Studies trajectory and vehicle design optimization, including power-beaming-enabled aircraft and distributed MDO architectures.
Education
- PhD, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
UC San Diego · 2022–present - MS, Mechanical Engineering
UC San Diego · 2021–2022 - BS, Mechanical Engineering
University of Washington · 2021
Experience
- Intern
Scaled Composites - Intern
Vashon Aircraft
Research connections
Related to Nicholas C. Orndorff
Papers
- Nicholas C. Orndorff, Christopher Lupp, John T. Hwang. A Distributed Algorithm for Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization With Global Constraints. AIAA AVIATION 2026 Forum, 2026. Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. PA# AFRL-2026-2045DOIPDF
@inproceedings{orndorff2026distributed, author = {Nicholas C. Orndorff and Christopher Lupp and John T. Hwang}, title = {A Distributed Algorithm for Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization With Global Constraints}, booktitle = {AIAA AVIATION 2026 Forum}, year = {2026}, doi = {10.2514/6.2026-4500}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-4500}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref title} } - Luca Scotzniovsky, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Andrew H. Fletcher, Jason Kao, John T. Hwang. Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Blended Wing Body Aircraft Using Mid-Fidelity, Multi-Point Analysis. AIAA AVIATION 2026 Forum, 2026. Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. PA# AFRL-2026-2042DOIPDF
@inproceedings{scotzniovsky2026large, author = {Luca Scotzniovsky and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Andrew H. Fletcher and Jason Kao and John T. Hwang}, title = {Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Blended Wing Body Aircraft Using Mid-Fidelity, Multi-Point Analysis}, booktitle = {AIAA AVIATION 2026 Forum}, year = {2026}, doi = {10.2514/6.2026-4247}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-4247}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref title} } - Nicholas C. Orndorff, John T. Hwang. A Distributed Method for Solving Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Optimization Problems. AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2025, 2025.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{orndorff2025distributed, author = {Nicholas C. Orndorff and John T. Hwang}, title = {A Distributed Method for Solving Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Optimization Problems}, booktitle = {AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2025}, year = {2025}, doi = {10.2514/6.2025-3736}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-3736}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref title} } - Sebastiaan P. van Schie, Marius L. Ruh, Andrew H. Fletcher, Michael Warner, Mark Sperry, Luca Scotzniovsky, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Ru Xiang, Jiayao Yan, Han Zhao, Joshua Krokowski, Jiun-Shyan Chen, Darshan Sarojini, Hyunjune Gill, Seongkyu Lee, Andrew C. Tagg, Ryan Anderson, Eric Green, Cibin Joseph, Andrew Ning, Zeyu Cheng, Zhi Cao, Chunting Mi, Alexandre T. Guibert, Ashley Cronk, Alicia A. Kim, Shirley Meng, Christopher Silva, John T. Hwang. Large-Scale Distributed Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of the NASA Lift-Plus-Cruise Air Taxi Concept. AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum, 2025.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{vanschie2025large, author = {Sebastiaan P. van Schie and Marius L. Ruh and Andrew H. Fletcher and Michael Warner and Mark Sperry and Luca Scotzniovsky and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Ru Xiang and Jiayao Yan and Han Zhao and Joshua Krokowski and Jiun-Shyan Chen and Darshan Sarojini and Hyunjune Gill and Seongkyu Lee and Andrew C. Tagg and Ryan Anderson and Eric Green and Cibin Joseph and Andrew Ning and Zeyu Cheng and Zhi Cao and Chunting Mi and Alexandre T. Guibert and Ashley Cronk and Alicia A. Kim and Shirley Meng and Christopher Silva and John T. Hwang}, title = {Large-Scale Distributed Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of the NASA Lift-Plus-Cruise Air Taxi Concept}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum}, year = {2025}, doi = {10.2514/6.2025-0362}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-0362}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref title} } - Bingran Wang, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Mark Sperry, John T. Hwang. Extension of graph-accelerated non-intrusive polynomial chaos to high-dimensional uncertainty quantification through the active subspace method. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2025.DOIPDF
