Wesley Thio is a Technical Product Marketing Manager at Lumafield, where he drives the adoption of advanced industrial CT scanning technology. He holds a bachelor‘s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Ohio State University and a master of science degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Michigan. Based in San Francisco, Wesley combines engineering expertise with product strategy to enable innovative applications in aerospace and beyond.
People Category: Moderator
Jordan Feidler
Jordan Feidler is the General Manager for the Pentagon and Multi-Domain Division within Aerospace’s Defense Strategic Space Sector. In this role, Mr. Feidler leads a diverse organization that provides deep technical expertise and responsive decision support to the Department of the Air Force (DAF) leadership, the Office of the Chief of Space Operations for US Space Force (OCSO), the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Military Services, and several of the Combatant Commands.
Prior to this Mr. Feidler was the Principal Director of Aerospace’s Architecture and Design Subdivision. In this role, he worked to enable large-scale architecture development and vehicle design for space systems and helped to guide the development and integration of model-based methods and digital engineering techniques.
Mr. Feidler came to Aerospace from Raytheon Technologies, where he was the Chief Scientist for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for Raytheon Intelligence and Space (RI&S). In that role he was responsible for enhancing the application of AI/ML capabilities throughout RI&S product lines and for leading a key cross-corporate effort in autonomy. Prior to this, Mr. Feidler was with the MITRE Corporation where he served in a range of capacities, including as the Director for Mission Enablers within the Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute. During his time at MITRE, Mr. Feidler worked with a wide range of government sponsors and organizations, including the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, the National Institutes of Health, and Department of Homeland Security.
Mr. Feidler received his undergraduate degree in mathematics from The Pennsylvania State University. He received a master’s degree (MS) in computer science from The University of Michigan and an MS in neurobiology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Patrick "Pat" Schirmer
Pat Schirmer is vice president of Engineering Strategy & Operations for Boeing, a position he has held since December 2019. In this role, he has responsibility for major activities that integrate the company’s Engineering team, such as design practices and processes, deployment of model-based engineering, and talent management and strategic workforce planning.
Schirmer has held a variety of leadership roles during his 35-year Boeing career. Most recently, he was vice president of Engineering for Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ Fabrication and Airplane Programs organizations, where he oversaw the engineering teams supporting Fabrication, the 737, 747, 767, 777 and 787, including non-recurring product development efforts (737 MAX and 777X). In that role, he provided strategic direction to the Engineering function for use of common processes and tools and drove integration across programs, people and business units.
Prior to that, he served as vice president of Commercial Airplanes Customer Support, responsible for ensuring the health of the world’s largest fleet of commercial jetliners – more than 14,000 airplanes. He oversaw a complete set of technical resources that helped more than 800 operators maintain their fleets. Resources include service, maintenance and retrofit engineering assistance; round the clock technical support; field service; and maintenance publications.
Schirmer also led Customer Support Engineering, where he oversaw an operations center that provides 24/7 support to airplane customers around the globe, served as 737-900ER deputy program manager, and was fleet chief for the Next-Generation 737.
Schirmer first joined Boeing in the Missile System Division of the defense business, working on the Peacekeeper missile, Hard Mobile Launcher and Short Range Attack Missile as a dynamics and loads engineer.
A graduate of the University of Washington, Schirmer received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as a Master of Business Administration participating in the Executive MBA program. In addition, Schirmer is a graduate from the Seattle University Executive Leadership Program.
Edgar "Ed" Waggoner
Edgar Waggoner is responsible for translating ARMD’s research portfolio requirements and program balance into specific, actionable programs. He also is responsible for integrating the programs with an eye to risk management and implementing best practices across the programs, as well as overseeing and tracking inter-program requirements changes and their impact to the budget.
Previously, Waggoner was director of the Integrated Systems Research Program. He was also on assignment from NASA to the former Joint Planning and Development Office in Washington, DC, where he served as director of the Interagency Architecture and Engineering Division responsible for technical leadership in the development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Enterprise Architecture, Concept of Operations, and Integrated Work Plan. While on this assignment, he served as a co-author of the Mobility chapter for the National Aeronautics Research and Development Plan.
