John Crossin
President and CEO

Alion Science and Technology Corp.
Alion Science and Technology Corporation is an employee-owned technology solutions company delivering technical expertise and operational support to the Department of Defense, civilian government agencies and commercial customers. Alion owns and/or operates over 98,000 square feet of laboratory facilities and technical centers and was formed in December 2002 when approximately 1600 employees of the Institute of Technology (IIT) Research Institute (IITRI), founded in 1936, purchased substantially all of the assets of IITRI creating a 100% ESOP-owned company. Each Alion employee has a personal stake in ensuring the collective success of the company. Alion works closely with the DoD and government agencies worldwide, helping define and support capabilities, processes and forces to meet new threats and opportunities. Alion also delivers complete ship design, engineering and naval architecture service supporting the US Navy and Coast Guard.
Company website: www.alionscience.com/index.cfm

Christopher C. Plott
Division Manager, MA&D Operation
Mr. Christopher Plott is a Division Manager at Alion Science and Technology in Boulder, Colorado and is responsible for new business development, project management, and technical support in the areas of ergonomics, human factors, and industrial engineering. The staff he manages supports human-systems-integration efforts and tools development for the Department of Defense, NASA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Transportation as well as the private sector. Mr. Plott has over 25 years of applied experience in a variety of industries including defense, telecommunications, healthcare, and nuclear power and is a Certified Professional Ergonomist. Mr. Plott holds an M.B.A. in Organization Management from the University of Colorado and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics from Texas Tech University.Read Bio [+]

Aurora Flight Sciences Corp.
Aurora Flight Sciences designs and manufactures state-of-the-art unmanned aerial systems and components for the scientific research, defense and homeland security markets. Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, VA and operates production plants in Bridgeport, WV and Columbus, MS and a Research and Development Center in Cambridge, MA. Aurora has approximately 300 highly specialized engineers, programmers, managers and technicians that work in one of the following four (4) business sectors: Advanced Concepts, Aerostructures, Research and Development or Tactical Systems. Aurora specializes in expert airframe engineering services as part of our aerostructures design-to-build capability and is committed to research, testing, and verification in a hands-on environment and the focus is on fixing problems.
Company website: www.aurora.aero/Index.aspx

Javier de Luis, Ph.D.
Chief Scientist
Dr. Javier de Luis earned BS (1983), MS (1985), and PhD(1989) in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT. His professional interests are in the fields of instrumentation, aerospace research and operations, engineering design and analysis, and technology management. Dr. de Luis joined Payload Systems Inc. in 1989 as a staff scientist, and later as the Chief Scientist and CEO at the company, prior to its merger with Aurora, where he is now Chief Scientist. He also holds a visiting engineer appointment at MIT.

Dr. de Luis has served as the principal investigator/project manager for many major aerospace research projects, including the Middeck 0-gravity Dynamics Experiment (MODE) and Middeck Active Control Experiment (MACE). He has published papers on such diverse topics as piezoelectric actuators and intelligent structures, structural control, distributed sensing and computing, and design and development of spaceflight systems. He authored the seminal paper in the field of Smart Materials, "Use of Piezoelectric Actuators as Elements of Intelligent Structures", which has been referenced over 800 times (as of July-06) by subsequent journal and conference publications. He is a recipient of the MIT James Means Memorial Prize for excellence in space systems engineering; a NASA OAST Commendation for Technology Excellence and a NASA Group Achievement Award; a NASA Manned Flight Awareness Award. Dr. de Luis was three times a finalist in the NASA Astronaut Candidate Selection Program. He holds a United States patent for the development of technique to electrically insulate embedded piezoelectrics from surrounding laminated structure while maintaining actuator and sensor effectiveness. Read Bio [+]

Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, the only private medical school in the Greater Southwest, is recognized as a premier academic health science center and is known for excellence in education, research and patient care. For 2011, U.S.News & World Report ranked BCM as one of the top 25 medical schools for research. Located in the Texas Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine has affiliations with eight teaching hospitals, each known for medical excellence. The college has total research support of $400 million, with $344 million from federal sources, and more than 90 research and patient-care centers and units. Currently, BCM trains more than 3,000 medical, graduate, nurse anesthesia, and physician assistant students, as well as residents and post-doctoral fellows.

Samara Lynn Potter, M.D., M.B.A.*
Resident
Dr. Potter is a graduate of the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and Rice University dual-degree MD/MBA program. She is currently completing her training in the BCM Pediatric Residency Program at Texas Children's Hospital. Dr. Potter was an NSBRI summer intern at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston where she conducted research on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Dr. Potter received her bachelor's degree from Williams College in Massachusetts.Read Bio [+]

The Boeing Company
Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. The company has a broad range of capabilities including creating new, more efficient commercial airplanes; integrating military platforms, defense systems and creating advanced technology solutions. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales. Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 158,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries.
Company website: www.boeing.com

Kevin Foley
Dir. Business Dev., Int. Space Station and Space Exploration
Mr. Kevin Foley is currently a senior business development manager for the Boeing Company and in this role provides leadership and support for developing, planning, implementing and directing business development and strategic marketing activities for company's Space Exploration Division in Houston Texas. He leads the International Space Station (ISS) business development and marketing team. His current responsibilities include ISS vehicle development, sustaining, logistics and resupply, utilization, and operations. Mr. Foley started his career working at the NASA Johnson Space Center as an engineer assigned to plan and operate experiments in space, and then as a member of the mission control team responsible for deploying commercial satellites from the Space Shuttle. He also spent 5 years on assignment in Japan working on government space utilization initiatives. Mr. Foley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University (Wisconsin), and a Masters of Science in Finance from the University of Houston.Read Bio [+]

