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October 18 @ Crown Plaza Hotel 6400 Ivy Ln, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Dennnis Andrucyk
Center Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Dennis J. Andrucyk is the director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, guiding the direction and management of one of NASA’s major field installations. Its sites include the primary campus in Maryland, Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification & Validation Facility in West Virginia, and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. Goddard is responsible for the oversight and execution of a $3.2 billion portfolio comprising 80 missions – 29 in development and 51 in operation – and is home to the nation's largest concentration of scientists, engineers and technologists dedicated to Earth and space science. Its workforce consists of more than 10,000 employees, both civil servants and contractors.
Andrucyk is deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and has championed efforts to develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce that encourages collaboration and partnership across the center and agency.
He has served in numerous senior leadership roles at NASA since 2000. He previously served as the deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, helping oversee the planning, direction and effective management of NASA programs focused on the scientific exploration of Earth, the Moon, Mars and beyond. This included charting the best route of discovery and harnessing advancements in Earth and space exploration for the benefit of society. He managed and sponsored research and flight missions, advanced developments in technology, and supported related activities required to expand our understanding of Earth and the Sun.
Prior to joining the Science Mission Directorate, Andrucyk served as NASA’s acting chief technologist and deputy associate administrator for its Space Technology Mission Directorate. He previously held many positions at Goddard, including director of its Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate, director of engineering, deputy director of engineering, chief of the Software Engineering Division, and chief of the Mission Engineering and Systems Analysis Division. He also served as Goddard’s chief technologist and as associate chief of the Electrical Engineering Division. He was selected as a Goddard senior fellow in 2000.
Before joining NASA in 1988, Andrucyk served at the Department of Defense as both a contractor and civil servant. He has worked for the National Security Agency, Naval Research Laboratory, Westinghouse Electric, General Electric and Northrop Grumman Corporation.
He has earned the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, Goddard Outstanding Leadership Honor Award, and Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award in Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity. He is also a two-time recipient of the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Presidential Rank Award.
Andrucyk holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Dr. Dale Arney
Aerospace Engineer, Space Mission Analysis Branch at NASA Langley Research Center
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Dr. Dale Arney is an aerospace engineer in the Space Mission Analysis Branch at NASA Langley Research Center with expertise in space system architecting, systems analysis, and technology assessment. He is currently supporting NASA Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy on an interagency initiative to coordinate and steward capabilities across the government for In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM). He has led studies to assess capability needs for NASA’s plans for human exploration and to analyze alternatives for human exploration to the Moon, Mars, Venus, and other destinations. Before starting at NASA, Dr. Arney was a research engineer at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), analyzing mission concepts for lunar, near-Earth asteroid, and Mars exploration missions. Dr. Arney received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering in 2012, M.S. in 2008, and B.S. in 2006, all from Georgia Tech.
Col. Meredith Beg
Dep. Director of Operations, Servicing and Maneuver Program of Record for the US Space Force
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Colonel Meredith S. Beg is the Deputy Director of Operations, Servicing and Maneuver, Space Systems Command, Patrick Space Force Base, FL. In this roll, she’s responsible for developing the On-Orbit Service and Maneuver Program of Record for the United States Space Force. Colonel Beg also assists with team integration for space mobility plans, policy, requirements and capabilities to rapidly launch, sustain and reconstitute USSF space assets across a ~$67B portfolio encompassing 10,000+ personnel across two Services, 9 operating locations, 2 space and launch ranges, 3 tracking sites, and supports 100+ mission partner organizations.
Colonel Beg was commissioned in the Air Force in 2001 after completing Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, AL and transferred to the Space Force in July 2021. Before assuming her current position, Colonel Beg was the Senior Executive Officer to the Director of Staff, United States Space Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC, where she led the executive support for the Director (Lt Gen), Deputy (SES), 3 Deputies (Cols/GS-15) and the 30-person Space Staff Director of Staff. She was the Falcon Launch Vehicle Materiel Leader, serving as the chief Air Force engineer responsible for validating the nation’s recently added spacelift fleet was ready and capable of delivering critical national security satellites into orbit. She blazed the trail for use of previously-flown hardware in the National Security Space Launch program by validating the hardware and processes for the Falcon booster met Department of Defense requirements. Colonel Beg also served as the Commander, 2nd Range Operations Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, California, where she commanded 17 officers, 11 enlisted and 46 civilians; overseeing 500+ contractors and over 99,000 acres of range assets. Her previous headquarters experience includes serving as the Chief, Executive Action Group, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Pentagon, Washington DC and the Launch and Range Program Element Monitor, Directorate of Space Programs, Pentagon, Washington DC.
