Hit songwriter Billy Kirsch has harnessed the power of creativity to lead a successful life as an entertainer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. His body of work includes award winning songs and career songs for the artists who have recorded them. “Holes n The floor Of Heaven” recorded by Steve Wariner, won a Country Music Association song of the year award, was nominated for a Grammy award and was a number one hit. Top 10 songs, “Is It Over Yet” and “Come Some Rainy Day,” both recorded by Wynonna Judd, have become standards in the repertoire. “Stay Gone” launched singer Jimmy Wayne’s career as a Top 5 single. The list of artists who have recorded Billy’s songs include Tim McGraw, Kenny Rogers, Englebert Humperdink, Alabama, Mark Wills, Clay Walker, and more.
People Category: AIAA SciTech Forum 2021
Victoria Banks
Victoria Banks has won two 2010 Canadian Country Music Association awards — Female Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year! Notable cuts include Jessica Simpson’s Billboard record-breaking single “Come on Over,” Sara Evans’ hit “Saints & Angels” and duet “Can’t Stop Loving You” (with Isaac Slade of the band The Fray), X Factor winner Tate Steven’s “Ordinary Angels,” One More Girl’s breakout BCCMA-winning hit “When It Ain’t Raining,” Doc Walker’s chart-topping “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” and Johnny Reid’s smash “Dance With Me,” for which Victoria was named 2010 CCMA Songwriter of the Year.
Stephanie D. Wilson
Stephanie D. Wilson is a veteran of three spaceflights, STS-121 in 2006, STS-120 in 2007, and STS-131 in 2010 and has logged more than 42 days in space. Born in Boston, she attended high school in Pittsfield, Mass., earned her Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science from Harvard University in 1988, and earned her Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 1992 from the University of Texas at Austin. Wilson has served as the Space Station Integration Branch Chief from 2010 to 2012, and in 2013 she completed a 9-month detail to NASA’s Glenn Research Center as the Acting Chief of Program and Project Integration in the Spaceflight Systems Directorate. In 2021, she served as a Back-up to the Crew-3 ISS Mission Specialists and she is currently the Deputy of the Assigned Crew Branch.
Watch Stephanie Wilson’s 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum Promotional Video, courtesy of NASA
Marion Johnson
Marion Lee Johnson attended Talladega College; Talladega, Alabama majoring in mathematics. After graduating from Talladega College, she began her career as an Associate Engineer at The Boeing Company, Huntsville, Alabama in 1967. Boeing was a leader in building the Apollo Saturn V rocket. Marion Lee Johnson was assigned to the Launch Systems Branch at Boeing, and worked on the NASA project for the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA), under the direction of the legendary Wernher von Braun and Arthur Rudolph.
While working on the Boeing/NASA team in 1967, Marion Lee Johnson was responsible for preparing data inputs for simulation of vehicle piece impact trajectories. Marion received significant commendations in March of 1969 for an incredible perfect score of 20 successful missions, in 20 attempts. Boeing also recognized Marion for her dedication, technical competence, and high standards of achievements in contributing to America’s successful First Manned Lunar Landing Mission on July 20, 1969, where Neil Armstrong said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Marion’s name is enshrined in the Apollo/Saturn V Roll of Honor. A copy of this historic roll is in the Library of Congress, as well as the Smithsonian Institution, both in Washington, D.C. (also see, http://abc7ny.com/1815282/)
Following her two-year mission with Boeing/NASA, Marion was employed at Pfizer, Inc., and retired as a Project Leader after 26 years of service. She later worked at the Branford Hall Career Institute, formerly known as the Chubb Institute, as a Computer Networking and Security Instructor, where she received the “Award of Excellence” for dedicated service and outstanding accomplishments. Marion has received numerous awards. In June 2017, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has named June 2nd as “Marion Johnson Day” in Union County, New Jersey. Additionally, she received the Key to the City of Plainfield, New Jersey by the Mayor, and June 8th. was named as “Marion Johnson Day” in the City of Plainfield. During that year, she received the “Hidden Figures Award” for her accomplishments in the Apollo 11 Space Program, and was the recipient of the 1010 WINS News, New York “Visionary Award for 2017.” Additionally, The Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. honored Marion with the P. Merle Wade Trailblazer Award in December 2017. In February 2018, Marion was the keynote speaker at the Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where she talked about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in the global economy. In April 2018, Marion was the keynote speaker at the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she was honored as one of the “First Ladies” for her contributions to science and contributing to the First Manned Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Mission in July 1969. In May 2018, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners of Georgia proclaimed Friday, May 4th “Marion Lee Johnson Day” in Chatham County, Georgia. During that month, the Mayor of the City of Savannah, Georgia, named May 6 as “Marion Lee Johnson Day” in Savannah, GA for her contributions in the field of math, engineering, technology and in America as a whole. In February 2020, Marion was honored at the Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, while being the key note lecturer for “Destination Moon,” in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo II first manned lunar landing mission.
