People Category: the HUB

Jeff Shaknaitis

Jeff Shaknaitis is the Customer Sustainability Leader at GE Aviation with a background in mechanical engineering and a decade of experience working closely with GE Aviation’s airline customers. Jeff has played a key role in shaping GE Aviation’s sustainability strategy, with a particular focus on partnering with customers and building coalitions to drive progress on industry decarbonization initiatives. Most notably, Jeff ideated and led an eight-month project to fly the first passenger flight with one of the two engines operating on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Eman Kawas

Throughout her career Eman Kawas has architected proof of value at a small scale and then developed a methodology to create scalable dynamic solutions. Eman’s path is focused on bringing industry 4.0 innovative technologies to the workplace with an eye on processes and people to maximize return on investment and increase technology adoption. After 15 years as a trusted advisor in technology consulting and implementation across different industries, Eman co-founded Thynkli, a digital twin services company that builds a digital twin of your organization, creating data-oriented interactions, accelerating digital transformation, and increasing the flexibility, quality, and productivity of your business.

Ellen Ebner

Ellen Ebner is Director for Sustainable Technologies supporting the Boeing Sustainability & Future Mobility team. Ellen and the team are focused on developing technologies that will enable Boeing and our industry’s pathway to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Previously, Ellen has served in leadership roles supporting Enterprise Technology Strategy, 787 Program Manufacturing Operations, and Materials & Manufacturing Technology. Her prior work experience includes renewable energy and environmental engineering design & consulting. Ellen holds master’s degrees in Business Administration and Systems Engineering from MIT (Leaders for Global Operations program) and a bachelor’s degree in Bioresource Engineering from McGill University. Ellen serves on the Board of the Sustainability Institute in Charleston, SC and is passionate about workforce development, nature, conservation and performing arts.

Michael Patterson

Michael Patterson is an aerospace engineer in the Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA where he serves as the Lead for the Emerging Applications and Technologies Group. He earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and holds MS and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech. Michael has been a thought leader in NASA’s advanced air mobility (AAM) work, and he currently works for NASA’s AAM Mission Integration Office as the Systems Analysis and ConOps Lead. He has been an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) his entire professional career, including previous service as the Chair of the Transformational Flight Integration Committee.

Amanda Simpson

Amanda Simpson is the Vice President for Research and Technology at Airbus Americas and is responsible for coordinating technology development, research activities, and innovation for Airbus in the western hemisphere. She is also the Head of Sustainability efforts for Airbus in the Americas.

Previously Ms. Simpson was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy at the U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for developing the strategy for the utilization of energy for military operational forces worldwide and the senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense for all matters pertaining to energy in our military. Prior to accepting that responsibility, she was the Executive Director of the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives, an organization developing large scale renewable energy projects to bring energy security to Army installations leveraging private sector financing.  In addition, she has held senior government roles in the office of the Army Acquisition Executive and the Bureau of Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Prior to her government appointments, Ms. Simpson had distinguished program management career in the aerospace industry working for Raytheon, Hughes Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft, and Hughes Helicopters.

Ms. Simpson has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including the Tucson YWCA Woman on the Move, Arizona Human Rights Fund Individual Award, National Conference for College Women Student Leaders Women of Distinction Award, and was named an Outstanding Alumni of Harvey Mudd College. She is a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service and the Department of Defense Pride Civilian Leadership Award. Her team received the DARPA Award for Significant Technical Achievement in 1999. Ms. Simpson earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Harvey Mudd College, a Master of Science in Engineering from California State University, and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. She is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics serving on the Systems Engineering Technical Committee, Executive Steering Committee, and Corporate Member Committee. She is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and serves on the board of the Washington DC Chapter. She serves on the boards of directors of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Thermal Batteries Inc., and chairs the board of directors of the Airbus Institute for Engineering Research.

Ms. Simpson holds both an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and a Certified Flight Instructor license, and has logged nearly 3,000 hours of flying in more than 60 different types of aircraft including floatplanes, flying boats, unmanned drones, and multi-engine jets.