People Category: HUB AVIATION 2021

Brian got his start in mixology in Washington, DC where he attended the Professional Bartending School. Over the past 10 years, Brian has immersed himself in all things mixology learning the sweet science behind craft cocktails. Creating his own signature recipes using high-quality fresh ingredients is his passion. When he is not mixing up cocktails at various establishments in Orlando, he can be found in the gym pumping iron. Brian loves to have a good time and brings energy to each event that he hosts.

Jeff Greason

Jeff Greason is an entrepreneur and innovator with 22 years’ experience in the commercial space industry. He is the CTO of Electric Sky, developing long-range wireless power for propulsion and other purposes; and Chairman of the Tau Zero Foundation, developing advanced propulsion technologies for solar system and interstellar missions. He has been active in the development of commercial space regulation and served on the Augustine Commission in 2009. Jeff was a cofounder of XCOR Aerospace and served as CEO from 1999 to early 2015. Previously, he was the rocket engine team lead at Rotary Rocket, and an engineering manager in chip technology development at Intel. He holds 26 U.S. Patents. He is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA.

Brent Freeze

Brent Freeze received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA. Previously, he graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell. His career spans R&D programs at General Electric, NASA MSFC, Lockheed Martin and DARPA. Dr. Freeze co-founded the Irvine CubeSat STEM Program (ICSP) with the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) in 2015. It launched two CubeSats into orbit in 2018. He now works at Astronics, an aerospace test company. He joined the AIAA in 2020, to contribute to the Practical Interplanetary Propulsion study.

Ronnie Nader

Ronnie Nader is the first person in history to achieve the two most significant milestones in astronautics for a country: To be its first astronaut and the father of its first satellites at the same time, and, to date, he is the only Ecuadorian representative to the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) General Assembly and the first and only Ecuadorian citizen to be elected as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, He is also member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), he as given dozens of lectures in key scientific conferences around the world, and published more than 40 scientific papers in which he was author and co-author.

Jason Cassibry

Jason Cassibry is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and affiliated with the Propulsion Research Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. His research includes theoretical and experimental study of magneto-inertial fusion and fission/fusion for interplanetary space travel and terrestrial power, hypersonics, and smooth particle hydrodynamics. He is currently the chair of the AIAA Nuclear and Future Flight Propulsion committee.

Brian Shimer

As the Bobsled Driving Coach with USA Bobsled & Skeleton, Brian Shimer is responsible for providing technical coaching bobsled pilots on the track to ensure optimal performance by USA athletes at domestic and international competitions. Brian is also closely involved with the development, and execution of the bobsled technology program. He played football at Morehead State University, where he was a wide receiver and running back and graduated with a degree in industrial technology. After graduation he turned to the bobsled, using his athletic talents as a push athlete before becoming a top driver and competing in five Winter Olympic Games. At the 1993 World Championships, Shimer won the four-man bronze medal. In 1997 he won two more bronze medals at Worlds, in both two-man and four-man. Shimer competed in five Winter Olympics and finally came through for an Olympic medal in 2002, winning another bronze in the four-man at Salt Lake City. He has since become the coach of the US men’s bobsled team. Shimer was chosen to carry the US flag at the Closing Ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Marc van den Berg

Marc van den Berg is currently the Technical and Equipment Lead with USA Bobsled & Skeleton. Marc is responsible for developing and managing a competitive and sustainable technology and equipment strategy to ensure optimal performance by USABS athletes. This strategy includes designing, building and maintaining USA bobsleds that are used at World Cup, World Championship and Olympic Games events. He is responsible for engineering and developing equipment and sleds from start to finish. Marc’s fabrication skills in welding, machining, and high-performance composites were learned while working at the highest level of motorsports in Europe, and he refined his abilities during 12 years of building, testing, and tuning bobsleds. He entered his work in bobsled with the Dutch organization, where he built a sled for the team to use at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Marc comes to the U.S. program from Team Canada, where he’s worked since 2017.

Mike Kohn

As the Bobsled Head Coach with USA Bobsled & Skeleton, Mike Kohn is responsible for leading, managing and mentoring the National Team athletes, as well as effectively and proactively communicate with all USABS constituents, including athletes, USABS staff and partners. Kohn is also responsible for recruiting, as well as introducing and integrating new athletes into the USABS program. He is required to provide discipline, motivation and guidance to athletes at all levels from rookies up to and including Olympic medalists. He provides continuous feedback and coaching to pilots and brakemen, ensuring each athlete exceeds his/her goals and expectations for the season. Kohn also must understand team selection criteria, the policies and procedures of the USABS Athlete Handbook, the organization’s bylaws, professional code, and maintain a working relationship with the USABS and its constituents. As an athlete, Kohn was the youngest competitor in the 1991 Olympic Trials, and went on to win a bronze medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in four-man bobsled.