People Category: AIAA SciTech Forum 2022

A former U.S. Air Force (USAF) pilot and NASA astronaut with more than 30 years of flight test experience, Steve Lindsey is a senior vice president for SNC’s Space Systems business area. Lindsey oversees design, development, testing and operational employment of the Dream Chaser® spacecraft, a modern, reusable, lifting-body space system for uncrewed and crewed transportation to low-Earth orbit.

Lindsey earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1982. Upon completion of his degree he was commissioned a second lieutenant and sent to Undergraduate Pilot Training. After receiving his pilot wings he qualified in the RF-4C Phantom II and served as a combat-ready pilot, instructor pilot, and academic instructor. In 1987, he was selected to attend graduate school at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he completed a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. Lindsey completed the USAF Test Pilot School course at Edwards Air Force Base, California in 1989 and was then assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in 1990 as an experimental test pilot where he conducted weapons and systems tests in F-16 and F-4 aircraft. While a member of the 3247th Test Squadron, Lindsey served as the deputy director of the Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance System Joint Test Force and as the squadron’s F-16 flight commander. Additionally, he served as an Integrated Product team leader in the USAF SEEK EAGLE Office where he was responsible for weapons certification for the F-16, F-111, A-10 and F-117 aircraft. Lindsey retired from the Air Force in September 2006 after logging more than 7,000 hours of flying time in more than 50 different types of aircraft. Lindsey was assigned to NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1995, becoming an astronaut the following year and qualifying for flight assignment as a pilot. During his 15+ year tenure at NASA, Lindsey completed five space flights and logged more than 1,510 hours in space. He served as pilot on STS-87 in 1997 and STS-95 in 1998, and was the mission commander on STS-104 in 2001, STS-121 in 2006 and STS-133 in 2011. He last served as chief of the astronaut corps, overseeing spacecraft development, crew selection and training and flight test/crew operations in support of the space shuttle, International Space Station (ISS) and Constellation Programs.

Upon joining the SNC team, Lindsey led Dream Chaser flight operations. In August 2013, he was selected as Dream Chaser senior director and co-program manager tasked with managing the Dream Chaser cargo and crew systems development. Lindsey led the Dream Chaser program through the design certification phase, including atmospheric flight tests of the Dream Chaser Engineering Test Article at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California; and launch, orbit operations, entry and landing of the Dream Chaser cargo and crew systems for low-Earth orbit missions to the ISS.

In 2015, Lindsey was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center. He has also received several industry and government recognition awards throughout his career including: Distinguished Graduate USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training and Distinguished Graduate and recipient of the Liethen-Tittle Award as the outstanding test pilot of the USAF Test Pilot School Class 89A. He has also been awarded: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five NASA Space Flight Medals, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and Aerial Achievement Medal.

June Scobee Rodgers, Ph.D. FOUNDING CHAIR OF CHALLENGER CENTER is the widow of Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Richard “Dick Scobee.” In memory of the “Teacher in Space” mission, June founded Challenger Center for Space Science Education to foster a new generation of “star challengers” – young people who will reach for the stars no matter their circumstances.

Each year, Challenger Learning Centers around the globe engage hundreds of thousands of students and tens of thousands of teachers in dynamic, hands-on exploration and discovery opportunities that strengthen their knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

While best known for her tireless efforts on behalf of Challenger Center, June has also gained attention for her work as an author. The “Star Challengers” science adventure books for young readers were created to spark student interest in space and careers in science, engineering and technology.

“Silver Linings” (published, 2011) is the expanded story of her book about the triumph and legacy of the Challenger 7. More than the story of a ragged teenager who struggles to overcome adversity, it presents a historical overview of America’s leadership in space exploration and discovery.

June has been nationally recognized and honored with countless awards during her professional career, including the National Eagle Award, the Women’s International Center’s Living Legacy Award, the Spirit of Volunteerism, the National Space Club Educator Award, and the National Award for Excellence in Leadership. In 2015, June received the distinguished Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award, and in 2019, she received the “Apollo 50th Education Award,” saluting her pioneering work and dedication to motivate our future Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics workforce.
June has appeared on numerous national television news and talk shows promoting innovative educational partnerships that help communities prepare to meet our nation’s education goals. She has been interviewed on CNN and Fox News, Good Morning America, Dateline NBC, 60 Minutes, and the recent Netflix Challenger story. Her story was also featured in various magazines including Woman’s Day, LIFE, Southern Living and Guideposts magazines.

An active and prominent leader in education throughout her professional life, June holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the University of Leicester, England. She has been a classroom teacher and university professor, served as a consultant to local, state and federal education agencies, and become a nationally recognized advocate for the advancement of science and math education. She is married to retired Lt. Gen Don Rodgers, and together they have three married children and nine grandchildren.

