CDR Donald "Bucket" Costello
Assistant Professor & Associate Chair
Office: Hopper Hall 269B
Email: dcostell@usna.edu
Research Interests
Computer Vision, Cyber-Physical Systems, Machine Learning, Mobile Robotics, Multi-Agent Systems, Robotic Manipulation
Education & Training
- Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland College Park, 2020
- M.S. in Systems Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School, 2010
- M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2008
- Engineering Test Pilot, United States Naval Test Pilot School Class 134, 2008
- M.A.S. in Aeronautical Science, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, 2005
- B.S. in Systems Engineering, United States Naval Academy, 2000
Professional Experience
- Permanent Military Professor, United States Naval Academy, 2021-Present
- Adjunct Associate Professor, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, 2006-Present
- Chief of Staff, Naval Test Wing Atlantic, 2020-2021
- Strike Operations Officer, USS John C. Stennis, 2018-2020
- IPT Lead, NAWCAD (4.0M/NGAD AOA/PMA-265), 2013-2017
- EA-18G Department Head, VAQ-138, 2011-2013
- VX-23, Test Pilot/USNTPS Co-Op Program. 2006-2011
- EA-6B Division Officer, VAQ-128/133, 2003-2006
- Flight Training (API/VT-28/VT-22/VAQ-129), 2000-2003
Professional Qualifications
- Military: Command Duty Officer, Underway (Nimitz Class Carrier)
- YP OIC (USNA)
- Naval Aviation: Naval Aviator, Test Pilot, Mission Commander, Division Lead Pilot, FCF Pilot
- FAA: Air Transport Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument, Part 107 Pilot
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
- Defense Acquisition Corps Member
- Defense Acquisition Career Field Certification: System Engineering (L3)
- Defense Acquisition Career Field Certification: Test and Evaluation (L3)
- Defense Acquisition Career Field Certification: Program management (L3)
- Aeronautical University, Adjunct Associate Professor, 2006-Pres
- Naval Test Wing Atlantic, Chief of Staff, 2020-2021
Professional Memberships
- The Society of Experimental Test Pilots
- The Tailhook Association
- The International Test and Evaluation Association
Honors and Awards
- Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year, Individual Engineer for 2021
- International Test and Evaluation Associate 2021 Publications Award, for Outstanding Accomplishments and Significant Contributions to Test and Evaluation
Significant Publications
- D. H. Costello and H. Xu, “Relating Sensor Degradation to Vehicle Situational Awareness for Autonomous Air Vehicle Certification,” Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2021, pp. 193–202.
- D. H. Costello, J. Jewell, and H. Xu, “Autonomous Flight-Test Data in Support of Safety of Flight Certification,” Journal of Air Transportation, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2021, pp. 93–106.
- D. H. Costello and H. Xu, “Generating Certification Evidence for Autonomous Aerial Vehicles Decision-Making,” Journal of Aerospace Information Systems, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2021, pp. 3–13.
- D. H. Costello, “Certifying an Autonomous System to Complete Tasks Currently Reserved for Qualified Pilots,” Ph.D. thesis, 2020.
- D. H. Costello and D. J. Whiteneck, “Dynamic Maneuver Requires Agile Logistics,” in Proc. of the U.S. Naval Institute, January 2020.
- D. H. Costello and B. Gilroy, “The Naval Aviation Technical Information Product,” NSAWC Journal, Winter 2015, pp. 40-48.