Mark Wilson
Associate Technical Fellow
Mr. Mark Wilson joined The Boeing Company in 1990 to become the Chief Microbiologist in Boeing's Analytical Services Laboratory and in 2002 he was recognized as a Boeing Associate Technical Fellow. Boeing's Technical Fellowship consists of engineers and scientists representing a select group (‹1.4% of all Boeing employees) of nationally and internationally acknowledged technical experts to enhance the technical excellence foundation of Boeing initiatives to achieve customer satisfaction and enhance shareholder value. Mr. Wilson currently supports Internal Active Thermal Control System problem resolution and has served as technical lead and support on many projects such as development of a microbiological challenge test of the ISS Oxygen Generator Assembly (OGA) hydrogen cells and consultant to the Boeing 787 Program for selection of fungal resistant cabin materials and evaluation of fungal biodeterioration test results. Mr. Wilson is the primary consultant for measurement and control of microbiological induced corrosion in the IATCS and supports the implementation of on-orbit measurement and instrumentation systems on the ISS and has also developed and implemented test methodologies to characterize the microorganisms in fluids and system surfaces. Mr. Wilson earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Microbiology from Auburn University.Read Bio [+]

Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
Draper Laboratory is headquartered in Cambridge, MA and is a research and development laboratory, employing more than 850 engineers, scientists, and technicians on a broad array of programs for government and commercial sponsors among its 1,311 employees. Draper's sponsored work encompasses capabilities in the following business areas: Strategic Systems; Space Systems; Special Operations; Biomedical Engineering and Energy Solutions. The Laboratory's expertise in the areas of guidance, navigation, and control systems remains its greatest resource. Draper is among the leaders in fault-tolerant computing, reliable software development, modeling and simulation, and MEMS technology. It applies its expertise to a broad range of domains, including autonomous air, land, sea, and space systems; information integration; distributed sensors and networks; precision-guided munitions; air traffic flow management; military logistics; and biomedical engineering and chemical/biological defense.
Company website: www.draper.com

Dale Larson*
Director, Biomedical Systems
Dale Larson received his degrees in mechanical engineering from UVa and Stanford University. After time serving with ATT Bell Laboratories, Thermedics Inc., and Level 1 Technologies, Mr. Larson was director of Arthur D. Little's Clinical Instruments and Laboratory Automaton practice within the Medical Products Development Practice and the director of the Technology and Engineering Center at Harvard Medical School. His experience also includes roles as President and Chief Operating Officer of Genomics Collaborative Inc., a genomics startup. Currently, he is the director of the Biomedical Engineering Program at Draper.Read Bio [+]

John West
Program Manager Space Systems Program Office

Excalibur Almaz Limited
Excalibur Almaz Limited (EA) is a private orbital spaceflight company and plans to begin space flights in 2013 using a system based on Almaz program spacecraft that were developed and tested in orbital flight by JSC MIC NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM). The EA spacecraft will consist of two parts: a reusable Almaz crew module and an expendable support module to provide customers with room to comfortably operate in space. EA's Almaz spacecraft can be reused, which will reduce logistical, overhead and program costs for commercial access to space. Currently, these capsules are the only flight tested private spacecraft that are designed to be reused for multiple flights to and from space. Each flight will be commanded by an experienced astronaut or cosmonaut. Established in 2005, EA is a privately held company headquartered in Douglas, Isle of Man. The company's spacecraft will be licensed under the British Outer Space Act and will operate under British national registry. EA's founders, executives and advisors include astronauts, cosmonauts, career military officers, and commercial aerospace business entrepreneurs.
Company website: www.excaliburalmaz.com

Art Dula
Founder, CEO
Excalibur Almaz founder Art Dula has over 30 years experience as an attorney specializing in aerospace, export control and intellectual property law, Mr. Dula has served as a NASA consultant on space shuttle contracts, and as a legal advisor to the US Congress ("Space Stations and the Law: Selected Legal Issues"). Mr. Dula has also served as a Director and General Counsel for several aerospace companies, including Eagle Aerospace, Inc., which contracted to NASA and other aerospace companies; Space Services, Inc., which launched the first private US space vehicle; and Spacehab, Inc., which builds the Spacehab modules for the US Space Shuttle. Mr. Dula served as a Director and President of Space Commerce Corporation, the first US-Russian aerospace joint venture. He assisted in obtaining seven patents for space tether systems as a General Counsel of Tethers Unlimited, Inc. Mr. Dula's publications include "Private Sector Activities in Space," published by Jurimetrics Journal in 1983. He holds a J.D. degree from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern New Mexico University.Read Bio [+]

Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
Hamilton Sundstrand is a global corporation with various business units that design, manufacture and support aerospace and industrial products for worldwide markets. The company's aerospace business provides electric power generation and distribution systems; fuel and special fluid pumps; engine control systems; gearboxes; primary and secondary flight controls and actuation systems; ram air turbine emergency systems; auxiliary power units; environmental control systems; LED lighting; propeller systems; fire protection products for military vehicles and civilian and military aircraft. Hamilton Sundstrand is the prime contractor for NASA's space suit/life support system and produces environmental control, life support, mechanical systems and thermal control systems for international space programs. Hamilton Sundstrand currently employs approximately 18,300 people at more than 50 major facilities worldwide and is headquartered in Windsor Locks, Conn.
Company website: www.hamiltonsundstrand.com