Don’s son: Eric D. Rodgers
June’s two children:
Kathie Scobee Fulgham
Lt. Gen. Richard W. Scobee

Beth Moses is an American astronaut, aerospace engineer and Chief Astronaut Instructor at Virgin Galactic, a public spaceflight corporation which is developing suborbital space tourism. Beth leads Virgin Galactic’s cabin test program and will train all SpaceShipTwo cabin astronauts for their missions. On February 22, 2019 Moses launched to space with pilots David Mackay and Michael Masucci and performed the first-ever test of SpaceShipTwo’s customer cabin. During her test she became the first human to unstrap and float weightless in a stationary spacecraft, hovering completely still inside a spacecraft as it coasted to a stop above the Earth. Ms. Moses is also the world’s first female commercial astronaut and the recipient of FAA commercial astronaut wings #007, having been the seventh person in history to serve on the flight crew of a commercial spacecraft.

Previously, Ms. Moses worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center where she served as the Extravehicular Activity System Manager for the International Space Station from design through on-orbit construction. Ms. Moses received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University.

Brewster Shaw is vice president and general manager, Space Exploration, for Integrated Defense Systems at The Boeing Company. He is responsible for the strategic direction of Boeing’s civil space programs and support of NASA programs such as Space Shuttle, International Space Station (ISS), Checkout, Assembly & Payload Processing Services (CAPPS), Constellation and Ares. Shaw, a former astronaut, was appointed to this position in January 2006.

Previously, Shaw was chief operating officer of United Space Alliance (USA) and had primary responsibility for the day-to- day operations and overall management of USA, the prime contractor for the Space Shuttle Program.

Before his time at USA, Shaw served as vice president and
deputy general manager for Boeing NASA Systems. Prior to that, he was Boeing ISS vice president and general manager, responsible for leading an industry team in designing, developing, testing, launching, and operating NASA’s international orbiting laboratory.

Shaw has held multiple management and executive roles since he joined Rockwell in 1996 after 27 years with the U.S. Air Force and NASA. He retired from the Air Force as a colonel.

During his government career, Shaw served as combat fighter pilot, test pilot and Space Shuttle astronaut and program manager. As an astronaut, Shaw flew three Space Shuttle missions – as pilot of STS-9 in November 1983, as commander of STS-61B in November 1985, and as commander of STS-28 in August 1989. He played a key role in returning the Shuttle to flight following the STS-51L, Challenger tragedy, leading the Space Shuttle orbiter return to flight team. Shaw has logged 533 hours of space flight and more than 5,000 hours flying time in over 30 types of aircraft — including 644 hours of combat in F- 100 and F-4 aircraft.

Shaw is the recipient of many exemplary awards for serving his country in the United States Air Force and with NASA.

Shaw received a bachelor’s of Science degree in 1968 and a master’s of Science degree in 1969, both in engineering mechanics from the University of Wisconsin.

Shaw was born May 16, 1945, in Cass City, Michigan.

Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC (Ret.) is a former four-time Space Shuttle astronaut and the first Black NASA Administrator, serving during President Obama’s administration. He also served his country through the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a major general. He continues his service through his virtual presence as the face and voice of the Shuttle Launch Experience at the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, inspiring kids of all ages to imagine and pursue futures in outer space and aviation. Bolden also is an AIAA Fellow.

Karen E. Willcox is Director of the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Associate Vice President for Research, and Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin. She is also External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. Before joining the Oden Institute in 2018, she spent 17 years as a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she served as the founding Co-Director of the MIT Center for Computational Engineering and the Associate Head of the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Prior to joining the MIT faculty, she worked at Boeing Phantom Works with the Blended-Wing-Body aircraft design group. She is a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), Fellow of AIAA, Fellow of the U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM), and member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Dr. Irene M. Gregory is NASA Senior Researcher for Advanced Control Theory and Applications. Her current interests are in the areas of robust autonomous systems, self-aware vehicle intelligent contingency management, acoustically-aware vehicles, and resilient control for advanced, unconventional configurations with particular focus on Advanced Air Mobility and autonomous cargo. Previously, Dr. Gregory’s research spanned all flight regimes from low subsonic to hypersonic speeds, and included advanced control for aircraft and launch vehicles, aeroelasticity, fluidic control effectors, and autonomous vehicles.  Her research has been documented in over 100 technical publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, and in numerous invited lectures and presentations.

Dr. Gregory is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, a senior member of IEEE and IFAC, serves on IEEE Control Systems Society Aerospace Control Technical Committee and on IFAC Aerospace Control Technical Committee. She is an emeritus member of the AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Technical Committee and a former member of the AIAA Intelligent Systems Technical Committee.