Watch Marion Johnson’s 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum promotional video
Lindani Johnson
Lindani Johnson is the sitting Chief Engineer of the Aerospace Special Interest Group of NSBE. She specializes in defense and commercial aerospace system safety and reliability engineering. Currently, she serves as the Aircraft Segment System Safety Team Lead at Wisk Aero, a start-up in the Bay Area. Lindani has worked with teams at Northrop Grumman, United Airlines, NASA and more.
Joi C. Spraggins
Dr. Joi C. Spraggins (Dr. Joi®) is recognized as a legacy leadership expert in global diversity inclusion, leadership development, communications, workforce development, public policy, NASA STEM and community engagement. She is the President of Legacy, Pathways and Footprints (LPF) and founder of Legacy Bridges STEM Academy, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit NASA Legends and Trail Blazers STEM Institute and Ecosystem. (Legacy Bridges)
She provides customized services include strategic planning, program administration, leadership development, strategic communications, global equity, diversity and inclusion, scientific research, and STEM workforce development training that stimulates job creation.
Dr. Joi® is her educational and motivational speaking services trademark name in the field of business leadership and communications. She inspires leaders to build their legacy, pathways, and footprints. She is a consultant, public speaker, trainer, author, and a frequent moderator/facilitator for national conferences and STEM Education Forums. She co-authored Mission Possible! Learn How To Reach Your Potential with Stephen Covey and Brian Tracy.
Dr. Spraggins is a NSBE Life-Time Member and 2018 recipient of the NSBE Technical Excellence Ambassador Award. As a NSBE Aerospace Ambassador SIG and a member of the NSBE Public Policy Leadership Team, she advocates for greater diversity and inclusion for women/girls, minorities and veterans in aviation/ aerospace, scientific research, systems thinking and private/public sector HBCU Partnerships. She is an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum; Tuskegee History Center Museum, Alabama, The East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc and serves as a STEM Aerospace Ambassador for the Civil Air Patrol Headquarters, AL; Pennsylvania and West Philadelphia Squadron.
Legacy Bridges’ mission and vision are to develop legacy leadership and innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and business-education using NASA Mission Directorates, International Space Station (ISS) Multinational collaboration STEM Education and knowledge transfer solutions that advance scientific research discovery and humanity. The results help industry leaders build their legacies through people, performance, profits, and community partnerships that stimulate job creation and the U.S. economy.
Legacy Bridges is the founder of the Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen (DOT) Nathan O. Thomas Aviation/Aerospace Civilian Pilot Training, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and NASA Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) STEM Pilot Program. DOTA Thomas served in the Army at the Air Force in Aberdeen, Maryland; Sheppard Airforce Base, Texas and Tuskegee, Alabama. While at Tuskegee, DOTA Thomas served under the legendary DOTA Colonel Benjamin O. Davis with the infamous 99th Pursuit Squadron performing administrative duties. When DOTA Thomas completed his military services, he resumed his studies at HBCU Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware.
In 2017, Dr. Spraggins’ NASA STEM Career and Technical Education abstract was featured at the International Space Station (ISS) Research & Development Conference. Featured at the 2020 ISS Research & Development Conference was the Legacy Bridges’ Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) PAsmart NASA Education Professional Development Training Program for Educators in partnership with Orion Quest.
Dr. Spraggins received her Doctoral Degree from the American Society of Christian Therapists and earned her Masters of Government Administration (MGA) from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels School of Government. In 2018 she successfully completed the 2017-2018 Pennsylvania Education Policy and Leadership Center Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) Fellowship Program; and also completed a Senior Global Education Policy IEL Fellowship Program on Workforce Development with a field study in the U.S., Germany & Switzerland. On July 2, 2020, The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard honored Dr. Spraggins for her COVID-19 “Selfless Service” To Others Youth, Veterans and Families, United Nations Sustainable Goals.