Colonel Beg is an Acquisition Corps Professional with certifications in both Systems Planning, Research Development, and Engineering and Program Management.
Colin Bettis
Tom Colvin
Tom Cooley
Chief Scientist of the Space Vehicles Directorate
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Dr. Tom Cooley has a long background is space technologies beginning at JPL but spending the last 25 years with AFRL including as Chief Scientist of the Space Vehicles Directorate. He has worked on space communications, remote sensing systems (especially imaging spectroscopy), Space Domain Awareness, and most recently ISAM. With degrees from RPI, Caltech and U of AZ, his entire career has been linked to advancing space tech. He serves on various space related review boards and has been active in publishing both technical papers and advisory documents.
Dr. John Cooper
Autonomous Integrated Systems Research Branch at NASA Langley Research Center
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Dr. John Cooper is a member of the Autonomous Integrated Systems Research Branch at NASA Langley Research Center. He received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut in 2017. His research interests include autonomous robotics, multi-agent systems, machine learning, reinforcement learning, and adaptive control, and he has extensive experience in control system applications, modeling of dynamical systems, robot kinematics, motion planning, and sensing and perception. He has designed and analyzed GNC algorithms for uncrewed aerial systems, spacecraft, and space robotic manipulators. Dr. Cooper is a recipient of the NASA Early Career Achievement Medal, and he currently serves as Autonomy Tech Lead for NASA’s Precision Assembled Space Structure project.
Christie Cox
Dr. Prasun Desai
Deputy Associate Administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
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Dr. Prasun Desai serves as Deputy Associate Administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). In this role, Dr. Desai is responsible for executive leadership, overall strategic planning and direction, and effective management for all elements of the Space Technology Programs executed under STMD’s $1.1 billion budget. Plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates the full range of Space Technology programs and activities including budget formulation and execution, and represents the program to appropriate officials within and outside the Agency. Dr. Desai allocates and reprograms STMD resources as required to meet approved objectives. Ensures that sound management and engineering practices are followed in the implementation of STMD Programs and Projects to ensure their safety and success, and to ensure that commitments are met. Supports the development of overall NASA planning, policy development, and program integration activities.
Dr. Desai has worked at NASA for 29 years. For the past 10 years, he has helped to establish the Space Technology Mission Directorate from inception at NASA Headquarters for development of next-generation space technologies and capabilities. Prior to that, he spent 19 years at NASA Langley Research Center as a senior systems engineer applying expertise in the fields of atmospheric flight dynamics, systems optimization, engineering of entry systems, flight operations, and design of planetary exploration mission elements for robotic and human systems. Dr. Desai has contributed to the design, development, analyses, and flight operations of many NASA missions (Mars Exploration Rover, Stardust, Genesis, Mars Phoenix Lander) pertaining to entry, descent, and landing of probes at Mars and Earth.
Dr. Desai has received numerous awards from NASA for his work including two Exceptional Engineering Achievement medals; an Exceptional Achievement medal, Outstanding Leadership Medal; he received an Exceptional Service Medal for his significant contributions throughout his NASA career; and was also selected as the 2005 National Engineer of the Year Award from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for his contributions on landing the Spirit and Opportunity rovers on Mars.
Dr. Desai has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University, an M.S. in Astronautics from the George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and has authored or co-authored over 60 technical publications. Desai is also a prolific speaker, having given well over 100 presentations to schools (K-12), universities (domestically and internationally), civic groups, professional organizations, and the general public to promote science education and science literacy and to motive students for careers in math and science. He was the NASA Langley Research Center’s “Speaker of the Year” in 2008, 2009, 2011, and was inducted in the NASA Langley Speaker Hall of Fame in 2012.
