People Category: Moderator

Teresa Kline

Ms. Teresa Kline is a program manager within NASA’s Office of the Engineer. In her role, Ms. Kline represents the Office of the Chief Engineer in the Agency’s efforts in model-based engineering, model-based systems engineering, and digital transformation. She also leads and advises several teams in these efforts, as well as an effort at identifying engineering tools, to provide the Agency with the ability to consolidate and provide a common tool set for use within the engineering community.

Prior to this role, Ms. Kline was the Associate for Strategy in the Programs Office at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Edwards, California. Ms. Kline led discussions

on strategy for the Center, advising the Director of Programs. Ms. Kline previously was detailed to the Office of the Chief Technologist, where she supported the development of the Agency’s roadmaps, which were published in 2015. She also was the liaison to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in the development and execution of several meetings, culminating in a workshop on innovation. Ms. Kline transferred to Armstrong Flight Research Center in 2007, as the Deputy Director for Aeronautics. She also held positions in business development at AFRC. Prior to hertransfer to AFRC, Ms. Kline was employed at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, working in propulsion- related testing in aeronautics and space.

Ms. Kline began her career with the US Army Research Laboratory, formerly Aviation Systems Command, which had offices at Glenn Research Center and Langley Research Center. In her 15 years with the Army, Ms. Kline analyzed and tested every engine supporting the Army at that time, including the certification of the T800 and the design of the LV100 for the M1A1 Abrams tank.

Ms. Kline’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1986 and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1988. She lives in Tehachapi, California.

Ben Iannotta

Ben became editor-in-chief of Aerospace America in 2013, after two decades as a contributor. He was editor of C4ISR Journal, a military intelligence magazine, and has written for Air & Space Smithsonian, Popular Mechanics and Space News.

Chris McLean

Chris McLean is a staff consultant at Ball Aerospace and is the Principal Investigator for NASA’s Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM). His extensive expertise in propulsion and aerospace development have been critical to the GPIM program.

McLean began his career with Ball in 2004 where he served as the program manager for an in-space cryogenic propellant storage and delivery program, which included customer development and program execution. He has held multiple leadership positions during his time spent at Ball, including as the lead systems engineer for a robotic lunar lander effort. McLean is skilled in building highly motivated and multidisciplinary project teams and is well-known for his strong program management and ability to execute.

Prior to Ball, McLean was a propulsion research engineer specialist at Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion.

McLean received a Ball Engineering Excellence Award in 2016 for his leadership and expertise in propulsion technology on GPIM. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from the University of Washington.

Trudy Kortes

Ms. Trudy F. Kortes serves as the Director of the Technology Demonstration Missions Program, managing more than $500M annually for the Agency to accomplish key technology advancements for future science and human exploration missions for the Agency and nation. Most recently, Trudy served as the Chief of the Human Exploration & Space Operations Division at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Trudy had oversight for over $200M annually in key agency work in the testing of the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System universal stage adapter, Human Research Program elements such as exercise devices, International Space Station biological and physical sciences, and advanced communications systems such as cognitive and quantum communications. From 2015 to 2018, Trudy served as the Technology Demonstration Missions Program Executive and managed the growing portfolio of flight and ground demonstration projects. Under her leadership, the program successfully developed important technology flight demonstrations, including the Green Propellant Infusion Mission, Deep Space Atomic Clock, and the STMD technology investments onboard the Perseverance rover. She has over 28 years of experience at NASA holding various institutional and programmatic positions at the Johnson Space Center, Ames Research Center, Glenn Research Center, and NASA Headquarters. Ms. Kortes is a federally certified program and project manager and has extensive experience in key systems engineering roles. She resides in Westlake, Ohio with her husband and three children.

Tom Pieronek

Tom Pieronek is the vice president of Research and Technology and chief technology officer at Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, a premier provider of military aircraft, autonomous systems, aerospace structures and next-generation solutions.

In this role, Tom establishes research and development partnerships with customers, universities, industry and the broader corporation, enabling technology to drive business objectives. Tom also leads the 900-plus person South Bay Aircraft Design organization under Research, Technology and Engineering for Aeronautics Systems.

Previously, Tom served as vice president, Basic Research, where he was responsible for basic research strategy, development and operations, resulting in fundamental scientific advancements in alignment with heritage Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems’ core competencies. Focusing on university academia and industry research experts within and beyond the aerospace and defense industries, Tom oversaw the expansion of efforts that fostered new and deeper collaborations with external researchers.

Tom has more than 35 years of technical and programmatic experience in the aerospace industry. He has served as the director of Technology Development for Aerospace Systems where he was responsible for advancing a portfolio of air and space technologies. For more than half of his career, he has been closely associated with the United States science and technology community. His experience runs from self-contained technologies (thin film solar cells, flywheels) through major flight programs (Space Tracking and Surveillance System). His technical background is in electromagnetic environmental effects.

Tom holds a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Southern California (USC) and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame. His continuing education in Systems Architecting included a year as a presidential fellow at the USC Leadership Institute. He serves on the Dean’s Council of Advisors for the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California San Diego, and has served on the Steering Advisory Council with Purdue University’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.

