Zucrow alumnus receives College of Engineering Young Alumnus Award
The Alumni Board selected Helderman for the award based on his achievements and career growth while working for Blue Origin, one of the foremost “New Space” companies, where he serves as a manager for test facility engineering. Helderman manages the team responsible for developing and operating Blue Origin’s test and launch facilities across the country, including the new Orbital Launch at Cape Canaveral. In this leadership role, Helderman oversees the development and operation of sites where Blue Origin’s revolutionary New Shepard and New Glenn rockets will launch satellites and humans into space.
(left to right) Dr. Tom Shih, Dr. William Anderson, David Helderman, Scott Meyer and Dean Mung Chiang
During his time in AAE, Helderman’s areas of concentration were propulsion and design. He was active in Purdue Solar Racing, and conducted research at Zucrow Labs for his MS requirements under the supervision of Prof. William Anderson.
The Young Alumnus Award is presented to a Purdue graduate from the College of Engineering, who must be under 35 years of age and demonstrated a rapid advancement in their chosen field.