Christian Smart, Ph.D.

Chief Data Scientist, Galorath Federal Author

Contact

301 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35899
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Biography

Christian Smart is the Chief Data Scientist with Galorath Federal, a leading international supplier of parametric cost models and data analytics consulting services. He supports NASA and the Department of Defense in the application of analytics for cutting-edge programs, including nuclear thermal propulsion for crewed space transportation and hypersonic weapon systems.

Dr. Smart’s professional career has focused on parametric cost analysis and cost risk analysis of space flight and weapon system programs and related areas, such as machine learning, regression analysis, cost and schedule risk analysis, probabilistic risk assessment, and project management policies that support best-in-class cost and schedule analysis. He led the development of a quantitative cost risk analysis capability for the NASA/Air Force Cost Model. Dr. Smart participated in the development of a probabilistic risk analysis for the Space Shuttle. He led and edited the publication of a cost-estimating handbook for the Missile Defense Agency.

Dr. Smart developed a joint cost and schedule quantitative risk analysis for the Ares I launch vehicle and served on the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee (also known as The Augustine Commission), for which he was awarded an Exceptional Public Service Medal by NASA in 2010. Dr. Smart served as the Cost Director for the Missile Defense Agency for several years, leading a team of more than 100 estimators. He is a longtime member of and is certified by, the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA).

Dr. Smart currently serves as the Vice President for Professional Development for ICEAA. He has written extensively about cost modeling, parametric cost estimating, and cost risk analysis. Dr. Smart has won numerous best paper awards at cost estimating conferences. He has been an American Society for Quality Certified Reliability Engineer. Dr. Smart has B.S. and B.A. degrees in mathematics and economics from Jacksonville State University, and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  

Education

  • Ph.D., Applied Mathematics, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
  • M.S., Computer Science - Machine Learning and Computational Complexity and Algorithms, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • B.A., Economics, Jacksonville State University
  • B.S., Mathematics, Jacksonville State University

Affiliations

  • International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA)

Honors & Awards

  • Frank Freiman Lifetime Achievement Award issued by the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA), May 2021

Expertise

  • ICEAA Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst
  • Risk Management
  • Project Management
  • Cost Analysis
  • Parametric Estimating
  • Reliability Engineering
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Economics
  • Earned Value Management

Recent Publications

  • Christian Smart, Solving for Project Risk Management: Understanding the Critical Role of Uncertainty in Project Management, McGraw Hill, 2020

  • Christian Smart, "Cost Risk Allocation Theory and Practice," Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics, 7:2, 72-100, 2014,  DOI: 10.1080/1941658X.2014.922907

  • Christian B. Smart, "Here, There Be Dragons: Considering the Right Tail in Risk Management," Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics, 5:2, 65-86, 2012, DOI: 10.1080/1941658X.2012.734752