Blaine Livingston: Manufacturing Armor Panels

Blaine Livingston, a nontraditional student, is a husband, father and veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Originally from North Anson, Maine, Livingston is working on a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Part of Livingston’s responsibilities at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center involve manufacturing composite parts for a Department of Defense research project.

He was tasked recently with manufacturing armor panels for a mobile Armored Command Trailer (ACT) for the U.S. Army. Livingston successfully fabricated the composite laminates which included the use of methyl methacrylate adhesives, vacuum infusion, and a special water jet cutting process.

The fabrication of the armor panels is beyond what is traditionally asked of a student in his position. He exhibited excellent leadership by recruiting and instructing other qualified student laborers to help him prepare the panels.

Livingston says he enjoys working at the UMaine Composites Center because “everything we do is interesting, exciting, and has the potential to positively impact so many people’s lives.” He says he appreciates the level of trust and responsibility he is given by his supervisors.