Sara Roggia (IEEE SM’20, M’16) completed her Bachelor’s degree and her Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at the Politecnico di Bari, Italy. She received her PhD in electrical machines design at the University of Nottingham, UK, as a Marie Curie Fellow in 2017. She has worked extensively on the development of novel electrical machines technologies for aircraft ground operations within the context of the more electric aircraft initiative. In May 2017, Sara joined Motor Design Limited (MDL) working on the design of different topologies of electrical machines. In September 2018, she is joined SAFRAN in France as senior research engineer. Since December 2020, she has been with magniX. WA, USA. Sara joined magniX as a senior electric propulsion system engineer and she became technical fellow in March 2021. In November 2022, she has been appointed Head of Protection and Controls. Her main area of interests are the definition of protections and control algorithms and their implementation onto the inverters of the electrical power units. She holds five patents mainly focused on motor design and control, and more than 18 scientific publications.
Peter H. Schmidt, Co-Founder and COO of Transcend Air, is an entrepreneur and executive with startup, turn-around, and large enterprise experience. Schmidt’s aviation roles have included sUAS test pilot, with two first flights; President & COO of Linear Air, Eclipse 500 operator and Part 135 online charter marketplace; COO of Jet Advisors, a business aviation consultancy; and SVP of National Aviation Academy, the second largest Part 147 aviation mechanic school in the U.S. In his pre-aviation career, Schmidt led several networking and embedded systems companies, including as CTO North America for Ipanema Technologies, CEO of Echo Engineering, Division Manager of Teradyne, and Co-Founder and President of Midnight Networks. An aerobatic pilot, Schmidt did his undergrad in computer science and his masters degree in management, both at MIT. He currently serves as Chair of the Electric Flight Test Committee of the E-VTOL Flight Test Council.
Johnny Hodges is the Vice President of Engineering at Gulfstream Aerospace.
Overseeing the team responsible for the design, development, certification, and support
of Gulfstream products.
Johnny has 30 years of engineering and leadership experience in aerospace and
transportation. He was previously director of aircraft structures, with responsibility for
structural design, aircraft loads and dynamics, materials and processes, and stress
disciplines across Engineering. His team supported all Gulfstream product lines,
including R&D and development programs. Johnny joined Gulfstream in 1996 and has
held many roles with increasing responsibility in engineering leadership, preliminary
design, and engineering.
Johnny earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Mercer University.
Renee Pasman is vice president of Integrated Systems for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs (ADP), also known as the Skunk Works®. In this capacity, she leads strategy development, portfolio management, and execution of a variety of proprietary programs.
Previously, Ms. Pasman was the director of Mission Systems Roadmaps, responsible for the capture strategy and execution for multiple inter-related projects in Open System Architecture, Cyber, Data Links, Air-Space Integration and Electronic Warfare. Prior to that, she served as the Software Systems senior manager and Open Systems Architecture Roadmap lead for Skunk Works.
Ms. Pasman graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering. She also holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
Mike Caimona was appointed president and chief executive officer of Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, in October 2022. Mike leads a team that is advancing the future of flight by developing and applying innovations across aircraft configurations, autonomous systems, propulsion technologies, and manufacturing processes. Aurora delivers cutting-edge solutions to commercial and government customers while meeting high standards of safety and quality.
Mike joined Aurora as chief customer officer in August 2020 and was responsible for driving new business growth using a customer-centric approach. For over 25 years, Mike has led innovative technology teams focused on customer mission success. His past roles at Boeing included overseeing the development of remote systems for Boeing’s Autonomous Systems and creating the Boeing NeXt Common Solutions portfolio to drive innovation into future mobility. He was previously the executive vice president at Kestrel Enterprises, a Boeing acquisition in 2009.
Mike served in the U.S. Navy, climbing the ranks from enlisted intelligence specialist to intelligence officer. His deployments included the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and North Atlantic areas, providing direct support to Operations Noble Anvil, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. Mike supported missions vital to national security and the Global War on Terrorism. He was charged with evaluating technology to enhance the Navy’s technical and analytic effectiveness.
Mike holds a master’s degree in strategic intelligence with a concentration in competitive intelligence from American Military University, a Master of Science in management from Troy University, and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Westminster College. Through his philanthropy efforts, he is a vocal advocate for providing mental health support across the active-duty military and veteran community.
Chris Baur is the President & CEO of Hughes Aerospace Corporation, one of the largest and most experienced, globally credentialed Air Navigation Services Providers, and the Industry Co-Chairman for the US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST). Chris possesses over 40 years of diverse contributions in aviation. He is an experienced airline captain, technical pilot, instructor, and flight test pilot. A dual-rated Airline Transport Pilot who possesses twelve type ratings in airliners, business, and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as Unmanned Aerial Systems. Additionally, Chris is an FAA certified flight instructor, dispatcher, and Instrument Flight Inspection & Procedure Evaluation Pilot. He is a retired military aviator, uniquely rated as a pilot/aviator in the US Army, US Coast Guard, and US Air Force, for both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, with operational experience in Search & Rescue, Special Operations, and Law Enforcement. His helicopter background includes flying the longest helicopter oceanic rescue mission in history, over 16 hours to rescue thirty-one Merchant Marines from the storm stricken Ukrainian freighter Salvador Allende. During his tenure as pilot with the US Treasury Department, Chris was the recipient of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Medal of Valor for Heroism from Attorney General Janet Reno. Chris is recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and holds a Bachelor of Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Business Administration from Brown University & IE Business School, Madrid.