@article{wang2025extension, author = {Bingran Wang and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Mark Sperry and John T. Hwang}, title = {Extension of graph-accelerated non-intrusive polynomial chaos to high-dimensional uncertainty quantification through the active subspace method}, journal = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, year = {2025}, volume = {160}, pages = {110074}, doi = {10.1016/j.ast.2025.110074}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2025.110074}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref DOI} } - Marius L. Ruh, Andrew Fletcher, Darshan Sarojini, Mark Sperry, Jiayao Yan, Luca Scotzniovsky, Sebastiaan P. van Schie, Michael Warner, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Ru Xiang, Anugrah J. Joshy, Han Zhao, Joshua Krokowski, Hyunjune Gill, Seongkyu Lee, Zeyu Cheng, Zhi Cao, Chris Mi, Christopher Silva, Lauren Wolfe, Jiun-Shyan Chen, John T. Hwang. Large-scale multidisciplinary design optimization of a NASA air taxi concept using a comprehensive physics-based system model. AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum, 2024.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{ruh2024large, author = {Marius L. Ruh and Andrew Fletcher and Darshan Sarojini and Mark Sperry and Jiayao Yan and Luca Scotzniovsky and Sebastiaan P. van Schie and Michael Warner and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Ru Xiang and Anugrah J. Joshy and Han Zhao and Joshua Krokowski and Hyunjune Gill and Seongkyu Lee and Zeyu Cheng and Zhi Cao and Chris Mi and Christopher Silva and Lauren Wolfe and Jiun-Shyan Chen and John T. Hwang}, title = {Large-scale multidisciplinary design optimization of a NASA air taxi concept using a comprehensive physics-based system model}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum}, year = {2024}, doi = {10.2514/6.2024-0771}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-0771}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref DOI} } - Darshan Sarojini, Marius Ruh, Jiayao Yan, Luca Scotzniovsky, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Ru Xiang, Han Zhao, Joshua Krokowski, Michael Warner, Sebastiaan van Schie, Ashley Cronk, Alexandre T. Guibert, Jeffrey T. Chambers, Lauren Wolfe, Rachel Doring, Robin Despins, Cibin Joseph, Ryan Anderson, Andrew Ning, Hyunjune Gill, Seongkyu Lee, Zeyu Cheng, Zhi Cao, Chris Mi, Ying Shirley Meng, Christopher Silva, Jiun-Shyan Chen, Alicia A. Kim, John T. Hwang. Review of Computational Models for Large-Scale MDAO of Urban Air Mobility Concepts. AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum, 2024.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{sarojini2024review, author = {Darshan Sarojini and Marius Ruh and Jiayao Yan and Luca Scotzniovsky and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Ru Xiang and Han Zhao and Joshua Krokowski and Michael Warner and Sebastiaan van Schie and Ashley Cronk and Alexandre T. Guibert and Jeffrey T. Chambers and Lauren Wolfe and Rachel Doring and Robin Despins and Cibin Joseph and Ryan Anderson and Andrew Ning and Hyunjune Gill and Seongkyu Lee and Zeyu Cheng and Zhi Cao and Chris Mi and Ying Shirley Meng and Christopher Silva and Jiun-Shyan Chen and Alicia A. Kim and John T. Hwang}, title = {Review of Computational Models for Large-Scale MDAO of Urban Air Mobility Concepts}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum}, year = {2024}, doi = {10.2514/6.2024-0377}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-0377}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref DOI} } - Bingran Wang, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Mark Sperry, John T. Hwang. A gradient-enhanced univariate dimension reduction method for uncertainty propagation. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2024.DOIPDF
@article{wang2024gradient, author = {Bingran Wang and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Mark Sperry and John T. Hwang}, title = {A gradient-enhanced univariate dimension reduction method for uncertainty propagation}, journal = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, year = {2024}, volume = {155}, pages = {109602}, doi = {10.1016/j.ast.2024.109602}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2024.109602}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref DOI} } - Bingran Wang, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Mark Sperry, John T. Hwang. A gradient-enhanced univariate dimension reduction method for uncertainty propagation. AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum, 2024.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{wang2024gradienta, author = {Bingran Wang and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Mark Sperry and John T. Hwang}, title = {A gradient-enhanced univariate dimension reduction method for uncertainty propagation}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum}, year = {2024}, doi = {10.2514/6.2024-1234}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-1234}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref DOI; conference version distinct from related journal publication} } - Bingran Wang, Nicholas C. Orndorff, John T. Hwang. Graph-accelerated non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion using partially tensor-structured quadrature rules for uncertainty quantification. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2024.DOIPDF