Angela Hart
Program Manager for the Commercial LEO Development Program Office at Johnson Space Center
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Angela Hart serves as Program Manager for the Commercial LEO Development Program Office at Johnson Space Center to manage the implementation of the Agency’s Commercial LEO strategy. The primary goal is to facilitate the development of commercially owned and operated LEO destinations from which NASA, along with other customers, can purchase services and stimulate the growth of commercial activities in LEO.
Hart attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where she earned a bachelor's degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering in 1988. After graduation, she served for seven years in the U.S. Army as a Hawk Missile Air Defense Artillery and Military Intelligence Officer attaining the rank of captain.
She began her NASA career at Johnson in 1996, leading Pressurized Cargo Integration planning for the International Space Station Program.
In 2007, Hart moved to the Orion program managing the Vehicle Flight and Ground Operations team responsible for developing and evaluating operations requirements and systems.
She left Orion to follow her passion in commercial space flight and supported the original Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) Contract as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) helping to lay the foundation and interpretation of this early ISS fixed price contract. Leading into the first test flight, she was asked to take on the duties of the SpaceX Visiting Vehicle Integration Manager responsible for the completion of the mission specific and ISS visiting vehicle verification requirements for the early SPX to ISS test flights and the first nine CRS contract flights.
After CRS Mission 9, she transitioned as the ISS Commercial Crew Integration Manager responsible for working closely with both SpaceX and Boeing CCP partners in their development efforts to meet the ISS visiting vehicle requirements and service needs for crew.
She moved to the Commercial Crew Program to assist in the reorganization of the Mission Integration and Management Office. She was asked to develop and implement an extremely lean and commercially partnered real-time mission support architecture that provided the required NASA insight and oversight for human spaceflight but also provided for a greater responsibility by the commercial partner. She oversaw these activities for the successful Dragon Demo 1, 2 and Crew 1 missions and the initial OFT flight before fully transitioning to her new role.
Dr. Glen Henshaw
Naval Research Lab's senior space roboticist and the chief roboticist for DARPA's Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program
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Dr. Glen Henshaw is the Naval Research Lab's senior space roboticist and the chief roboticist for DARPA's Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program. He has been instrumental in developing the technology, concepts of operations, and use cases for robotic satellite servicing for the US Department of Defense, which will culminate in the first launch of an operational satellite servicing vehicle in 2021. He is also the PI for multiple NRL research programs, notably the Meso-scale Robotic Locomotion Initiative (MeRLIn), which aims to develop a highly agile miniature quadruped robot. His research interests include robotic motor learning, nonlinear controls, robotic kinematics and dynamics, and robotic satellite servicing concepts and technologies. He received his PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland in 2003.
Dr. Mark Hilburger
Senior Research Engineer in the Space Technology Exploration Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center
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Dr. Mark Hilburger is a Senior Research Engineer in the Space Technology Exploration Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton VA. He was recently appointed Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Principal Technologist (PT) for Structures, Materials, and Nanotechnology at NASA. His roles and responsibilities include developing technology investment plans across his assigned areas in coordination with NASA Exploration Programs; identify technology needs that will enable exploration; lead focused technology studies and coordinate with Agency Capability Managers in technology development activities to maintain and advance capabilities. Previous to his STMD PT appointment, he was the Principal Investigator and Manager of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center’s Shell Buckling Knockdown Factor Project from 2007 to 2018. The goal of the project was to develop and validate new design, analysis, and testing methods for buckling-critical launch vehicle structures. His responsibilities included defining and managing the integration of analysis, design, manufacturing, and test teams to develop an efficient, multi-disciplinary approach to optimal structural design, verification, and validation. His staff included experts across three NASA centers, industry, and academia. He also coordinated Space Act Agreements with Boeing, Northrop-Grumman, the German Research Laboratory (DLR), and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Dr. Mark Hilburger specializes in High-Fidelity Analysis and Design Technology Development and Experimental Methods for Aerospace Structures. He has been presented with numerous awards and including the 2018 Middle Career Stellar Award presented by The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement; the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal, 2010; the NASA Engineering and Safety Center Engineering Excellence Award, 2009; selected as of the nation’s top 100 young engineers and scientist by the National Academy of Engineering, 2009; and the NASA Silver Snoopy Award, (Astronauts’ Personal Achievement Award), 2006. He received his Ph.D. and Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI in 1998 and 1995, respectively, and his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ in 1993.