Steve Jurczyk
Mr. Stephen Jurczyk became NASA’s associate administrator, the agency’s highest- ranking civil servant position, effective May, 2018. Prior to this assignment he was the associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate, effective since June, 2015. In this position he formulated and executed the agency’s Space Technology programs, focusing on developing and demonstrating transformative technologies for human and robotic exploration of the solar system in partnership with industry and academia.
He previously was Director at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. Named to this position in May 2014, he headed NASA’s first field Center, which plays a critical role in NASA’s aeronautics research, exploration and science missions. Jurczyk served as Langley’s Deputy Center Director from August 2006 until his appointment as director.
Jurczyk began his NASA career in 1988 at Langley in the Electronic Systems Branch as a design and integration & test engineer developing several space-based Earth remote sensing systems. From 2002 to 2004 Jurczyk was director of engineering, and from 2004 to 2006 he was director of research and technology at Langley where he led the organizations’ contributions to a broad range of research, technology and engineering disciplines contributing to all NASA mission areas.
Jurczyk received several awards during his NASA career, including two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals, the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive in 2006, and the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executive in 2016 — the highest honors attainable for federal government leadership.
Jurczyk is a graduate of the University of Virginia where he received Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1984 and 1986. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Carole Hopson
Carole Hopson, a pilot, author, and mother, has charted a truly unique and inspiring path to success in the aviation industry, all while writing a forthcoming novel, The Only One in the World, based on the life of pioneering Black aviator Bessie Coleman.
Carole flies the Boeing 737 for United Airlines as a First Officer, based in Newark, NJ where she lives with her husband and two teenage sons.
In addition to her book, Carole has launched her purpose project, called 100 Pairs of Wings, which aims to send 100 African-American women to flight school by the year 2025.
Watch Carole Hopson’s 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum promotional video
Ernest J. Serrano
Ernest Serrano is Senior Director of Engineering for MQ-1C Gray Eagle for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), where he has overall technical responsibility for the development, production, and field support of the Army’s Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The Gray Eagle program was GA-ASI’s first formal Program of Record when it was awarded in 2005 and has since fielded over 200 aircraft and flown over 700,000 hours in mostly overseas operations. Mr. Serrano has been with the Gray Eagle program since its inception and currently directs over 100 multi-disciplinary project and system engineers, while coordinating activities of matrixed functional engineering teams to execute the program.
During his tenure, the Gray Eagle program has won two Aviation Week Program Excellence awards for the development of the new Gray Eagle Extended Range and for superb logitics support of Gray Eagle systems in the field where accurate and timely engineering support is vital. Mr. Serrano also has had responsibility for Internal Research and Development programs that support the Gray Eagle system to include a new high efficiency diesel engine, new aircraft variants and payloads, and modernized capabilities to make Gray Eagle relevant in the emerging global multi-domain operations.
Mr. Serrano joined GA-ASI in 1994 as a software engineer on the company’s original software development team responsible for MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Predator B systems. He took on progressive positions of responsibility in software engineering and in 2006 became the software development manager for the Gray Eagle program. Under Mr. Serrano’s direction, the Gray Eagle software team implemented the first Automatic Takeoff and Landing System in the company that has logged over 150,000 take-offs and landings in the field and incorporated a Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capability that allows interoperability between Gray Eagle and Apache helicopters for tactical weapons and reconnaissance operations.
After a successful Gray Eagle system Initial Operational Test & Evaluation in 2012, he transitioned to Gray Eagle Chief Engineer with overall engineering technical responsibilities for the program. He led the IRAD development of Gray Eagle Extended Range aircraft providing 40 hours of endurance to the Army and is currently leading the efforts to develop a new avionics, navigation, and datalink suite that will modernize the Gray Eagle fleet to meet new operation demands in contested environments.
Mr. Serrano holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics-Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He is married and has three children.
Jonathan P. How
Dr. Jonathan P. How is the Richard C. Maclaurin Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a B.A.Sc. from the University of Toronto in 1987, and his S.M. and Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT in 1990 and 1993, respectively. Prior to joining MIT in 2000, he was an assistant professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University. He was the editor-in-chief of the IEEE Control Systems Magazine (2015-19) and was elected to the Board of Governors of the IEEE Control System Society (CSS) in 2019. His work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2020 IEEE CSS Distinguished Member Award, the 2020 AIAA Intelligent Systems Award, and three AIAA Best Paper in Conference Awards (2011-2013). He was awarded the Air Force Commander’s Public Service Award in 2017. He is a Fellow of IEEE and AIAA.