tiles / NASA Ames Research Facility
Subsequent to developing, and Lockheed manufacturing, the Space Shuttle tiles, NASA began developing lighter density tile systems that could be used on spacecraft that would dip in and out of suborbital space under various atmospheric oxygen and potential erosion conditions. Lockheed was the prime contractor, but NASA Ames wanted to qualify a second source. Because of our experience in controlling density in chopped fiber/slurry systems, FMI submitted an RFQ and won the contract for a six-month development program and qualified a second source process.
Carbon/Carbon, Low-Observable Composites and Coatings, and Carbon/Ceramic Work
Mr. Stephenson was the program engineer on several commercial carbon/carbon product lines, including Filcarb ® molds and pistons, 2D materials for glass fixtures, aircraft brake development programs and high- performance clutch plates. In addition, he also contributed to several “Black” and other Special Access Programs for agencies of the DoD in the areas of low observables and carbon/ceramic materials. Carbon/Carbon, Low-Observable Composites and Coatings, and Carbon/Ceramic Work
Mr. Stephenson was the program engineer on several commercial carbon/carbon product lines, including Filcarb ® molds and pistons, 2D materials for glass fixtures, aircraft brake development programs and high- performance clutch plates.
In addition, he also contributed to several “Black” and other Special Access Programs for agencies of the DoD in the areas of low observables and carbon/ceramic materials.
EDUCATION
B.A. in Botany, minor in Chemistry
University of Iowa
Postgraduate Studies in Polymer Chemistry
University of Maine
BOARDS:
-Maine Composites Alliance
-Maine Technology Institute
-SAMPE
