Events Category: Podcasts

This podcast discussion features Kelvin Coleman, the FAA’s deputy associate administrator for commercial space transportation. His office is responsible for licensing commercial operators for space launch and re-entry. Prior to joining AST more than 20 years ago, Mr. Coleman worked for the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command as both a systems engineer, and as a guidance, navigation, and control engineer for several weapon system acquisition programs.

Mr. Coleman holds a B.S. in Electronics and Computer Engineering from George Mason University and an M.B.A. from Marymount University.

This podcast discussion features Alex Macdonald, NASA’s chief economist. He also serves as program executive of the International Space Station National Lab. He was previously the Senior Economic Advisor in the Office of the Administrator and was the founding program executive of NASA’s Emerging Space Office. Dr. Macdonald is a former executive staff specialist on commercial space at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a former research faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University, and has worked on small satellite mission design at NASA’s Ames Research Center.

Dr. Macdonald received his undergraduate degree in economics from Queen’s University in Canada, his master’s degree in economics from the University of British Columbia, and his doctorate from the University of Oxford.

This podcast discussion features Conner Prochaska, chief commercialization officer for the Department of Energy and director of the Office of Technology Transitions. His office advances the economic, energy, and national security interests of the United States by expanding the commercial impact of the department’s research and development portfolio.

Prior to his current roles, Mr. Prochaska was senior advisor and chief of staff of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). He previously worked at a public investment fund and also served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy.

Mr. Prochaska earned his J.D. at The George Washington University School of Law and his B.A. at Texas A&M University.

This podcast discussion features Dr. Douglas Terrier, NASA’s chief technologist. In this role, Terrier serves as the agency’s principal advisor and advocate on technology policy and programs, helping plot the strategic direction of the agency’s space technology program.

Prior to his current position, Terrier was the chief technologist of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He also was the deputy director of NASA Johnson’s Strategic Opportunity and Partnership Development Office. Terrier worked in the commercial aerospace sector for a total of 23 years with Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and General Electric Aircraft Engines.

Terrier earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas.

This episode features Kevin O’Connell, Director of the Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. O’Connell leads an office with responsibility as a space industry advocate within the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. Previously, Mr. O’Connell served as the CEO of Innovative Analytics and Training, a professional services firm focused on analysis and decision support for U.S. government and commercial clients. He also served as a senior consultant to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as an independent advisor to the Director, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

This podcast discussion features Erin Miller, VP of Operations for Space ISAC, National Cybersecurity Center. Erin has over a decade of experience building meaningful tech collaborations and has formed hundreds of formal partnerships between government, industry and academia to solve problems for warfighters and national security. Currently Erin is building a Public-Private Partnership (P3), called Space ISAC. This is the third non-profit launch Erin has led and has been passionate about P3 for her entire career.

Erin was the Managing Director of the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization (C-TRAC) and brought three USAF-funded programs to bear at the Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation (www.catalystcampus.org) from 2016-2018. Her expertise in brokering unique partnerships using non-FAR type agreements led to the standup of the Air Force’s first cyber focused design studio, AFCyberWorx at the United States Air Force Academy, and the first space accelerator, Catalyst Accelerator, at Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs – in partnership with Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX.

Erin serves on the board of cyber teaching certifications at Handshake Leadership. A company putting purpose over profit.

This podcast discussion features Tommaso Sgobba, Executive Director and Board Secretary of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). Until 2013, Mr. Sgobba was head of the Independent Safety Office at the European Space Agency (ESA), including human-rated systems, spacecraft re-entries, space debris, use of nuclear power sources, and planetary protection. He joined the ESA in 1989, after 13 years in the aeronautical industry.

Mr. Sgobba holds an M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin (Italy). He has published several books, articles, and papers on space safety. Additionally, he received the NASA recognition for outstanding contribution to the International Space Station in 2004, and the NASA Space Flight Awareness Award in 2007.

This podcast discussion features Shawn Barnes, a member of the Senior Executive Service, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration. Mr. Barnes is responsible for carrying out Air Force space missions and integrating space policy, guidance, coordination and synchronization of space-related activities, and issue resolution for the Department of the Air Force.

This podcast features an engaging discussion with IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute expert Dr. Bhavya Lal. Dr. Lal leads strategy, technology assessment, and policy studies and analyses at the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Space Council, and federal space-oriented organizations including NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community. Bhavya has published over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Her work is routinely covered by technical and mainstream press outlets including Space News, The Economist, Science, Chronicle of Higher Education, and National Geographic, among others.

Bhavya holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a second M.S. from MIT’s Technology and Policy Program, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration from George Washington University.

This podcast takes an inside look at the intelligence community space enterprise with senior executive John Paul (JP) Parker. Mr. Parker is a Senior National Intelligence Service officer serving as Intelligence Community Space Executive, a newly formed office designed to increase collaboration, integration and innovation throughout the IC space enterprise. Previously, Mr. Parker was Special Advisor to the Vice President for Space, Cyber, Intelligence, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Science and Technology. Mr. Parker represented the Vice President on all national security space matters, and was instrumental in reestablishing the National Space Council and drafting the National Strategy for Space.