David Arenson assumed the role as LM Hypersonic Chief Engineer in October 2021. In this role he concentrating first in the Hypersonic Strike team in being successful with several demos planned in the near future. He is actively involved in making sure there is cross BA support, cross BA lesson Learned and assisting in reviews and supporting FRBs. Previously David was theChief Engineer for Lockheed Martin Space from December 2018 to October 2021. In this role he lead an energized, technical team focused on ensuring innovative technical baselines for our Space missions. He provided a keen focus across the Engineering & Technology organization on program performance, owning what the customer values and driving commonality across the enterprise. He was key to driving the Space strategy through technical roadmaps, short and long term investments and technology insertions into new and franchise programs. David is committed to developing and evolving the chief engineer talent at Lockheed Martin Space, devoting significant time to pipeline activities and mentoring.
David began his 30+ year career as a satellite digital box designer for RCA Astro Space. He supported GPS IIR from phase B study through the design of the Telemetry Information Unit (TIU). David then became one of the original designers for the Commercial Space A2100 satellite. He transitioned to lead electrical system engineer and played a key role in testing and launching the first three satellites. David then transitioned to then M&DS where he joined the P470 staff as the lead HWCI engineer. He accomplished transitioning the design to operations and through various roles was then the Chief Infrastructure Architect, driving changes to the architecture and recapitalization of the hardware while minimizing downtime.
In 2006, David was selected to be a Lockheed Martin Fellow. In this esteemed technical role, he supported across the enterprise, including a focus on the Program Surveillance mission area. In 2011, David moved back to Space Systems in the role of SNS Chief Engineer, David supported GPS in several Avionics areas to get through the first builds and supported the trouble shooting at Excellis on the Mission Data Unit (MDU).
In December 2012, David became the A2100 Chief Engineer positon. As the A2100 Chief Engineer, he provided overall technical leadership for the A2100 IRAD project Technical Refresh (TR). David played a key role in architecting and driving the TR implementation onto SBIRS 5/6. In May 2015, David became the Milspace Chief Engineer, supporting across the LOB including the successful MUOS and SBIRS GEO4 launches, transition of SBIRS 5/6 to the TR baseline, and support to the space protection programs. In April 2017 he transitioned to the Design Assurance role in Mission success. He ran IRTs and chaired a variety of programs. During this time David continued to be called upon to help with major issues including spending time on FBM.
David has a degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Delaware. In addition to his appointment to Lockheed Martin Fellow, he has received numerous top recognitions including 3 NOVA awards and one high NTK customer award.
When he is not contributing to the Lockheed Martin Space missions, he enjoys spending time with his very supportive wife and 2 wonderful children.
Shivanjli Sharma has worked as an aerospace research engineer across many disciplines at NASA Ames Research Center for more than ten years. She has performed research and helped conduct studies in real time simulation environments for flight deck automation, operations, and procedures as well as air traffic controller focused simulations for terminal arrival operations. In addition, she has been involved in deploying software and hardware to facilities in the National Airspace System to enable efficiencies in integrated arrival, departure, and surface operations. These last few years, she has supported the National Campaign for the Advanced Air Mobility Project and is currently serving as Deputy Project Manager for the Air Traffic Management eXploration Project which is focused on enabling emerging aviation markets for passenger and cargo transportation in urban, suburban, rural, and regional environments. She holds a BS and MS in aerospace engineering from the University of California at Davis.
Dr. Stafford (Staff) Sheehan is an American scientist and entrepreneur. He has founded, co-founded and developed core technology for companies that have generated more than US$250 million in investment and revenue, and employed over 300 engineers, scientists, operators, and other professionals. His businesses focus on commercializing high-value products to demonstrate technology, on a pathway toward scale, focusing on sustainability and low-carbon energy. He has been featured in Forbes, Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN) and MIT Technology Review, and has won awards from the United Nations, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), BASF and others. He received his PhD from Yale University.
Curt Epstein is a senior editor with leading business aviation trade publication AIN, celebrating his 16th year with the company. He covers the airport, fixed base operator (FBO), and aviation fueling industry, and has written on sustainable aviation fuel for more than a dozen years. He is also an occasional contributor to AIN’s sister publication Business Jet Traveler and reporter for AINtv.
A lifelong New York State resident and aviation enthusiast, Curt came to AIN from the broadcast industry where he was a former national science and technology television reporter and producer. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University in 1995.
Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award for “Best Airshow Daily” at the Aviation Media Awards. A decade later he earned an AJOYA for “Best Business Aviation Submission,” and was once again a finalist in that category in 2021. A member of the Vertical Flight Society, he was also honored with the National Air Transportation Association’s 2012 Aviation Journalist Award.