Waggoner began his NASA career in 1982 as a researcher in the theoretical aerodynamics discipline at NASA’s Langley Research Center. He eventually held management positions in Langley’s transonic and subsonic aerodynamics branches responsible for planning and supervision of applied computational and experimental research directed at developing aerodynamics technology for advanced civil and military vehicles.
Prior to NASA, Waggoner was a researcher and project engineer with Vought Corporation in Dallas, Texas, where he worked on advanced wind tunnel testing techniques and performed foundational work in the emerging field of computational fluid dynamics.
He has been awarded several NASA Group Achievement Awards and NASA Special Act or Service Awards and has authored or coauthored 44 NASA technical papers, journal articles and conference publications on computational and experimental aerodynamics, and advanced airspace systems concepts. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Waggoner received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering management from George Washington University.
Emilie "Mia" Siochi
Mia Siochi is a senior materials scientist in the Advanced Materials and Processing Branch at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Her research interest is largely around high performance aerospace materials, especially emerging technologies such as structural nanomaterial systems, bioinspired materials, engineered materials and surfaces, energy harvesting, additive manufacturing and extreme environment materials. Over the last couple of decades, she has advocated for multidisciplinary research that couple computational modeling with experimentation to accelerate the insertion of emerging technologies into the materials ecosystem. Mia holds a BS in Chemistry from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, a MS in Chemistry and a PhD in Materials Engineering Science both from Virginia Tech.
Laura J. McGill
Laura McGill is the Deputy Laboratories Director for Nuclear Deterrence and the Chief Technology Officer at Sandia National Laboratories. Prior to joining Sandia, she was the Deputy Vice President of Engineering at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a $15B business of Raytheon Technologies. She previously served as the Vice President of Engineering at Raytheon Missile Systems, leading all aspects of technical development and execution. From 2007 through 2011, she was the Product Line Chief Engineer for Air Warfare Systems, for which she was responsible for all engineering activities and technical performance of a $2B portfolio of Air-to-Air Missiles, Precision-Strike Air-to-Ground Weapons, and Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. Her earlier assignments included a progression of Program Director and Chief Engineer positions, including AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. She was named a Principal Engineering Fellow in 2010. Laura is an adjunct faculty member for the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering for which she teaches graduate courses in Systems Engineering. She is a Lifetime Fellow of the AIAA and the current Immediate Past President, having previously served on the Board of Directors as President, Vice-President of Technical Activities, Standards and Treasurer, and chair of the Honors and Awards Committee. She serves on numerous academic and research foundation advisory boards and she was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in Oct 2019.
Laurie Leshin
Dr. Laurie Leshin, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since May 2022, is a distinguished geochemist and space scientist with extensive leadership experience in academia and government, including senior NASA positions.
Leshin was president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute from 2014 to 2022 and previously served as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Science dean. At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center from 2005 to 2008, she served as director of science, then deputy director for science and technology, leading strategy, planning, and implementation of more than 50 Earth and space flight projects. In 2010, Leshin became deputy associate administrator of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, overseeing future human spaceflight.
Her numerous honors include NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal and Distinguished Public Service Medal, and the Meteoritical Society’s Nier Prize for outstanding research by a scientist under the age of 35. The International Astronomical Union named asteroid 4922 Leshin to honor her planetary science contributions. Leshin advised President George W. Bush on space policy, and Barack Obama appointed her to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum advisory board. Leshin holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Arizona State University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in geochemistry from Caltech.
Leshin is the first woman to serve as JPL director, a role that also includes serving as Vice President at Caltech, which manages JPL for NASA. Leshin is also a Bren Professor of Geochemistry and Planetary Science at Caltech and will continue as co-investigator for two instruments on NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover.