Sharon Jefferies
Lieutenant Colonel Michael "Leon" Killings
Division Chief, Future Operations, Space Systems Command, Operations Directorate (SSC/S35) and Branch Chief, Rapid Payload Delivery, Assured Access to Space Division (AATS/AA3), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS)
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Lieutenant Colonel Killings serves as Division Chief, Future Operations, Space Systems Command, Operations Directorate (SSC/S35) and Branch Chief, Rapid Payload Delivery, Assured Access to Space Division (AATS/AA3), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Florida. In these roles, he leads development of mission directives, operational concepts, and combat integration pathways, as well as doctrine reviews, emerging capability assessment and exploration of space access, mobility, and logistics technologies focused on bridging the gap between current terrestrial space force enhancement and future space domain-centric combat support/combat service support operations.
Lieutenant Colonel Killings earned his commission and Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida serving 17 years in the U.S. Air Force before transitioning to the U.S Space Force in July 2021. Prior to his current position, Lieutenant Colonel Killings performed duties as the Space Launch Delta 45 and Eastern Range Inspector General. His assignments have covered mission areas in space launch and national system operations, rapid and major system acquisitions, and Air Force Expeditionary deployment in support of U.S. Operation Freedom's Sentinel and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Resolute Support Mission.
Trudy Kortes
Director, Technology Demonstrations Organization at Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), NASA Headquarters
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Ms. Trudy F. Kortes serves as the Director of Technology Demonstrations for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, managing more than $500M annually for the Agency to accomplish key technology advancements for future science and human exploration missions for the Agency and nation. Most recently, Trudy served as the Chief of the Human Exploration & Space Operations Division at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. In that role she had oversight for over $200 million annually in key agency work in the testing of the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System universal stage adapter, Human Research Program elements such as exercise devices, International Space Station biological and physical sciences, and advanced communications systems such as cognitive and quantum communications. From 2015 to 2018, Trudy served as the Technology Demonstration Missions Program Executive and managed the growing portfolio of flight and ground demonstration projects. Under her leadership, the program successfully developed important technology flight demonstrations, including the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration, the Green Propellant Infusion Mission, Deep Space Atomic Clock, and the STMD technology investments onboard the Mars Perseverance rover. She has over 28 years of experience at NASA holding various institutional and programmatic positions at the Johnson Space Center, Ames Research Center, Glenn Research Center, and NASA Headquarters. Ms. Kortes is a federally certified program and project manager and has extensive experience in key systems engineering roles.
Dan Mazanek
Senior Space Systems Engineering in the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center
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Dan Mazanek is a Senior Space Systems Engineering in the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center. He began working at Langley in 1989 after graduating with honors from Virginia Tech with a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering. Mr. Mazanek has over 30 years of experience in space mission and architecture formulation and in the design of human and robotic spacecraft. He has led multiple study efforts to investigate sending humans to a variety of destinations beyond low-Earth orbit, and he is a technical expert and a leader in the field of human and robotic missions to small planetary bodies. He served as the Mission Investigator for NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) and has Asteroid 11033 Mazanek (1988 SH3) named in his honor for his development of asteroid mission concepts. He is currently helping lead NASA’s efforts to return humans to the Moon, as well as future destinations in the Solar System. He is supporting NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) and is serving as the ESDMD representative for the In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) interagency initiative. Mr. Mazanek was the recipient of NASA's Distinguished Service Medal in 2020 and was inducted into Virginia Tech’s Academy of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Excellence in 2021.