Edward Hodgson
Fellow, Energy, Space & Defense
In Mr. Edward Hodgson's present position at Hamilton Sundstrand, he is responsible for EVA technology development activities and the development of advanced personal protection system concepts. He has served NASA as an active member of NASA's Advanced EVA Research and Development Forum and as a member of a National Academy of Sciences Panel reviewing NASA's capability roadmaps for human health and support systems. His research and development activities have included work on advanced battery technologies, advanced technologies for atmosphere revitalization, thermal control, oxygen storage and delivery, and automatic thermal comfort control. He was selected as a fellow of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts on the basis of his proposed concept "A Chameleon Suit to Liberate Human Exploration of Space Environments" and successfully carried the concept through Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies. Mr. Hodgson received his B.S. in Engineering Physics from Cornell University and his Masters degree in Physics from SUNY at Stony Brook.Read Bio [+]

Impact Instrumentation Inc.
Impact Instrumentation Inc. is a medical device developer and manufacturer of respiratory care products and measuring instruments. The company has continued to grow since its incorporation in 1977, with its headquarters in West Caldwell, N.J., occupying 36,000 square feet of building space. A "no compromise" approach to clinical performance, reliability and versatility has guided Impact Instrumentation throughout its product development history. Impact is a much sough after development partner in areas involving space, aeromedicine and hyperbaric medicine. The company's products can be found in hospitals, home health care settings, ambulances, fire/rescue services, ships, aircraft and the military.
Company website: www.impactinstrumentation.com

George Beck
Director

IRIS International, Inc.
Since 1979, IRIS International, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRIS), has been dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative medical diagnostics and sample processing products that provide reliable and cost effective solutions for customers and improved disease management for patients. IRIS invented and introduced the first automated urinalysis system and in the following years added numerous innovations and improvements. With a workforce more than 300 strong, IRIS conducts its manufacturing and research activities through three operating units: Iris Diagnostics Division, Iris Sample Processing Division (formerly StatSpin, Inc.) and Iris Molecular Diagnostics research and development subsidiary. The core competencies in these operating groups include flow imaging technology, morphological pattern recognition, chemistry, ultra-sensitive detection of proteins and rapid and reliable processing of blood and other body fluids. IRIS International is based in Chatsworth, Calif.
Company website: www.proiris.com

Thomas Adams, Ph.D.
Corporate VP and Chief Technology Officer

Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a research and development laboratory located in Pasadena, and is managed by the California Institute of Technology. JPL's primary function is the development and operation of NASA's robotic spacecraft. As of January 2011, JPL has 20 spacecraft and nine instruments conducting active missions, all of which are important parts of NASA's program of exploration of Earth, the solar system and the universe beyond.
Company website: www.jpl.nasa.gov

Leon Alkalai, Ph.D.*
Manager, Lunar Robotic Exploration Office
Dr. Leon Alkalai leads NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Office of Lunar Robotic Exploration. He has led numerous lunar robotic science and exploration proposed missions and studies, including the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission (launch date to the Moon: September 8th, 2011). Dr. Alkalai was the capture lead for the MoonRise lunar sample return mission study and is now leading the GEMS: Mars Lander mission study. Dr. Alkali has worked on advanced research topics in the area of avionics and micro-systems, including high-performance on-board computing, dependable computing and highly miniaturized avionics components. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the UCLA Computer Science Department and a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics. Dr. Alkalai served on the NSBRI External Advisory Council from 2000 to 2010 and is currently the NSBRI Chief Technologist.Read Bio [+]

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company with a mission to discover and develop breakthrough treatments for human disease. Using proprietary gene knockout technology, Lexicon has systematically discovered the physiological and behavioral functions of nearly 5,000 genes. Lexicon's goal is to enhance the lives of patients by discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, with current work focusing on translating the company's discoveries into medicines that will fight human diseases with a primary focus in the fields of cardiology, gastroenterology, immunology, metabolism and ophthalmology. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is based in The Woodlands, Texas.
Company website: www.lexicon-genetics.com

Lance Ishimoto, Ph.D., J.D.*
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Alliance Management
Dr. Ishimoto moved to Texas in 1998 to lead the intellectual property department at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and subsequently segued to Corporate Development. Before joining Lexicon, Dr. Ishimoto practiced as a biotechnology intellectual property attorney in Palo Alto, California. He received his B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles, where he studied molecular genetics and virology. Dr. Ishimoto also conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Washington, School of Medicine where he studied retroviral biology. He received his J.D. from Stanford University.Read Bio [+]

Alan G.E. Wilson, Ph.D.
Vice President
Dr. Alan Wilson joined Lexicon in September 2003 as senior director of drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics and toxicology (DMPK) and in 2005, was promoted to his current position of vice president where he heads up DMPK, Toxicology and Pathology. Prior to joining Lexicon, Dr. Wilson held senior management and leadership positions with major international pharmaceutical and life science companies including Searle, Pharmacia and Pfizer. He is internationally recognized in drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics and toxicology and has more than 25 years of experience working on product discovery and development and has been involved with the registration of several successful marketed products. Dr. Wison has extensive experience working with regulatory agencies in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific and is Board Certified in Toxicology and has produced more than 120 publications. Dr. Wilson received his Ph.D. in Drug Metabolism/PK from the University of Surrey, U.K. and his B.S. in biochemistry from the University of Surrey.Read Bio [+]

Lockheed Martin Corp.
Lockheed Martin was formed when Lockheed and the Martin Marietta Corporations merged in 1995 and is now headquartered in Bethesda, MD. The corporation is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Lockheed Martin is organized around the core business areas of Aeronautics, Electronic Systems, Information Systems & Global Services, and Space Systems. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is known for building the finest military aircraft in the world.