Timothy Walton
Timothy A. Walton is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, supporting the work of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology. He is an expert in force development, air and missile defense, long-range missiles, and logistics and posture. His research and analysis focus on the development of new operational concepts and the assessment of trends in future warfare and Indo-Pacific security dynamics.
Prior to joining Hudson, Mr. Walton was a research fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), where he led and contributed to studies and war-games for the US government and its allies on new operational concepts and force planning.
Before his time at CSBA, Mr. Walton was a principal of Alios Consulting Group and an associate of Delex Consulting, Studies, and Analysis, both defense and business strategy firms. During this period, he led and supported studies for the US Navy and Army that developed road maps for future technologies, analyzed Asia-Pacific security dynamics, and assessed US and Chinese concepts. He also facilitated strategic planning, capture shaping, and acquisition due diligence for commercial and defense companies. Walton has authored numerous reports, articles, and book chapters on a wide range of topics, ranging from US force planning to Chinese information warfare. He frequently contributes to print and broadcast media, is a regular participant in regional conferences, and has served as a guest lecturer at the Catholic University of America, Georgetown University, and Purdue University. Walton received his BS in international politics and MA in security studies from Georgetown University. He also received a CIEEIntensive Chinese language and culture certificate in Chinese studies at Nanjing University.
VADM Sara A. Joyner, USN
Vice Adm. Sara “Clutch” Joyner is a native of Hoopers Island, Maryland. In 1989 she graduated with merit from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography. After successfully completing flight training Joyner earned her “wings of gold” and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1991.
Operationally, she has served in numerous fighter squadrons flying the F-18 C/E/F Hornet, including the Argonauts of VFA-147 and commanded the Gunslingers of VFA-105. Additional operational commanding tours include Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2. She has made multiple extended deployments aboard the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68), USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN-74) and USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75) in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Ashore, Joyner’s assignments include duties as an adversary pilot flying the A-4E Skyhawk for the Checkertails of VC-5 and the Redtails of VC-8, U.S. Joint Forces Command Current Operations Branch Force deployment officer, the Chief of Naval Operation’s Strategic Studies Group Joint Strike Fighter requirements officer, and as director, Navy Office of Legislative Affairs Senate Liaison Division.
Her flag assignments include the Physiological Episode Action Team (PEAT) lead, director for Manpower and Personnel (J1) on the Joint Staff; commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 and most recently served as Navy Chief of Legislative Affairs, serving the 116th and 117th Congress of the United States.
Joyner currently serves as Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, J8, Joint Staff. She is entitled to wear the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, as well as several other personal unit and campaign awards. She has accumulated over 3,700 flight hours and 750 arrested landings in Naval Aircraft.
Heidi C. Perry
Heidi C. Perry is the chief technology officer at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. She previously held the position of assistant head of the Air, Missile, and Maritime Defense Technology Division, where she focused on enhancing the division’s efforts to develop advanced naval undersea and surface fleet systems and technology. She joined Lincoln Laboratory as a principal staff member in that division in September 2018.
Perry joined Lincoln Laboratory after 23 years at Draper Laboratory, where she most recently served as Director of Systems Engineering and oversaw approximately 300 staff supporting Draper’s programs in strategic systems, space, defense, biomedical, special operations, and energy systems. She was responsible for Draper’s strategy and execution for technology development in guidance, navigation, and control systems; autonomous systems; communication systems; modeling and simulation; human-machine cognitive systems; and biomedical systems.
She has also served in many project leadership roles at Draper and in previous assignments at IBM Federal Systems as an avionics engineer and at General Electric as a systems engineer on the AN/BSY-2 submarine combat system. Perry has also been affiliated for more than 11 years with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, including being a long-standing participant in their Naval Studies Board. She was the co-chair for the Naval Studies Board investigation into mainstreaming unmanned undersea vehicles. She was appointed as the chair of the National Academies Transportation Research Board committee for the Update of the National Naval Responsibility for Naval Engineering project.
Perry received a BS degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and an MS degree in computer engineering from the National Technological University in Fort Collins, Colorado.