Jill McGuire
Associate Director for the Exploration and In-Space Services (ExIS) Projects Division
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Jill McGuire serves as the Associate Director for the Exploration and In-Space Services (ExIS) Projects Division. She has worked at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center since January 1992. She started working in satellite servicing in 1998 when she began supporting the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Development Project. As Associate Director, Ms. McGuire strives to carry on NASA’s 30-year legacy of satellite servicing and repair by developing new technologies for future programs. Previously, she was the Hosted Payloads Office Head for the ExIS Division and was responsible for leading multifaceted teams in designing, manufacturing, and launching innovative space tools that both anticipate and answer unique satellite-servicing needs. Projects that she led in that tenure were the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) 1, 2, and 3, Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL), and Robotic External Tool Stowage (RiTS) as well as support to the AMS EVA repair team with Johnson Space Center. The RRM series of payloads were designed to utilize the robotic system on ISS to demonstrate a variety of tools, technologies and techniques to benefit satellites not originally designed for in-flight service as well as provide the groundwork for future exploration. Prior to supporting ExIS, Ms. McGuire served as the manager of the Hubble Crew Aids and Tool team, which supplied more than 180 unique tools in support of the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Ms. McGuire holds an M.S. in Applied Physics from Johns Hopkins University, an M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Maryland, University College, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Dakota.
Dr. Carolyn Mercer
Chief Technologist for NASA's Science Mission Directorate
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Dr. Carolyn Mercer serves as the Chief Technologist for NASA's Science Mission Directorate where she serves as the focal point for the development of innovative new technologies that will enable exciting new capabilities for astrophysics, heliophysics, Earth and planetary science, and fundamental physics on the International Space Station. She champions technology needs among senior executives in NASA and advocates within SMD for technological innovation and new paradigms enabled by emerging technologies.
Prior to joining the Science Mission Directorate's leadership team, Dr. Mercer held several NASA Headquarters positions. She was the founding leader of the Planetary Exploration Science Technology Office where she created innovative approaches to promote technology infusion including the development of communities of practice to promote knowledge exchange. She was the Lead Program Executive for the SIMPLEx rideshare program for planetary science, where she substantially changed the program to focus on leveraging unused launch capacity to provide excellent science. She also served as a senior policy analyst for astrophysics.
Dr. Mercer has managed a broad portfolio of space-related technology development projects, including technologies to explore icy moons, advanced scientific instruments, flexible solar arrays, energy storage systems, and adaptive engine technologies. She began her career as a research engineer developing optical techniques to measure fluid properties in propulsion facilities at the Glenn Research Center and supervised a highly skilled group of scientists and engineers developing similar technologies. She holds two patents in optical instrumentation and has received numerous awards including the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement, NASA Glenn Outstanding Leadership Award, and NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal.
Dr. Mercer earned her Ph.D. in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona, an MS in Physics from Cleveland State University, and a BS in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Ohio State University.
Bo Naasz
Leads NASA’s agency-level Rendezvous and Capture System Capability Leadership Team and is the primary editor of NASA STMD’s On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM) Strategic Technology Plan
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Bo Naasz currently leads NASA’s agency-level Rendezvous and Capture System Capability Leadership Team and is the primary editor of NASA STMD’s On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM) Strategic Technology Plan. Bo Naasz is a graduate of Virginia Tech, with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Aerospace Engineering. His current duties include stewardship, strategy, and advising of NASA leadership on issues relevant to capabilities in Rendezvous and Capture and OSAM. Previously, Bo Naasz served as technical authority and Mission System Engineer for the Restore-L satellite servicing mission, and Project Manager for the Asteroid Redirect Mission’s Capture Module, both at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
While his most recent duties are directed towards Agency-level strategy, mission systems engineering, and project management, his background is in spacecraft guidance navigation and control (GNC), with a focus on navigation and control of multiple spacecraft and robotics for formation flying and autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, and capture, and small-body terrain relative navigation and control. After working conceptual and development phases of several formation flying missions, Bo Naasz was the Flight Dynamics lead for the Hubble Robotic Servicing and Deorbit Mission in the early 2000s, and later the Principal Investigator for the Relative Navigation System experiment on Hubble Servicing Mission 4. He served as Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Manager, and then as Chief System Engineer in NASA’s Satellite Servicing Projects Division.
