Over the past three years Jess has supported commercial launch, hypersonic and space systems via consulting with the aerospace industry, the Aerospace Corporation and more recently Millennium Engineering and Integration. In November 2017 he left the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency where he served over two separate tours and seven years as a program manager. He led multiple space initiatives including the experimental spaceplane, high power solar electric propulsion, autonomous robotic arm, and solar thermal propulsion programs. With a combined budget of over $400 million and 50+ contracts, his efforts included technology maturation of satellite projects, power systems, solar cells, rocket engines, electric propulsion, space launch, and even exotic physics for power and propulsion. Prior to DARPA he spent over 30 years in the United States Air Force as both a military officer and civilian. His career supported diverse jobs ranging from Atlas launch operations at Vandenberg AFB to project management jobs developing and deploying the early Global Positioning System. Prior to the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, he was selected as an Air Force Manned Spaceflight Engineer and trained as a Space Shuttle payload specialist, then transitioned to support development of hypersonic flight at the National Aero-Space Plane program. Starting in 1991 he served in the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization managing multiple programs including the vertical take-off and landing Delta Clipper-Experimental (DC-X), which inspired many follow-on entrepreneurs. In 1994 he transitioned to the Air Force Research Laboratory supporting NASA’s follow on initiatives DC-XA, X-33, X-34 and related technologies. In the Air Force he led or supported numerous projects and studies maturing hypersonic aircraft, orbit transfer vehicles, reusable space launch/military spaceplanes, and prompt global strike systems. Jess also spent several years in the entrepreneurial space launch sector working for Universal Space Lines and Pete Conrad, the Apollo 12 and Skylab commander. He has served on numerous national space transportation studies and panels. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in physics and holds advanced degrees in Astronautical Engineering and Systems Management. He is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College.
People Category: AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum 2021
Robyn Gatens
Ms. Robyn Gatens is the director of the International Space Station (ISS) in the Human Exploration and Operations mission directorate at NASA Headquarters. She is also an agency senior expert for environmental control and life support (ECLSS) and crew health and performance systems.
As ISS director, Gatens leads strategy, policy, integration, and stakeholder engagement for the space station program at the agency level, including use of the station for research and technology demonstrations including to support NASA’s Artemis missions, and activities to secure an ongoing U.S. presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO) by enabling a successful, long-term private sector commercial LEO space economy.
In her 35 years at NASA, Gatens has led the development and management of life support and habitation systems for human spaceflight missions. She has also led agency strategic and budget planning to mature these habitation system technologies needed for future deep space exploration missions, using the ISS as a demonstration testbed.
She began her NASA career in 1985 at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. She held various leadership positions at Marshall, including manager for the Orion spacecraft crew support and thermal systems before transferring to NASA Headquarters in 2012.
Gatens is the recipient of NASA’s Outstanding Leadership and Exceptional Achievement Medals and holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Kareemah Mohamed
Kareemah Mohamed is a leader in energy markets with expertise at the crux of public policy strategy, supply chain and commercial models for new energies.
Currently she is leading KBR Advisory’s Energy Transition business focused on Net- Zero solutions in line with the Paris accord. She is focused on carbon abatement, sustainable master planning strategies and low-carbon fuel solutions, including the hydrogen supply chain from generation to end-use.
She previously served as Director, Research and Consulting at IHS Markit focused on the impact of digitalization on advancing climate change solutions as well as strategy planning for IEC’s and major oil and gas companies.
Ms. Mohamed is also the founder of a growth accelerator, LARK Strategy Partners focused adapting business models in the digital age, with an emphasis on the circular economy.
She is a frequent speaker at conferences including CERAWeek, SPE, The Energy Council, Hydrogen Congress and Women in Energy.
A Geoscientist by background, she has worked in R&D and development capacities at Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips in domestic and international roles throughout her career. She was also previously Managing Director of Associated Geosciences, a Calgary-based consulting firm specializing in oil and gas acquisition and divestiture strategy.
Ms. Mohamed is active in the start-up communities in Houston, Calgary and Oslo and is passionate about the leadership role of women in the energy transition.
Michael Patterson
Michael Patterson is an aerospace engineer in the Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA where he serves as the Lead for the Emerging Applications and Technologies Group. He earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and holds MS and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech. Michael has been a thought leader in NASA’s advanced air mobility (AAM) work, and he currently works for NASA’s AAM Mission Integration Office as the Systems Analysis and ConOps Lead. He has been an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) his entire professional career, including previous service as the Chair of the Transformational Flight Integration Committee.
Mike Ohadi
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1986
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Accredited member, The European Process Intensification Center, in recognition of contributions in Enhanced Heat ad Mass Transfer Augmentation research impact, April 2013
- Contributing Author, the Global Energy Assessment (GEA) policy document, Nov. 2012. The GEA document was authored by selected experts from around the world. It examines major global challenges and their linkage to energy; existing and emerging technologies for affordable and clean energy; and policies/measures for sustainable future energy resources.