@article{wang2024graph, author = {Bingran Wang and Nicholas C. Orndorff and John T. Hwang}, title = {Graph-accelerated non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion using partially tensor-structured quadrature rules for uncertainty quantification}, journal = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, year = {2024}, volume = {155}, pages = {109607}, doi = {10.1016/j.ast.2024.109607}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2024.109607}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref DOI} } - Bingran Wang, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Anugrah J. Joshy, John T. Hwang. Graph-accelerated large-scale multidisciplinary design optimization under uncertainty of a laser-beam-powered aircraft. AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum, 2024.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{wang2024grapha, author = {Bingran Wang and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Anugrah J. Joshy and John T. Hwang}, title = {Graph-accelerated large-scale multidisciplinary design optimization under uncertainty of a laser-beam-powered aircraft}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2024 Forum}, year = {2024}, doi = {10.2514/6.2024-0169}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2024-0169}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref DOI} } - Nicholas C. Orndorff, Darshan Sarojini, Luca Scotzniovsky, Hyunjune Gill, Seongkyu Lee, Zeyu Cheng, Shuofeng Zhao, Chris Mi, John T. Hwang. Air-taxi transition trajectory optimization with physics-based models. AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum, 2023.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{orndorff2023air, author = {Nicholas C. Orndorff and Darshan Sarojini and Luca Scotzniovsky and Hyunjune Gill and Seongkyu Lee and Zeyu Cheng and Shuofeng Zhao and Chris Mi and John T. Hwang}, title = {Air-taxi transition trajectory optimization with physics-based models}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, year = {2023}, doi = {10.2514/6.2023-0324}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-0324}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref title} } - Nicholas C. Orndorff, Bingran Wang, Marius L. Ruh, Andrew H. Fletcher, John T. Hwang. Gradient-Based Sizing Optimization of Power-Beaming-Enabled Aircraft. AIAA AVIATION 2023 Forum, p. 4019, 2023.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{orndorff2023gradient, author = {Nicholas C. Orndorff and Bingran Wang and Marius L. Ruh and Andrew H. Fletcher and John T. Hwang}, title = {Gradient-Based Sizing Optimization of Power-Beaming-Enabled Aircraft}, booktitle = {AIAA AVIATION 2023 Forum}, pages = {4019}, year = {2023}, doi = {10.2514/6.2023-4019}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-4019} } - Darshan Sarojini, Marius L. Ruh, Mark Sperry, Jiayao Yan, Andrew Fletcher, Anugrah Jo Joshy, Luca Scotzniovsky, Alexander Ivanov, Nicholas Orndorff, Victor Gandarillas, Isaac Asher, Jeff Chambers, Hyunjune Gill, Seongkyu Lee, Zeyu Cheng, Gabriel Rodriguez, Shuofeng Zhao, Chunting Mi, Thomas Nascenzi, Timothy Cuatt, Tyler Winter, Alexandre Guibert, Ashley Cronk, Alicia Kim, Shirley Meng, John T. Hwang. Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of an eVTOL Aircraft Using Comprehensive Analysis. AIAA SciTech 2023 Forum, 2023.PDF
@inproceedings{sarojini2023large, author = {Darshan Sarojini and Marius L. Ruh and Mark Sperry and Jiayao Yan and Andrew Fletcher and Anugrah Jo Joshy and Luca Scotzniovsky and Alexander Ivanov and Nicholas Orndorff and Victor Gandarillas and Isaac Asher and Jeff Chambers and Hyunjune Gill and Seongkyu Lee and Zeyu Cheng and Gabriel Rodriguez and Shuofeng Zhao and Chunting Mi and Thomas Nascenzi and Timothy Cuatt and Tyler Winter and Alexandre Guibert and Ashley Cronk and Alicia Kim and Shirley Meng and John T. Hwang}, title = {Large-Scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of an eVTOL Aircraft Using Comprehensive Analysis}, booktitle = {AIAA SciTech 2023 Forum}, year = {2023}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref unavailable: HTTPError; numeric collision guard applied} } - Bingran Wang, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Mark Sperry, John T. Hwang. High-Dimensional Uncertainty Quantification Using Graph-Accelerated Non-Intrusive Polynomial Chaos and Active Subspace Methods. AIAA Aviation 2023 Forum, 2023.PDF
@inproceedings{wang2023high, author = {Bingran Wang and Nicholas C. Orndorff and Mark Sperry and John T. Hwang}, title = {High-Dimensional Uncertainty Quantification Using Graph-Accelerated Non-Intrusive Polynomial Chaos and Active Subspace Methods}, booktitle = {AIAA Aviation 2023 Forum}, year = {2023}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref unavailable: HTTPError} } - Bingran Wang, Nicholas C. Orndorff, John T. Hwang. Optimally tensor-structured quadrature rule for uncertainty quantification. AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum, 2023.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{wang2023optimally, author = {Bingran Wang and Nicholas C. Orndorff and John T. Hwang}, title = {Optimally tensor-structured quadrature rule for uncertainty quantification}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, year = {2023}, doi = {10.2514/6.2023-0741}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-0741}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref title} } - Nicholas C. Orndorff, John T. Hwang. Investigation of Optimal Air-Taxi Transition Profiles using Direct-Transcription Trajectory Optimization. AIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum, 2022.DOIPDF
@inproceedings{orndorff2022investigation, author = {Nicholas C. Orndorff and John T. Hwang}, title = {Investigation of Optimal Air-Taxi Transition Profiles using Direct-Transcription Trajectory Optimization}, booktitle = {AIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum}, year = {2022}, doi = {10.2514/6.2022-3485}, url = {https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-3485}, note = {Metadata verification: Crossref title} }