As a global security and information technology company, the majority of Lockheed Martin's business is with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. federal government agencies. Lockheed Martin is the largest provider of IT services, systems integration, and training to the U.S. Government and the company specializes in providing solutions to the most complex and challenging technological issues.
Company website: www.lockheedmartin.com

Gloria Salinas
Director, Bioastronautics and Stennis Operations
Ms. Gloria Salinas joined the Lockheed Corporation in 1979 and is the Director of Bioastronautics and Stennis Programs that includes small subcontracts to the Naval Oceanographic Office. She also leads the Bioastronautics subcontract to Wyle with responsibility for implementing human space flight research on all platforms, including the International Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Sortie Missions, and SSP research missions; and NASA/JSC ground based facilities. She is an experienced manager with over 30 years in space operations and development and is responsible for payload development, integration, and operations, including hardware development for spaceflight missions; human factors engineering and food systems development. Ms. Salinas received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and her Masters of Science degree in Biology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Houston.Read Bio [+]

Louisville, KY Metro Office of Innovation

Ted Smith, Ph.D.*
Director of Innovation
Dr. Ted Smith is Director of Innovation for the City of Louisville, Kentucky and is Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Louisville School of Business. He previously served as senior innovation adviser in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT in Washington, D.C. Before that, he was Executive Vice President of Marketing and Patient Engagement after the company he co-founded in 2005, MedTrackAlert, was acquired by HealthCentral in 2008. Dr. Smith holds a U.S. Patent on the use of virtual environments for education and has also served as Co-Investigator for the 1998 Neurolab space shuttle mission on which his virtual reality experiments were conducted. Earlier in his career, Dr. Smith directed the professional development programs of technology professionals worldwide for Andersen Consulting, LLP (now Accenture). Dr. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in biology and psychology from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in cognitive science from Miami University in Oxford, OH. Dr. Smith's post-doctoral research was conducted in conjunction with NASA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Read Bio [+]

Luna Innovations Inc.
Luna Innovations Corporation, headquartered in Roanoke, VA, is a public company and was founded in 1990. Luna develops and manufactures new-generation products for the healthcare, telecommunications, energy and defense markets and the company has developed more than a dozen products within these industries. The products are used to measure, monitor, protect and improve critical processes in the markets served and has become a recognized leader in transitioning science to solutions. The company has a commercialization business model designed to accelerate the process of bringing new and innovative products to market and the two primary business segments are technology development and products and licenses. Luna's core technologies revolve around fiber optic and ultrasonic sensing and instrumentation. The company also places a focus on nanomaterials for pharmaceutical solutions and renewable energy.
Company website: www.lunainnovations.com

Ted Lynch, Ph.D.
Scientific Director, Medical Products
Dr. John Edward (Ted) Lynch joined Luna Innovations in 2003 as a Principal Investigator and currently serves as the Scientific Director of Medical Products. Dr. Lynch is a research scientist with extensive peer-reviewed publications and patents in ultrasonics. From 1996 - 1998, Dr. Lynch served as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps in Menyamya, Papua New Guinea to teach high school. Dr. Lynch received his Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary in Applied Science and his Master's degree in Applied Physics from George Mason University.Read Bio [+]

MAYA Design
MAYA is a technology design consultancy and innovation lab. With the tagline of "Taming Complexity," the company is dedicated to turning human experiences with complex technology products, services and processes into positive, fruitful interactions. The business consists of three practices:

• Human-Centered Design - making products, services and processes easy to use by matching information and complex systems to the way people think.
• MAYA Research- understanding how people and information will interact in a trillion-node world, and finding solutions for how information can flow seamlessly from device to device in such a world.
• Pervasive Computing - helping companies to capitalize on information-based offerings in the connected world by crafting end-to-end solutions for new products and services at the forefront of technological innovation.

Susan Zelicoff*
Director, Business Development - Research
Susan is an expert in strategic planning, business development, and marketing in technology sectors. At MAYA, Susan focuses primarily on establishing new funding streams in order to accelerate MAYA's research on future-proof solutions for pervasive computing. She also applies her expertise to commercial business development for MAYA's consulting practice in human-centered design, where she consults with clients on business and marketing strategy.

Before she came to MAYA, Susan addressed strategic approaches to new business creation for Nuclear Services at Westinghouse Electric Co. Formerly, as Executive V.P. of AMTV LLC, she was responsible for developing new business for the group's technology transfer and commercialization practice. Concurrently, she marketed the FirstLink program, an initiative sponsored by the Department of Defense to connect their science and technology efforts to industry. Susan helped to establish and deliver the FirstLink program beginning as Sr. Consulting Manager during its origination at the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence (IEE).

Prior to joining the FirstLink team, Susan worked for nearly two decades at Bayer Corporation where she was Manager of Strategic Planning, leading the development and implementation of major strategic initiatives for Bayer's North America region. Her earlier years at Bayer, and previously at Air Products and Chemicals, were spent analyzing opportunities and launching an array of innovative technology-based products and services. Among them was a ground-breaking eCommerce start-up co-founded by world leaders in the industrial and specialty rubber market. She led this start-up as the Managing Director.