Brian Nufer
Lead fluids engineer for the OSAM-1 mission
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Brian Nufer has been a civil servant for NASA since 2004. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from The George Washington University. He served as propulsion engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for one year supporting the Solar Dynamics Observatory and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter projects. In 2005, he transferred to the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida and worked on the Space Shuttle program until it retired in 2011. His primary role supporting the Space Shuttle Program was the preparation and servicing of the Orbital Maneuvering and Reaction Control Systems (OMS/RCS) for flight. He was the lead NASA OMS/RCS engineer on Endeavour for four years which included leading the OMS/RCS team during the terminal launch countdown in the firing room for two Endeavour launches and also served as the lead NASA engineer for the launch pad OMS/RCS propellant loading for five years. Since 2011, Brian has worked in collaboration with GSFC on the development of technologies (components and systems) to enable on-orbit spacecraft propellant servicing. Brian is a lead fluids engineer for the OSAM-1 mission and other NExIS projects.
James Reuter
NASA’s Associate Administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate
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James L. Reuter is the associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He provides executive leadership and management of the technology programs within STMD, with an annual investment value of more than $1 billion.
During his almost four-decade career at NASA, Mr. Reuter has held several leadership positions, including: STMD deputy associate administrator, senior executive for technical integration at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, chair of the standing review board of the Exploration Systems Division at NASA Headquarters, deputy manager of the Space Shuttle Propulsion Office, and environmental control and life support manager for the International Space Station.
Mr. Reuter has received numerous NASA awards and honors, including a Presidential Rank Award, Distinguished Service Medal, Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, and NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
Gregory Richardson
Senior Project Leader in the Civil Systems Technology subdivision at The Aerospace Corporation
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Mr. Greg Richardson is a Senior Project Leader in the Civil Systems Technology subdivision at The Aerospace Corporation. He has experience in space systems design, systems engineering, and mission execution for innovative space systems. He is currently leading several Aerospace efforts in evolvable structure and ecosystems in space (ESES), in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM), space mobility and logistics (SAML), and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). He provides support to multiple government customers on in-space servicing, RPO, cluster flight, spacecraft autonomy, and design of advanced mission concepts. Before joining Civil Systems Technology, Mr. Richardson led Aerospace support for novel demonstration and operational missions for a national security space customer. Mr. Richardson received his S.B. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1997 and his M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University in 1998.
Brian Roberts
Deputy Director of the Exploration and In-Space Services (ExIS) Projects Division
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Brian Roberts is the Deputy Director of the Exploration and In-Space Services (ExIS) Projects Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The Division is maturing the robotic technology needed to perform satellite servicing in space as well as developing the capability to simulate the dynamics of a robotic system interacting with space objects and using industrial robotic platforms to simulate motion of space objects. Before coming to Goddard, Brian spent 6 years as a research engineer at the University of Maryland. There he worked on teams that developed and tested various robotic systems ranging from those designed to service satellites and fly on the shuttle, to those that can put themselves together and take themselves apart in space, to those that assist physical therapists working with shoulder rehabilitation patients, to those that autonomously find and sample life at the bottom of the ocean. Most of his time was spent coordinating the design, assembly, testing, and operation of the systems and conducting much of the testing underwater in the university's Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility.
Brian earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed a Master of Science in the same field at the University of Maryland, where he also completed coursework in Fire Protection Engineering.
Christopher Roberts
Materials engineer at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center within the Materials and Processes Laboratory
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Christopher Roberts is a materials engineer at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center within the Materials and Processes Laboratory. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University (2014) and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin (2016 and 2018, respectively). His graduate work focused on developing materials and processes for Selective Laser Melting (SLM) of traditionally hard-to-process material systems. For the past four years, he has worked closely with the In-Space Manufacturing (ISM) team at MSFC to develop additive manufacturing technologies adapted for the unique environment of space. Chris is currently serving as the Principal Investigator for both the On Demand Manufacturing of Multi-materials (ODMM) project and the In Space Manufacturing portfolio.