- Nominated for the 2013 ASHRAE Campbell Award, in recognition of contributions in Research, Educational, and Professional Outreach activities in the sciences and applications of HVAC and refrigeration systems.
- ITherm 2012 Award (the 13th Intersociety Conference on Thermal and Theermomechncial Phenomenon in Electronic Systems), in recognition of contributions to Panel Discussions and service as Track Co-Chair , June 2012
- ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers) Exceptional Service Award, June 2011
- SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) distinguished contributions award, May 2010
- Regional Editor, Journal of Enhanced Heat Transfer (2001-Present)
- Member, ASME Global Communities District J Operating Board (2009-Present).
- Listed in Who’s Who in Engineering Academia; Who’s Who in the World, Marquis Who’s Who, and several other distinguished citations.
- Member of the Advisory Board and past Chairman, ASME Executive Committee for Process Industries (2004-Present)
- ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award, June 2002
- Elected ASHRAE Fellow Member Grade, June 2002
- Elected ASME Fellow, May 1999
- Elected to the ASME Society-Level Nominating Committee, June 2000-June 2002
- Elected to ASME Potter Medal Awards Committee, February 2001-2005
- Chairman of ASHRAE TC 8.4 Technical Committee on Air-to-Liquid Heat Exchangers, June 2001-June 2004
- Faculty Advisor Award for “Most Active ASHRAE Student Chapter in the Eastern United States,” 2001
- ASME/JSME Distinguished Service Award, June 1999
- Japan STA Fellowship Award, 1998-1999
- Finalist for “Invention of the Year Award,” University of Maryland, 1996
- ASME ECO World 92 Distinguished Contribution Award, 1992
- SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, 1989
- Michigan Tech. Distinguished Teaching Award, University Level, 1989
- Michigan Tech. Distinguished Teaching Award, Mechanical Engr. Departmental Level, 1988
- State of Michigan MAGB Distinguished Faculty Award, 1988
Jean Botti
Jean Botti is the CEO of VoltAero SA and of Cassiollc, and former CTO of Airbus.
From March 2016 until March 2017 he was Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Philips NV. In Netherlands.
From May 2006 to March 2016 he was Airbus Group Chief Technical Officer. Botti began his professional career at Renault in 1978 before joining the Chassis Engineering division of General Motors in the U.S. in 1989. Upon his return to France in 1992, Botti was appointed General Motors’ Director of European Engineering for chassis components. In 1997, he returned to the U.S. to take over the reins of the Delphi Corporation’s Customer Solution Center, a position he held until 2002.
From 2002 to 2004, he managed Delphi’s new corporate Dynamics, Propulsion and Thermal Innovation Center as Chief Technical Officer. He rounded out his time at Delphi as the Business Line Executive for the Powertrain product line, before joining Airbus Group in 2006.
As of 2017, Botti held 31 patents and four defensive publications for the work carried out over the course of his career, and was elected as a Delphi Hall of Fame fellow. He also received the General Motors President’s Council Award in 1998, and was named a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
Botti graduated from the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) in Toulouse, France, in 1986, with a degree in mechanical engineering. He pursued further studies in the U.S., where he earned an MBA from Central Michigan University and a degree in Research and Development Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both in 1991. In addition, he was awarded a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the National Conservatory of Arts and Trades (CNAM) Paris in 1995, in collaboration with the University of Michigan. Botti was awarded honorary degrees from Bath University and Cardiff University in 2010 and 2012 respectively, both in the U.K., as well as from the U.S´s University of South Alabama in 2014.
Botti has been involved with a number of research organisations. Since 2014, he has been serving as a Senator of the acatech German Academy of Science and Engineering, advising the institution on strategic matters. In 2013, Botti joined the French National Air and Space Academy. He became a member of the National Academy of Technologies of France in 2011, where he provided important insights into new technologies – in particular to the Energy Committee – and was an active contributor to Academy reports promoting technology in training programmes.
Botti also served with the European Research Area Board (ERAB) as the representative for aeronautics and space. In addition, he served as a member of the Federation of German Industries’ (BDI) Technical Committee.
He received in 2016the Medal of Honor from the French Civil Aviation Organization ( DGAC).
He is a recipient of the French Legion d’Honneur (Chevalier).
Bran Ferren
One of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Bran Ferren is a master of the arts & sciences. Equal parts artist + designer & scientist + engineer, he is an expert on leveraging curiosity and creativity to inspire innovation. His 2014 TED Talk entitled “To Create for the Ages, Let’s Combine Art and Engineering” has been translated into 27 languages and viewed over a million times.