Susan holds an M.B.A. in marketing from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA and a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.Read Bio [+]

MBI International
MBI International, located in Lansing, Michigan, was founded as a 501(c)(3) company in 1981 by a State of Michigan economic task force, and funded initially by state, federal and private foundation investments. In 2005, MBI became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation and continues its mission with a focus on developing and commercializing sustainable bio-based technologies. MBI's focus is in the area of Industrial or White Biotechnology, which refers to the production of fuels, chemicals, polymers, proteins and other materials from renewable resources. The company combines a full spectrum of science, engineering, operational, and business expertise with an integrated and flexible infrastructure from laboratory bench to pilot plant and will orchestrate the necessary resources for development and delivery of bio-based product and process solutions. The company provides active technology transition services to its partners, including late-stage troubleshooting, personnel training, knowledge transfer and technology integration.
Company website: www.mbi.org

D. Bernie Steele, Ph.D.
Director Operations, Applied Microbiology
Dr. Bernie Steele is a senior manager with a background in microbial physiology and over 25 years of experience in biotechnology. He is currently responsible for MBI operations including external partnerships, compliance, quality assurance and laboratory safety and serves as Biosafety Officer of MBI. Before joining MBI, Dr. Steele held faculty positions at Auburn University, where he was responsible for the Fermentation and Bioprocessing Laboratory, and the University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Steele has spent much of his career leading research aimed at the discovery and development of microbial products, such as enzymes and specialty chemicals, as well as strain development and the use of microorganisms for remediation of environmental contaminants. He has conducted research programs throughout the world including the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Peru, Bolivia, Thailand, Nepal and Belarus.Read Bio [+]

The Methodist Hospital
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute (TMHRI) was formed in 2004 to rapidly and efficiently translate discoveries made in the laboratory and the clinic into new diagnostics, therapies, and treatments. Important advances in biomedical sciences and healthcare are made by collaborative, interdisciplinary teams of individuals with diverse scientific backgrounds and training. TMHRI was created to provide the infrastructure and support for these endeavors, and to house the technology and resources needed to make innovative breakthroughs in important areas of human disease.
Company website: www.methodisthealth.com/tmhri.cfm?id=36479

Scott Parazynski, M.D.*
Chief Technology and Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Scott Parazynski has lived and traveled all over the world, spending many of his grade school and high school years in places such as Dakar, Senegal; Beirut, Lebanon; Tehran, Iran; and Athens, Greece. A graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Medical School, he went on to train at Harvard and in Denver in preparation for a career in emergency medicine and trauma. Dr. Parazynski is also physiologist with expertise in human adaptation to stressful environments.

In 1992 he was selected to join NASA's Astronaut Corps and eventually flew 5 Space Shuttle Missions and conducted 7 spacewalks (EVAs). In his 17 years as an Astronaut, he served in numerous senior leadership roles, including EVA Branch Chief and the Lead Astronaut for Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System Inspection & Repair (in the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy). Mission highlights include a global ozone mapping mission on STS-66; leading the first joint US-Russian spacewalk during STS-86 while docked to the Russian space station Mir; serving as Senator John Glenn's crewmate and "personal physician" during STS-95; and conducting EVA assembly of the Canadian-built space station arm during STS-100.

In October 2007, Dr. Parazynski led the EVA team on STS-120, a highly complex space station assembly flight, during which he performed 4 EVAs. The fourth and final EVA is regarded by many as one of the most challenging and dangerous ever performed. During the EVA he was positioned by a 90-foot robotic boom farther than any orbiting astronaut had ever ventured from the safety of their airlock. During this EVA he had to repair a fully energized solar array wing. The tremendous coordinated effort in orbit and on the ground by Mission Control and other engineering experts has been likened to the Space Shuttle and Space Station era's "Apollo 13 moment."

All told, Dr. Parazynski has spent over 8 weeks in space with more than 47 hours outside on spacewalks. While he has traveled over 23 million miles in orbit he has yet to earn a single frequent flyer mile! In addition to being a life-long SCUBA diver and accomplished mountaineer, Scott is also a commercial, instrument, multiengine and seaplane-rated pilot with over 2,500 flight hours. He began climbing in his teens, and has climbed in the Alaska Range, the Cascades, the Rockies, the Alps, the Andes and the Himalayas. On his second attempt to scale Mt. Everest, on May 20, 2009, he became the first astronaut to stand on top of the world. Additionally, as part of a NASA-sponsored expedition to the high Andes, he conducted a scientific dive in the summit caldera lake of 19,700-foot Licancabur volcano, the world's highest lake.

He currently serves as Chief Technology Officer and Chief Medical Officer at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston, Texas, where he is helping a world class team of scientists and clinicians develop technologies that will one day reshape medical care around the world. He serves on the Boards of Directors of several organizations and companies, as well as on the visiting or adjunct faculty at several universities around the world.

Dr. Parazynski has numerous publications in the field of space physiology, and has a particular expertise in human adaptation to stressful environments.

He is the recipient of a number of prestigious awards, including: five NASA Spaceflight Medals, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, two NASA Exceptional Service Medals, two Vladimir Komarov Diplomas from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, two Flight Achievement Awards from the American Astronomical Association, the Aviation Week Laureate Award, the Ellis Island Family Heritage Award, Gold Medal from the American Institute of Polish Culture, and the Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorers Club. Additionally, he is a member of the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame.