Maj David "Merlin" Ryan
Leads the Modularity for Space Systems (M4SS) and RAPID in-space refueling programs at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
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leads the Modularity for Space Systems (M4SS) and RAPID in-space refueling programs at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). He previously was the lead engineer for Atlas V rocket avionics in the Launch Enterprise Directorate and the Platform Development Lead for the Enterprise Ground Services Division at the Space and Missile Systems Center. Merlin deployed as a NATO Ops Controller for the Resolute Support Mission, developing efficient mechanisms for transport within Afghanistan and Electronic Warfare modeling for operators. He earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and M.S. in Computer Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, with a focus on AI and algorithm development for autonomous network intrusion detection.
Anita Saplan
Program Manager for the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) and Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) programs in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office
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Ms. Anita Saplan is the Program Manager for the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) and Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) programs in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office. In this role, she works to develop the key policies, standards, capabilities, and technologies that will enable a robust space servicing ecosystem and lay the foundations for a diverse and sustainable space economy.
Ms. Saplan began her career as a satellite operator for a large spacecraft constellation, developing an understanding of how systems work (or don’t) in the real world. She spent the next two decades supporting government customers as a technical advisor, helping to guide government R&D and advanced technology development programs at DARPA and elsewhere in the DoD. She gained valuable experience in facilitating interagency relationships and technology transitions, which she was able to leverage when she became a DARPA program manager in July 2018.
Paul Shestople
Project Manager for the OSAM-2 satellite mission
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Paul Shestople is the project manager for the OSAM-2 satellite mission.
Paul began his aerospace career as a systems engineer on the Gravity Probe B satellite. He then went to SSL (now MAXAR) and worked on numerous GEO communication satellites and the LADEE spacecraft.
Paul earned bachelor’s degrees in physics and astrophysics from the University of California at Berkeley, and a master’s degree in physics from San Francisco State University.
Dr. Mark Skinner
Senior Project Leader for Space Traffic Management
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Dr. Mark Skinner is internationally recognized as a researcher in space object characterization and commercial space situational awareness. He is currently leading The Aerospace Corporation’s effort to support the transition of space traffic management (STM) from the Defense realm to the Civil. For almost two decades he supported research efforts at the AMOS facility on Maui, Hawaii, and now supports STM in Washington, DC.
For eight years, he supported the US delegation to the UN COPUOS Working Group on the Long Term Sustainable use of outer space in the development of guidelines and best practices, as an expert on space debris and SSA.
Skinner holds a BS degree in Physics and a BS in the Humanities and Science from MIT; a PhD in experimental astrophysics from UW-Madison; and an MBA from ISU.
Dr. Jim Stott
In-Space Manufacturing Project Portfolio Manager and Project Manager for the Near Earth Asteroid Scout
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Dr. Jim Stott joined NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in 2006 and currently serves as the In-Space Manufacturing Project Portfolio Manager as well as Project Manager for the Near Earth Asteroid Scout, one of the payloads that will launch on Artemis I and will go to a Near Earth Asteroid using a Solar Sail. He previously served as the Safety Technical Authority for the Artemis I Core Stage Element Office and the Exploration Upper Stage.
Prior to his NASA career, Dr. Stott worked for the Department of Defense as an electronics engineer developing simulation and Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) and Avionics software systems for the Systems Engineering Design and Integration branch of the Applied Sensors, Guidance, and Electronics Directorate of the Aviation and Missile Research and Development Center (AMRDEC).
Dr. Stott holds advanced degrees in Physics, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering earning his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has received numerous awards, including Space Flight Awareness, a Silver Snoopy, and a Silver Achievement Medal among other recognitions.
M Strube
Deputy Project Manager for OSAM-1
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M Strube has over 15 years of experience in designing, building, testing, and using rendezvous and proximity operation (RPO) systems in a variety of contreexts. They started their career at Goddard building passive and active multi-wavelength sensors for inertial and relative navigation, as well as maturing state-of-the-art algorithms for use on non-cooperative and terrain relative navigation enabled missions. M currently serves as the Deputy Project Manager for OSAM-1 (On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing 1). Prior to this, they served in other roles on OSAM-1 including RPO Product Development Lead and Servicing Payload Project Manager and have led efforts on ICESat-2, Raven, Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission, and Landsat 9. M received a BS and MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park.
