Blog Contributors

Bradley Hostetler has recently joined Astro Pak filling the role of metallurgist in Astro Pak’s Technical Services Group. Bradley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and a Master’s in Materials Science from Carnegie Mellon University. He comes from the metal production industry and has both research and work experience in steel and specialty alloy melting. Bradley has experience participating and presenting at various AIST (Association for Iron and Steel Technology) and NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers) conferences during his time as a student.

Dr. Brent Ekstrand serves as Astro Pak Corporation’s Vice President of Science. He is the company’s primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for precision cleaning, cleanliness evaluation and measurement, cleanroom operations, corrosion remediation and prevention, and biological contamination / biofilm removal.

Chris Conner is Astro Pak’s Technical Sales Manager for the Great Lakes region. In his 13 years with the company, this Butler University graduate has also served as a Project Leader as well as in the Professional Services Group. Additionally, he is on the teaching staff for our Project Leader Training Program. The broad, multifaceted experience acquired from having served in sales, operational and training capacities makes Mr. Conner an invaluable resource to our clientele as he partners with them to develop custom-tailored chemical cleaning and metal finishing solutions to address their specific needs.

Astro Pak Consultant, Daryl serves as the primary senior technical advisor for corrosion, surface chemistry and stainless steel Passivation. With over 40 years of experience in chemical processing, Daryl has been published in MICRO, UltraPure Water Journal and Chemical Engineering for his papers on passivation and rouge control. He is a participant on the ASME BPE Subcommittees for Surface Finish and Materials of Construction requirements and a leading contributor for the Rouge and Passivation Task Groups. Daryl holds a B.A. in Chemistry and Earth Science from the California State University of Fullerton and a Professional Engineer's license from the State of California.

As Astro Pak's Technical Sales Manager for the Gulf Coast Region, David Taylor brings over 10 years of engineering experience with a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. David has worked in several industries including cosmetics, food and beverage, chemical, consumer goods, and nutritional supplements. Additionally, his expertise in process and system design, commissioning, validation, maintenance, and project management allows him to guide customers in crafting chemical cleaning and metal finishing solutions to address their unique challenges.

Jonathan serves as Vice President of Cleanroom Services and as a member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team. He has over a decade of leadership experience in the precision cleaning sector as well as a strong background in manufacturing management. As both a business and technical leader, Jonathan focuses on providing customers with solutions to the most demanding cleaning challenges. Jonathan is a veteran of the United States Navy where he served in Surface Warfare and Mine Countermeasures. He is also an active member of the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) and holds a Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt certification.

As Astro Pak's Director of Business Development, Jordan serves as a key advisor and resource for our customers as they tackle high purity chemical cleaning and metal finishing projects. Jordan also oversees sales operations in the Gulf Coast region and has over 15 years of professional experience in construction management. Recently, Jordan was appointed as Vice Chair of the ASME BPE Surface Finish subcommittee and continues to be an active board member for the International Ozone Association as well as the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers. He holds a B.A. in Construction Science and Engineering from Kansas State University.

Michael Johnson recently joined Astro Pak as the Director of Technical Services. Staffed by subject matter experts from both the Field and Cleanroom divisions, this new department will provide leadership and guidance in developing technical core competencies throughout the company. Michael’s professional career is deeply rooted in the space sector where he has made significant contributions. For starters, he spent a decade working on the Space Shuttle program for Lockheed at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Shortly thereafter, he took part in a joint research and development project with Boeing and NASA to develop a replacement for the environmentally hazardous Freon 113 solvent. He also led a team that collaborated with Lockheed to clean a contaminated titanium tube assembly without the need to remove it from the Orion space capsule.

Since 2012 Mike has served as the Technical Director of Electropolishing at Astro Pak Corporation. With over thirty years of mechanical, machining, and metal finishing experience, Mike brings practical knowledge, capability and excellence to vessel restoration projects across the country. Mike develops and implements training programs, including confined space entry, ensuring technical excellence and safety amongst all Astro Pak MP/EP Technicians.

Robert Schuck currently serves as Sr. Technical Sales Manager for the Southwest & Northwest regions. With over 10 years at Astro Pak and former employment in pharmaceutical sales, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge in precision cleaning, passivation, cleaning for oxygen service, and bioburden remediation. His expertise in these areas have proven to be invaluable to both internal and external customers, addressing immediate needs along with achieving long term goals. Recently, Robert was appointed as Vice President of the International Ozone Association (IOA) Municipality Committee and continues to play a leading role in the development of Astro Pak’s Lunch & Learn technical training program. He is known for his servant leadership approach and desire to meet then exceed expectations, earning him the status of a trusted advisor amongst his colleagues and customers.