He has given keynotes and lectures all over the world, to audiences young and old.

His detailed NASA biography can be found at: [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/parazyns.html]Read Bio [+]

NASTAR Center
Located in Southhampton, Pa., the National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center is a non-government, world-class aerospace training facility that provides state-of-the-art simulation equipment, training courseware, and professional services to support the training, research and educational needs of the aerospace industry. The NASTAR Center, established in 2006, is a leader in providing authentic flight exposure in a safe and controlled environment, and features flight simulator equipment fully integrated with authentic aircraft cockpits, control systems, wide field of view visuals, and multi-axes motion capabilities to authentically replicate the performance characteristics and aircraft environment.
Company website: www.nastarcenter.com

William Mitchell
President and Chief Executive Officer

New Mexico Space Grant Consortium NASA EPSCoR
New Mexico State University (NMSU) is the lead institution for the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC). NMSGC is a member of the congressionally funded National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program which has been administered by NASA since 1989. The mission of NMSGC is to advance the economic, education, and scientific benefits of space related endeavors and promote and inspire lifelong learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as it pertains to space related activities. The NMSGC program objectives are to Establish and maintain a national network of universities with interests and capabilities in aeronautics, space and related fields; to encourage cooperative programs among universities, aerospace industry, and federal, state and local governments; and to recruit and train U.S. citizens, especially women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities, for careers in aerospace science and technology.
Company website: spacegrant.nmsu.edu/

Patricia C. Hynes, Ph.D.
Director and Chair
Dr. Patricia (Pat) Hynes has served as director of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC) since 1998 and in 2007 was appointed director of NASA's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program. Both programs under her leadership are headquartered at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The NMSGC is a member of the congressionally funded National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program which is administered by NASA. NMSGC programs are statewide and include all three research universities in New Mexico. EPSCoR supports aerospace research throughout New Mexico. In 2005 Dr. Hynes co-founded and has served as chair of the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight, another strategic effort to engage the research universities in this growing business. Dr. Hynes received her Ph.D. in Business Administration, an M.S. in Higher Education Management and a B.S. in English from New Mexico State University.Read Bio [+]

Oceaneering Space Systems
Oceaneering Space Systems (OSS) concentrates on developing, integrating, and applying both new and established technologies to the challenges of operations in space and other harsh environments. OSS specializes in turn-key design, development, manufacturing, certification, maintenance, testing, and sustaining engineering of: thermal protection systems for rockets; equipment for humans to use in space (EVA and IVA); and robotic systems for military, space, and biological research applications. OSS provides specialized engineering and support services in these areas, and astronaut training in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.
Company website: www.oceaneering.com/spacesystems_00.asp

James Buchli
Vice President & Program Manager
Mr. James (Jim) Buchli serves as the Vice President & Program Manager of Oceaneering Space Systems, joining the company in 2007. In this capacity, he will lead Oceaneering's efforts to design and build America's next generation space suit, the Constellation Space Suit System (CSSS), for NASA. Mr. Buchli's career includes 25 years in the Marine Corps, where he achieved the rank of Colonel and was a highly decorated infantryman and aviator, and 13 years at NASA. He became an astronaut in 1979 and is veteran of four Space Shuttle flights, orbiting the earth 319 times and traveling over 7.7 million miles. After leaving NASA, Mr. Buchli spent the next 15 years as an aerospace industry executive at the Boeing Co. and United Space Alliance (USA). He has received many special honors such as the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation. Mr. Buchli received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering Systems from the University of West Florida.Read Bio [+]

Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation provides a complete set of reliable, cost-effective products. Orbital's satellites include geosynchronous-Earth orbit satellites for communications and broadcasting, low-Earth orbit spacecraft that perform remote sensing and scientific research, spacecraft used for national security missions, and planetary probes to explore deep space. Orbital, based in Dulles, Va., is entering an exciting new era of human spaceflight supplying commercial cargo resupply services for the International Space Station. using the new Taurus® II rocket and Cygnus™ cargo logistics spacecraft. In addition, Orbital provides full service engineering, production and technical services for NASA, DoD, commercial and academic space programs.
Company website: www.orbital.com

Col. Carl Walz (Retired)
Vice President

PhysioSonics, Inc.
PhysioSonics, Incorporated, formerly known as Allez PhysiOnix, is a privately held company, founded in 2000 with technology developed at the University of Washington. The company has developed and patented a number of new technologies including an ultrasound-based technology to provide a transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitor neuromonitor.