Bran is co-founder and chief creative officer of Applied Minds LLC, a company that for 20 years has provided advanced technology, creative design, and consulting services to both commercial and government clients. At Applied Minds, past and present clients include Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Cubic Corporation, Boeing, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, John Deere, Scientific Games, Sony, Herman Miller, Intel Corporation, L-3 Communications, Genworth Financial, UCLA, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Library of Congress.
Prior to Applied Minds, Bran held various leadership positions, including president of Research & Development for the Walt Disney Company. At Disney, he advised CEO’s Michael Eisner, Frank Wells and senior leadership on emerging technology and business opportunities and led the development of key innovations for divisions such as ABC Television. At Disney’s Imagineering division, where he was president of Creative Technology, he was responsible for advanced technology research and development for the theme parks and played key roles in creating major park attractions such as Test Track by General Motors, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Prior to that, Bran was president of Associates & Ferren, a company acquired by Disney.
Bran is a prolific inventor, named on over 570 domestic and foreign patent applications and 269 issued US patents. He developed numerous successful technologies, designs, experiences, and innovations used in consumer products, theme parks, imaging, broadcast television, theater, film production, arena concerts, buildings, aerospace, command centers, exhibits, and motor vehicles.
He has led many special purpose vehicle (and containerized) design and fabrication programs, for both government and commercial customers. These have been used for applications as diverse as film & video production, oilfield geological exploration, remote fabrication, and even transporting the Bill of Rights while on a 50-state national tour. His recent vehicle project, the KiraVan, has been featured in Wired Magazine, international publications and hundreds of websites. His recent design for the Genworth R70i Aging Experience has also been receiving major international media coverage, and also appears extensively on the web.
Bran is also an Oscar nominee and Academy Award winner for Science and Technical Achievement, whose work has appeared in films such as Altered States and Little Shop of Horrors. Major theater credits include award- winning special effects, lighting, and sound design for Broadway shows including Evita, Cats, and the Lion King. For his work in theater, he has received two New York Drama Desk Awards, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award, the Maharam Foundation Award, and the American Theater Wing, Hewes Design Awards.
He has pioneered technologies and staging concepts for music legends including Emerson, Lake & Palmer, R.E.M., Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Laurie Anderson, and Paul McCartney.
His body of work has been recognized by the Wally Russell Lifetime Achievement Award in Lighting Design, the Kilby International Award for significant contributions to society, the US Intelligence Community Seal Medallion, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Inland California Chapter, Honor Award, and the Sir Arthur Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society.
Bran has been a senior advisory board member or consultant for science, advanced technology, and innovation to over two dozen U.S. government agencies and organizations including the CIA, NSA, DHS, DNI, SEC, FCC, PBS, United States Senate, Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and Special Operations Command. A popular public speaker, he has delivered over 250 keynote speeches worldwide.
Rob Meyerson
Rob Meyerson is the Executive Producer of ASCEND and leads the Guiding Coalition. He is the founder and CEO of Delalune Space, a management consulting company focused on the aerospace, mobility and technology sectors. He is an Operating Partner with C5 Capital and serves on the Board of Directors for Axiom Space, a C5 portfolio company. Rob is the former President of Blue Origin.
Rob oversaw the steady growth of Blue Origin from 2003 to 2018, building the company from its founding into a more than 1500-person organization. Prior to joining Blue, Rob was a Senior Manager at Kistler Aerospace. Rob began his career as an aerodynamicist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC).
Rob earned a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Houston. He is an AIAA Fellow, a Trustee of the Museum of Flight in Seattle and a member of the University of Michigan College of Engineering Leadership Advisory Board. Rob was awarded the Space Flight Award by the American Astronautical Society in 2017 for his accomplishments at Blue Origin.
Jeff Sheehy
Dr. Jeffrey Sheehy is Chief Engineer of Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. He holds a PhD in chemical physics and has led research and development projects related to plasma propulsion, high energy density chemical propellants, astrophysics, materials science, and spacecraft thermal protection at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, and NASA Ames Research Center. He has authored more than 125 technical papers, including 45 journal articles and 5 book chapters.
John-Paul Clarke
AIAA Fellow and chair, Human-Machine Teaming TC
John-Paul Clarke is a professor and the Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Memorial Chair at University of Texas, Austin (UT Austin). Prior to joining the faculty at UT Austin, Clarke was a faculty member at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the vice president of Strategic Technologies at United Technologies Corporation (now Raytheon), a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a researcher at Boeing and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Clarke has also co-founded multiple companies, most recently Universal Hydrogen, a company dedicated to the development of a comprehensive carbon-free solution for aviation. Clarke is a leading expert in aircraft trajectory prediction and optimization, especially as it pertains to the development of flight procedures that reduce the environmental impact of aviation, and in the development and use of stochastic models and optimization algorithms to improve the efficiency and robustness of aircraft, airline, airport, and air traffic operations. Clarke is particularly interested in leveraging his expertise to enable increasingly autonomous aircraft-enabled mobility, especially in urban and regional settings. Clarke received an Sc.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT.