Dr. Katherine A. Rink is the head of the Air, Missile, and Maritime Defense Technology Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Prior to her appointment as the division head, Rink served as the associate division head.
After joining Lincoln Laboratory in 1999 as a technical staff member in the Systems Engineering and Analysis Group, she worked on many technical aspects of the then-emerging Aegis ballistic missile defense system. In July 2005, she became an assistant leader of the Missile Defense Elements Group, and in November 2007, she was promoted to associate leader of the Air Defense Techniques Group, which was focusing on the integration of advanced air and missile defense capabilities for the U.S. Navy. In 2012, she was named the leader of the Advanced Concepts and Technologies Group.
Rink is a member of the Naval Studies Board under the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. She is also a member of IEEE and the Society of Women Engineers, and a senior member of the AIAA. She holds a BS degree in systems science and mathematics, a BA degree in mathematics and German, and MS and DSc degrees in systems science and mathematics, all from Washington University in St. Louis. She also earned an MS degree in operations research from Columbia University.
Curt Epstein is a senior editor with leading business aviation trade publication AIN, celebrating his 16th year with the company. He covers the airport, fixed base operator (FBO), and aviation fueling industry, and has written on sustainable aviation fuel for more than a dozen years. He is also an occasional contributor to AIN’s sister publication Business Jet Traveler and reporter for AINtv.
A lifelong New York State resident and aviation enthusiast, Curt came to AIN from the broadcast industry where he was a former national science and technology television reporter and producer. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University in 1995.
Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award for “Best Airshow Daily” at the Aviation Media Awards. A decade later he earned an AJOYA for “Best Business Aviation Submission,” and was once again a finalist in that category in 2021. A member of the Vertical Flight Society, he was also honored with the National Air Transportation Association’s 2012 Aviation Journalist Award.
Cat Hofacker helps guide Aerospace America’s coverage, keeps production of the magazine on schedule and copy edits all articles. A two-time finalist for the Aerospace Media Awards Best Young Journalist award, she became associate editor in 2021 after two years as Aerospace America’s staff reporter. Cat joined the magazine in 2019 after covering the 2018 congressional midterm elections as an intern for USA Today.
David Avanesian has worked at the NASA Glenn Research Center for 11 years—1 year as a support service contractor and 10 years as a civil servant. Prior to working at NASA, he worked for 3 years in private industry, primarily in the field of high power distribution and terrestrial grid. For the first 5 years of his NASA career, he worked as an electrical engineer in the Systems Engineering Division supporting the Space Communication and Navigation program, leading development of the high-power flywheel energy storage system for terrestrial power grid application. He also led in the successful completion of the Heart Pump project in collaboration with the University of Indiana School of Medicine, delivering a novel cardiovascular assist device. His work in the Systems Division focused primarily on rapid development of new technologies and delivery of hardware products and prototypes. Five years ago he switched to the Power and Propulsion Division to focus working on Electrified Aircraft Propulsion systems. His main focus is development of lightweight qualified hardware for the X–57 project and other electrified aircraft topologies. His most recent efforts focus on raising technology readiness levels (TRLs) of various components of electrified propulsion power train systems including advanced high-power density motors with integrated thermal management systems, highly efficient power inverters and converters that are at flight weight, and infusion of new materials into existing designs such as soft magnetic materials to decrease weight of high-power filters. He is currently leading multiple teams including the HEATheR project, X–57 High Lift Motor Controller, and numerous risk-reduction efforts for electrified propulsion systems. He has a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Cleveland State University and a master of science in electrical engineering from Cleveland State University.
Vince Schultz has been working in the fields of aviation and aeronautics for almost 40 years. At AIAA, he is currently serving as the Chairperson for the Aerospace Traffic Management Integration Committee. As a NASA civil servant, he currently serves as the Deputy Project Manager for the Maxwell X-57 Flight Project and leads the Project’s important efforts to lay the groundwork for certification and regulation acceptance of electric technologies as enablers for the next generation of innovative electric aircraft, working closely with FAA and International Certification offices. He is the NASA lead representative to the ASTM F44 General Aviation (GA) Standards Committee, serving on their Executive Committee. He coordinates all NASA responses in support of GA standards development, especially in the area of electric propulsion. He has leveraged the knowledge gained from X-57 to contribute as the Team Leader for Regulations & Standards within NASA’s Electric Powerplant Flight Demonstration (EPFD) Project, further sharing lessons learned and identifying ways forward to help commercial interests advance the development of hybrid-electric vehicles. Both Projects reside within the Integrated Aviation Systems Program (IASP).
He has previously served in various levels of increasing responsibilities at the NASA Langley Research Center, to include supervisory lead positions and project management positions. Prior to his NASA career, he worked for several years at the FAA in Washington, DC, primarily in the areas of Systems Engineering and Investment Analysis, where he pioneered commercial service acquisitions. He has a Masters in Engineering Management from George Washington University, and a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia.
Sergio Cecutta is a partner and co-founder at SMG Consulting, an Aerospace, Defense and Autotech consulting firm, where he leads the Advanced Air Mobility practice and he oversees strategy, product management, market analysis and business development for a diverse client portfolio of worldwide companies. He has been a part of the Advanced Air Mobility industry since its early days. He has spearheaded multiple research projects and helped clients understand the market and provide tailored products.
As a senior executive at multiple Fortune 200 companies, he has been involved with the development and introduction of products like the Airbus A380, the SmartView Synthetic Vision System and the Gulfstream G500/600. He has also led the strategic due diligence of several M&A deals.
He received an MBA from the W. P. Carey school of business and he holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Rome and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. He is a mentor at several schools and organizations, promoting the development of the next generation of Aerospace and Automotive talent.
Sylvie DeLaHunt, a senior guidance, navigation, and control engineer, supervises the Future Weapon Concepts and Algorithms Section at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). She co-leads the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group for APL’s Air and Missile Defense Sector (AMDS) and is a member-at-large on APL’s Employee Resource Group. Formerly, she was president of the APL Women in Technology affinity group and lead of APL’s Women’s History Month Committee. Active in AIAA, Sylvie is a member of both the Missile Systems Technical Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. She serves on the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Awards and Recognition Committee and is a public speaker on the retention of women in collegiate STEM programs. In recognition of her advocacy efforts, Sylvie was the recipient of a SWE 2022 WE Local Engaged Advocate Award, the APL AMDS 2021 Creative Courage Award, and a Johns Hopkins Diversity Leadership Council 2018 Diversity Recognition Award.
Sylvie earned her B.S. (’14) and M.S. (’16) degrees in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland with the support of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. She continues to serve as an alumna representative on the University of Maryland Department of Aerospace Engineering’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Sylvie was named one of Tomorrow’s Engineering Leaders: the 20 Twenties by Aviation Week and AIAA in 2016.
Official Bio
Dr. Steven D. Howe received his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Kansas State University after completing his thesis research in experimental particle physics at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1980. After a one year stay at the Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe in West Germany as a visiting scientist, he returned to Los Alamos as a staff member in the Thermonuclear Applications Group. During the four years in the group, he was appointed design physicist for two nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site and supervised research efforts investigating fundamental physics in dense, high temperature plasmas.
Dr. Howe then joined the Laboratory’s systems analysis group that analyzed various concepts proposed for the Strategic Defense Initiative. During this time, he became involved in examining potential Laboratory programs and technologies pertinent to future space missions such as space radiation modeling, antimatter physics, Mars Mission requirements, space debris mitigation, and advanced propulsion technologies.
Dr. Howe has extensive experience in radiation transport modeling. In August, 2015, Dr. Howe stepped down as founding Director of the Center for Space Nuclear Research (CSNR) at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, ID.
For 10 years he led the CSNR in facilitating research and education of nuclear technologies for space exploration. At the CSNR, he initiated the development of a radioisotope-powered Mars Hopper, a revolutionary, small, radioisotope power source for micro-satellites, a new nuclear rocket design that uses low enriched uranium, and the fabrication of tungsten-based fuels for nuclear reactors for power and propulsion in space. He also initiated and oversaw the CSNR Summer Fellows program which has educated over 150 participants from 27 states over a 10-year period in the issues of nuclear technologies in space.
Dr. Anna-Maria Rivas McGowan is the Agency Senior Executive for Complex Systems Design at NASA. She serves as a Senior Technical Advisor to the Agency exploring cutting-edge methodologies in research, design, development, and operations of complex systems including human, organizational, societal, and engineering challenges. Dr. McGowan’s research incorporates quantitative and qualitative methods to integrate fields external to aerospace with engineering approaches to improve aerospace system performance and broader societal impacts. She often uses human-centered design and design research approaches to address engineering systems design challenges and serves as an Associate Editor for the Design Science Journal
Dr. McGowan has over 30 years of experience in aerospace, conducting research and managing large projects in diverse areas including design science, advanced and morphing aircraft, adaptive structures and materials, systems engineering, aeroservoelasticity, and organization science. Dr. McGowan has served as a NASA Senior Advisor, Senior Project Manager, DARPA Agent, NSF Visiting Scientist, NATO Consultant, International Short Course Instructor, Flight Test Leader, Wind-Tunnel Test Engineer, Senior Researcher in engineering and behavioral science, and NASA Spokesperson.
Dr. McGowan has a B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering/Engineering Mechanics from Old Dominion University, and Ph.D. in Design Science from the University of Michigan. Dr. McGowan is an AIAA Associate Fellow and received the AIAA Sperry Award; and alumni awards from Purdue, Old Dominion, and Michigan. She has earned numerous NASA individual and group achievement awards, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal. In her spare time, Dr. McGowan is an outdoor enthusiast and traveler and enjoys serving in schools, diverse communities, and churches locally and internationally. Her personal travels often take her to Trinidad where her family and culture originate.
Sha-Chelle Manning currently serves as the Chief of Commercial Strategy for DARPA, DOD’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency with a +$3.8B annual budget for technology investments with leading researchers for national and economic security. Manning is a co-founder of 1920 Group, a women-led investment, transaction, and growth firm for social impact; and co-founder of Lithos, a critical material extraction company. Prior, Manning was an executive for two leading US public energy companies, Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) and Cimarex NYSE: CTRA), who led technology, innovation, and LP/venture investments that advanced the US as a “global energy powerhouse” and pioneered the industry for backing many climate tech companies.
Manning was co-founder of investment firm Malibu IQ, which had an IPO on GAN microelectronics (NASDAQ: NVTS). Manning was Managing Director of Nanoholdings, a clean-tech venture fund backed by Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB); and Texas Governor Rick Perry’s $483M Emerging Tech Fund, which was the in the top 25 percent quartile of its vintage, although it wasn’t focused strictly on returns.
Manning started her career as an entrepreneur in several successful nanotechnology startups, including Zyvex and Authentix (acquired by the Carlyle Group), as well as Winstar, who brought to market wireless broadband service and media streaming, starting in New York, and was a DOD backhaul 38 GhZ technology. Manning was voted as one of the “Top 25 Women in Technology” in Texas.
Manning has served on several boards and non-profits such as Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC), a satellite space processing and International Space Station services company (division acquired by Lockheed Corporation NYSE: LMT); the US Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary’s Advisory Board for Innovation (SEAB); DOE’s + $240M Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation; Worlds.IO, an AI startup backed by Chevron and Piva (Petronas); the University of Oklahoma System Strategic Research Board; the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Board and Tech Titans Executive Board, focused on art, engineering, and science scholarships and experiences for kids.
Manning splits her time between Colorado and Washington, DC.