Deborah (Debi) Tomek
Deputy Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate (STED)
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Deborah (Debi) Tomek began her career with NASA in 1997 at Langley Research Center. Ms. Tomek has over 20 years of research and technical management experience at NASA and Lockheed Martin.
Throughout her career Ms. Tomek has served numerous roles inclusive of researcher, principal investigator, test engineer, and technical manager on numerous cross-Agency projects and programs. Ms. Tomek’s research in flight vehicle dynamic stability characterization was instrumental in the development of numerous flight vehicle aerodatabases inclusive of the NASA Orion Crew Module and Launch Abort System (LAS).
During the Space Shuttle Program, Ms. Tomek managed the Hypersonic Thermodynamic Infrared Measurements (HYTHIRM) Project that was responsible for obtaining high resolution spatially resolved temperature measurements of the Shuttle Orbiter as it re-entered the earth’s atmosphere. Ms. Tomek also served as the HEOMD Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Space Radiation manager and the STMD Advanced Radiation Project manager leading teams in the development of passive radiation shielding systems, space weather forecasting codes, and integrated space vehicle hardware in support of long duration human spaceflight.
Ms. Tomek spent nearly four years with NASA Headquarters leading cross-Agency technical capability assessments for the NASA Associate Administrator in support of the development of the Capability Leadership Model and the new Agency operating model. Since her return from Headquarters she has served as Chief of Staff at NASA Langley Research Center working to promote, collaborate, and evolve the projects and capabilities of the Center before moving into her current role as Deputy Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate (STED). In this role Ms. Tomek is currently leading the formulation of the National Initiative for On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM).
Ms. Tomek holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University in Auburn, AL, and a Master’s degree in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from the George Washington University in Washington D.C.
Greenfield Trinh
Computer scientist in the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center
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Greenfield Trinh is a computer scientist in the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center. He is currently working in the Coded Structures Laboratory on a project called ARMADAS, which is developing robotic in-space assembly technologies. He is also a co-lead for the ISAM Assembly Roadmap. Before ARMADAS, he supported the design, testing and integration of various small spacecraft projects. Greenfield received his M.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 2013 from San Jose State University and B.S. in Physics in 2009 from U.C. Riverside.
Dr. Ezinne Uzo-Okoro
Assistant Director for Space Policy, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
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In over 18 years of U.S. government service, Dr. Uzo-Okoro has developed several national space policies and contributed to over 60 NASA missions and programs – as an engineer, technical expert, manager, and executive – in space science and technology topics. At OSTP, she leads the civil and commercial space portfolio, which includes Earth Observations, Orbital Debris, Microgravity, Space Weather, In-space Servicing Assembly and Manufacturing, Aeronautics, Planetary Protection, human exploration, and space science. Dr. Uzo-Okoro released policies including an In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) National Strategy, National Orbital Debris Implementation Plan, and the U.S. Government Commercial Earth Observations Data Purchase Plan. Her 17-year engineering career spanned contributions to earth observations, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, human exploration, and space communications missions, which represent over $9.2 Billion in total program value to NASA. She is the first woman to lead space policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and received her doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from MIT.
Brian Weeden
Director of Program Planning for Secure World Foundation, and Executive Director of CONFERS
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Brian Weeden is the Director of Program Planning for Secure World Foundation, and Executive Director of CONFERS. In his role with SWF, Dr. Weeden directs strategic planning for future-year projects to meet the Foundation’s goals and objectives, and conducts research on space debris, global space situational awareness, space traffic management, protection of space assets, and space governance. Dr. Weeden also organizes national and international workshops to increase awareness of and facilitate dialogue on space security, stability, and sustainability topics. He is a member and former Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Council on the Future of Space Technologies, and is also a member of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Prior to joining SWF, Dr. Weeden served nine years on active duty as an officer in the United States Air Force working in space and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) operations. Dr. Weeden holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University, a Master’s Degree in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration from George Washington University in the field of Science and Technology Policy.