Tim Rustine

Patent Law Clerk

After more than a decade of working in the engineering field, Tim began his career in patent law. Prior to joining Hard IP, Tim worked at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center as a safety engineer for rocket engine testing. As a NASA civil servant, Tim received awards for his work developing machine learning-based solutions to safety issues and for his contributions to the SLS rocket program. Prior to NASA, his engineering career has also included roadway design, oil & gas development, nuclear reactor operations, and radiological control.

As a Patent Law Clerk, Tim provides technical analysis and assists with drafting of patent applications, responding to Office actions, conducting Examiner Interviews and conducting client consultations. Tim’s broad experience across several fields of engineering and science makes him a valued member of our team.

Tim holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of New Orleans, where he is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering. He also received specialized training in reactor theory, chemistry, and radiological control through the Naval Nuclear Power Program. Tim is currently preparing to sit for the patent bar.