Scott Palo

Focus Area

Remote Sensing, Earth, & Space Sciences
Vehicle Systems
Astrodynamics & Satellite Navigation

Education

Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado, 1994
M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado, 1990
B.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clarkson University, 1987

Professional Experience

2013 – Present, Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado
2014 – 2017, Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Colorado
2011 – 2014, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado
2008 – 2013, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado
2001 – 2008, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado
1995 – 1997, Postdoctoral Researcher, National Center for Atmospheric Research, High Altitude Observatory

Awards (selected)

Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, College of Engineering and Applied Science (2019)
Distinguished Performance, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences (2016)
Victor Charles Schelke Endowed Professor (2014)
Outstanding Service, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences (2014)
University of Colorado Emerging Leaders Program Fellow (2012)
Erskine Fellowship, University of Canterbury (2009)
NASA Group Achievement Award – TIMED mission (2008)
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Junior Faculty, University of Colorado (2007)
AIAA Rocky Mountain Section Educator of the Year (2007)
College of Engineering & Applied Science Dean’s Award for Outstanding Junior Faculty (2007)
NSF CAREER Award (2005)
Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award (2005)
Sigma Xi Northwest Regional Young Investigator (2004 & 2005)

Research Interests

Design, construction, deployment and operation of small satellite systems.  Remote sensing of the thermosphere and ionosphere.  Meteor radar design and operation.  Arctic and Antarctic UAS measurement systems.

Michael D. Cawood

Michael (Mike) D. Cawood is Vice President Program Performance, Aeronautics Company for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In this capacity, he provides overall leadership to improve program performance across the Aeronautics Company.

Previously, Mr. Cawood was the Vice President and Engineering Lead, F-16/F-22 Integrated Fighter Group, Aeronautics Company for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In this capacity, he provided overall leadership to an industry team of partners focused on enhancing the Viper’s and the Raptor’s future capabilities and maintaining affordable sustainment of the platforms from May 2017 to January 2020..

He previously served as the Vice President, NextGen Aero, Aeronautics Company for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In this capacity, Mike led the NextGen Aero team to assess current performance, develop a change management strategy and transform the organization to deliver profitable growth for Aeronautics from August 2015 to May 2017..

He has led several critical initiatives including the NextGen Aero organizational transformation, the review teams for the F-35 proposal to Japan, an industry team supporting a Secretary of the Air Force/Acquisition (SAF/AQ) initiated review of the F-22 Modernization program, and a cross- corporate team to brief the Tri-service Chiefs of Staff at the Center for Innovation. Mr. Cawood has 34 years of experience integrating advanced technologies on tactical fighter and mobility aircraft. In addition, his career has focused on strategic planning and discretionary resource processes, planning, and execution. Mr. Cawood has received two Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Aero Star awards and a Lockheed Martin Corporation NOVA Award for his contributions. He is an Associate Fellow with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)..

Mr. Cawood has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California at San Diego. He currently serves on the Lockheed Martin Employee Political Action Committee (LMEPAC) Board of Directors, is a member of the Cockrell School Dean’s Engineering Advisory Board at the University of Texas at Austin, is Immediate Past President of the Longhorn Council for the Boy Scouts of America, is the Chair of Southwest Christian School Board of Trustees, and is the Chair of the Tarrant County American Heart Association Board.

Ed Swallow

Edward M. Swallow is senior vice president of Civil Systems Group (CSG). CSG operates in the national security interests of the U.S. and its allies to broaden the company’s business and technology base. CSG combines deep technical expertise with industry-leading innovation to help the U.S. government, allied governments, and commercial customers solve some of the world’s most complex systems engineering and integration challenges in high-consequence environments. CSG is also building an innovation pipeline that accelerates the commercial transfer of intellectual property for civil and commercial customers. Swallow is responsible for contracts valued at over $100 million annually. Key customers include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a wide number of other civil, commercial, and international organizations, including allied space agencies and ministries of defense.

In addition to his responsibilities in CSG, Swallow is corporate director of government relations.

Prior to joining Aerospace, Swallow was vice president, Business Development for the Federal and Defense Technologies Division, Northrop Grumman Information Systems. He was responsible for developing win strategies for the division’s captures and for all activities associated with the identification, qualification, shaping, and pursuit of new business opportunities with both current and prospective customers.

Previously, Swallow worked for Steven Myers and Associates, Space Applications Corporation, Logicon Corporation, and most recently served as the president and CEO of Pegasus Strategic Advisors, LLC. Swallow is a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve officer who served in a variety of leadership positions, including space systems acquisition and operations.

EDUCATION

Swallow has earned two bachelor’s degrees: one in physics and astronomy from the State University of New York–Oneonta, and a second in electrical engineering from Syracuse University. He has a master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California. He is a graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officer’s School and Air Command and Staff College, and the Defense Acquisition University’s Systems Acquisition Management for Flag Officers course. He has also completed certificate programs at the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Virginia’s Darden School; and the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business.

Miles O’Brien

Miles O’Brien is a veteran, award-winning journalist who focuses on science, technology, aerospace and the environment.

He is the science correspondent for PBS NewsHour, a producer and director for the PBS science documentary series NOVA, and a correspondent for the PBS documentary series FRONTLINE and the National Science Foundation Science Nation series.
For nearly seventeen of his thirty-two years in the news business, he worked for CNN as the science, environment and aerospace correspondent and the anchor of various programs, including American Morning.

While at CNN, he secured a deal with NASA to become the first journalist to fly on the space shuttle. The project ended with the loss of Columbia and her crew in 2003 – a story he told to the world in a critically acclaimed sixteen-hour marathon of live coverage.

Prior to joining CNN, he worked as a reporter at television stations in Boston, Tampa, Albany, NY and St. Joseph, MO. He began his television career as a desk assistant at WRC-TV in Washington, DC.

O’Brien is an accomplished pilot and is frequently called upon to explain the world of aviation to a mass audience. He has won numerous awards over the years, including a half-dozen Emmys, and a Peabody and DuPont for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

In February of 2014, a heavy equipment case fell on his forearm while he was on assignment. He developed Acute Compartment Syndrome, which necessitated the emergency amputation of his left arm above the elbow.

Born in Detroit and raised in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, he is based in Washington, DC. He has a son at the US Naval Academy and a daughter at Davidson College in North Carolina. He was a history major at Georgetown University.