Brad Harlow
President & CEO
Mr. Brad Harlow is President & CEO of PhysioSonics Inc., a neuromonitoring company in Seattle. He is also Managing Partner of B. Harlow & Associates, LLC which advises med-tech companies for financing, M&A and buyouts. His group has led over $200 million in venture financing, asset/division sales and new technology investments over the last 8 years. Prior to this he was Senior Vice President of Data Critical which IPO'd in 1999 and was then sold to GE Medical in 2001. Upon graduation he joined ATL Ultrasound (now Philips) and Spacelabs Medical where he served as their youngest director (New Business Development). He has taught executive programs in Finance at the USC School of Business. Mr. Harlow received a B.S. in Accounting from Oregon State University, and an M.B.A. from Seattle University.Read Bio [+]

Pulsar Informatics, Inc.
Pulsar Informatics Inc. develops state-of-the-art technology for assessing neurobehavioral performance and helping individuals and organizations achieve peak performance and reduce fatigue-related risk in mission critical operations. Pulsar was founded in 2003 and is based in Philadelphia, Pa., with offices in Seattle, Wash., and Vancouver. Pulsar collaborates with world-class university research partners and has a team of exceptional engineers and software developers.
Company website: www.pulsarinformatics.com

Daniel Mollicone, Ph.D.
President and CEO

Reflectance Medical Inc.
Reflectance Medical Inc. is an early stage company developing new technology to revolutionize the care of critically ill patients by reducing medical costs and deaths associated with conditions that result in poor tissue perfusion and acidosis. The company's noninvasive CareGuide patient monitor continuously and quantitatively displays levels of microvascular oxygen, pH and hematocrit to provide treatment goals to assure rapid and successful reversal of microvascular abnormalities associated with internal bleeding, trauma, cardiac failure and sepsis. Reflectance is located in Westboro, Mass.
Company website: www.reflectancemedical.com

Babs Soller, PhD.
Founder and Chief Scientific Officer

SeQual Technologies
SeQual Technologies, founded in 1991, is a market-driven, technology-based company with the mission to develop, manufacture and market unique products for medical, military, industrial and commercial applications that utilize the company's proprietary pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology for air separation. Since 1998, the SeQual has focused on the development of medical oxygen concentrators; devices that separate oxygen from air to provide supplemental breathing oxygen to individuals with chronic lung disease. In addition to medical oxygen systems, the company manufactures other PSA-based, air separation systems for a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications. SeQual is committed to a program of continual improvement and expansion of its air separations product line. SeQual has offices around the world, including San Diego, Calif., and pursues strategic partnerships with customers, or other interested parties, to develop new products for specific applications.
Company website: www.sequal.com

Paul L. Edwards
Principal Mechanical Engineer

Santé Ventures
Santé Ventures was founded in 2006 and has $132 million under management in its debut fund. The founding partners of Santé previously ran Ascension Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the country, created the Ascension Health Ventures I corporate healthcare venture fund, and helped establish a healthcare practice at Austin Ventures. The Santé team has collectively invested over $125 million in more than two dozen healthcare ventures over the last decade, generating a proven track record of successful portfolio companies. Santé invests exclusively in new ventures operating within the $2.6 trillion U.S. Healthcare industry. Examples of sectors in which we invest include: medical technologies, healthcare services and healthcare IT. Santé Ventures is located in Austin, Texas.
Company website: www.santeventures.com

Joe Cunningham, M.D., M.B.A.*
Managing Director
Prior to founding Santé Ventures, Joe was a healthcare Venture Partner with Austin Ventures and was previously the Vice Chair of the Ascension Health Ventures investment committee. He is also the former Chief Medical Officer of the Providence Health System and Executive Director of the 300-physician Providence Health Alliance, both of which belong to the Ascension Health system. Joe currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Medical Association and of the Medical Advisory Board of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has extensive management experience and is recognized nationally for his expertise in healthcare delivery systems, physician associations and compensation models. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Quality Assurance and Peer Review.Read Bio [+]

Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is a world-class prime systems integrator and electronic systems provider known for its rapid, innovative and agile technology solutions. Fast-growing and widely diversified, SNC is a high-tech electronics, engineering and manufacturing corporation that continues to expand its impressive portfolio of capabilities, products and services. SNC has a 47-year tradition of developing and providing high technology electronics, avionics and communications systems. SNC continues to acquire new capabilities as it expands into the areas of space, telemedicine, nanotechnology, energy and Net-centric operations. Headquartered in Sparks, Nev., SNC is considered the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States. Sierra Nevada Corporation employs approximately 2,000 people in seven different business areas in 35 locations in 20 states.
Company website: www.sncorp.com

Col. James S. Voss (Retired)
Director of Advanced Programs

United Space Alliance, LLC.
United Space Alliance (USA) is headquartered in Houston, Texas and is one of the world's leading space operations companies. Established in 1995 as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), USA is equally owned by The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) and has employees working in Florida, Alabama, California, Washington, D.C. and Russia. USA's work includes the Space Program Operations Contract (SPOC), implemented October 1, 2006, following the conclusion of the 10- year Space Flight Operations Contract (SFOC). The contract establishes USA as NASA's primary industry partner in human space operations, including the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. USA has additional work with ATK Launch Systems Group and is providing its operations expertise and knowledge of the Solid Rocket Booster system as the team works with NASA to design and develop Ares I, the Crew Launch Vehicle's first stage. USA is also serving as a subcontractor to Oceaneering International, Inc. for the design and development work of the next-generation space suit.
Company website: www.unitedspacealliance.com

Scott Hartwig
Program Manager, Integrated Mission Control
Mr. Scott Hartwig is the Deputy Associate Program Manager of Flight Operations at United Space Alliance (USA). He shares responsibility for the day-to-day operations and overall management of the USA Flight Operations element, which provides mission planning, training and real time support to the NASA Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) and Flight Crew Operations Directorate. Mr. Hartwig, formerly the Director of the Space Flight Training & Facility Operations for Space Shuttle and Space Station, was named to this position in May 2002. He is also the USA Program Manager for the Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC) for the Constellation Program, Mission Operations plan, train, and flight activity (Ares vehicles and ISS), and was assigned this role in 2008. After a tour in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy, Mr. Hartwig joined the U.S. Space Program at Rockwell International's Space Systems Division in Downey, California in 1984. Mr. Hartwig earned a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Industrial Technology from the College of Engineering at Arizona State University in 1982.Read Bio [+]

Universities Space Research Association
Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a private, nonprofit corporation founded in 1969 under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences. Its current membership consists of 105 universities in the United States and abroad that have graduate programs in space-related sciences and/or engineering. USRA's mission is to advance the space-related sciences and exploration through innovative research, technology and educational programs; to promote space policy; and to develop and operate premier facilities and programs by involving universities, the private sector and governments for the benefit of mankind. USRA, which is headquartered in Columbia, Md., focuses on space-related technical competencies with the goal of expanding knowledge and developing technology for the benefit of the academic community, space-related industries and NASA's mission to "pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research."
Company website: www.usra.edu

Ajit Mulavara, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist

Wyle Laboratories, Inc.
Wyle is one of the nation's leading providers of specialized engineering, scientific, and technical services to the Department of Defense, NASA, and a variety of commercial customers, Wyle serves its customers in the areas of test and evaluation; systems engineering and information technology; life cycle and acquisition program management; life sciences research; space medical operations and engineering; and qualification testing for natural and induced environments. The company is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. and employs approximately 3,800 employees at more than 40 facilities nationwide and the company generates annual revenues of approximately $800 million from its core customers. Wyle comprises three operating entities: Aerospace Group, Information Systems Group, and Integrated Science and Engineering Group. Wyle is committed to providing the services needed by government customers and aerospace & defense companies to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Company website: www.wylelabs.com

Vernon McDonald, Ph.D.
Dir., Commercial Human Spaceflight and Group Manager of Space Medicine
Dr. Vernon McDonald is currently Vice President for Business Development - Science & Technology Programs with Wyle's Integrated Science and Engineering Group based in Houston, TX. Dr. McDonald also leads Wyle's participation in the Commercial Human Spaceflight industry.

Dr. McDonald's tenure with Wyle over the last 16 years has included participation in the NASA Extended Duration Orbiter program; serving as co-investigator on four joint U.S./Russian investigations that have flown on the Space Shuttle and Mir; developing and deploying clinical systems for the International Space Station (ISS); developing and implementing policies and procedures for the health certification, training and care of ISS crew members in cooperation with Partner Agencies; managing Wyle's full suite of services for NASA's Space Medicine program; developing and executing a strategic plan for entry into the commercial space sector; and most recently leading Wyle's business development efforts in the federal science and technology sector.

As VP for Business Development, Dr. McDonald has responsibility to implement the full capture management life cycle with the objective of growing and diversifying Wyle IS&E's business base in Federal science and technology markets. In the last year this has included pursuit of opportunities at several NASA centers, the National Science Foundation, Department of Health and Human Services, the US Army and the US Air Force.

Dr. McDonald received his Ph.D from the University of Illinois in 1992. He is an adjunct faculty member at the Baylor College of Medicine and at the University of Houston, a Board Member of the Personal Spaceflight Federation, Wyle's representative to the National Space Biomedical Research Institute's Industry Board, and a member of the UIUC Department of Kinesiology Alumni Board.Read Bio [+]

ZIN Technologies, Inc.
ZIN Technologies, founded in 1957, is located in Cleveland, Ohio and was awarded its first NASA design services contract in 1969. The company has successfully designed, built and tested experimental hardware (payloads) for over 95 missions for the NASA space program. Zin-Tech has provided integrated products and spaceflight hardware development services to NASA and Fortune 500 companies for nearly five decades. ZIN-Tech, with its uniquely qualified staff of scientists, engineers and technicians, delivers product development, system prototypes, and space flight hardware on time and under budget. ZIN-Tech is engaged in the development of specialized data acquisition and control systems, power converters, and optical-mechanical systems for aerospace and commercial applications. Zin Technologies' scope of experience includes scientific, technical, operational, and program management, as well as the disciplines associated with large, complex space programs. ZIN-Tech has three divisions: NASA, DOD/Commercial and Power. Each division is managed by professionals with outstanding knowledge and valuable experience in their areas.
Company website: www.zin-tech.com

Carlos M. Grodsinsky, Ph.D.
Vice President, Technology
Dr. Carlos Grodsinksy joined ZIN Technologies with over twenty years experience with IR&D, R&D and product development in active/passive vibration control, radiation detection and space flight microgravity instrumentation markets. Dr. Grodsinksy has managed large projects and product development initiatives within both the government and industry and brings a proven track record in technology development, transfer and new product introductions to ZIN Technologies. He is a recognized expert in the acceleration environment analysis and control for ground and space based microgravity experimentation. Dr. Grodsinsky earned a Doctorate and Masters of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University, a Bachelor of Science in Physics/Mathematics from Kalamazoo College. He has written over 20 publications on the subject of active vibration control, magnetic bearing technology and radiation detectors and has two patents on the subject of radiation detection for geophysical applications. In the last four years Dr. Grodsinsky has led ZIN's business and contracts in the areas of exercise countermeasures and physiologic monitoring for its' NASA work. Over the course of this time ZIN and the Cleveland Clinic have partnered and developed a number of novel bioastronautics developments that have generated a remote patient management technology platform named vMetricsTM and International Space Station flight hardware for Astronaut health during long duration low gravity exposure.Read Bio [+]