Steve Isakowitz is a recognized leader across the government and private sectors in the fields of space and technology.

As president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, a leading architect for the country’s national security and civil space programs, Mr. Isakowitz works with the U.S. government to advance the nation’s space enterprise and to develop strategies to ensure its preeminence. In this role, he leads Aerospace’s efforts to promote the mission success of various launches and on-orbit operations of systems for the U.S. Air Force and Intelligence Community while directing efforts to ensure greater resiliency in our nation’s space assets.

Prior to Aerospace, Mr. Isakowitz served as chief technology officer and later as president of Virgin’s space ventures business, where he led the development of privately funded launch systems, advanced technologies, and other new space applications. Previously, Mr. Isakowitz served as deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA, where he guided the development of advanced technologies and promoted innovative approaches in the areas of space transportation and government-industry partnerships. Before his NASA work, he served as science and space programs branch chief at the White House Office of Management and Budget. Earlier in his career, he also managed the development of launch vehicles for Lockheed Martin.

In recognition of his achievements, Isakowitz has received numerous awards and citations, including NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award.

William H. Gerstenmaier is special advisor to NASA's deputy administrator. He was appointed to the position in July 2019.

Previously, Gerstenmaier had been the associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. In this position, Gerstenmaier provided strategic direction for all aspects of NASA's human exploration of space and cross-agency space support functions of space communications and space launch vehicles. He provided programmatic direction for the operation and utilization of the International Space Station and its crew; development of the Gateway, Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft; and was providing strategic guidance and direction for the commercial crew and cargo programs.

Gerstenmaier began his NASA career in 1977 at the then Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, performing aeronautical research. He was involved with the wind tunnel tests that were used to develop the calibration curves for the air data probes used during entry on the Space Shuttle.

Beginning in 1988, Gerstenmaier headed the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) Operations Office, Systems Division at the Johnson Space Center. He was responsible for all aspects of OMV operations at Johnson, including development of a ground control center and training facility for OMV, operations support to vehicle development, and personnel and procedures development to support OMV operations. Subsequently he headed the Space Shuttle/Space Station Freedom Assembly Operations Office, Operations Division. He was responsible for resolving technical assembly issues and developing assembly strategies.

Gerstenmaier also served as Shuttle/Mir Program operations manager. In this role, he was the primary interface to the Russian Space Agency for operational issues, negotiating all protocols used in support of operations during the Shuttle/Mir missions. In addition, he supported NASA 2 operations in Russia, from January through September 1996 including responsibility for daily activities, as well as the health and safety of the NASA crewmember on space station Mir. He scheduled science activities, public affairs activities, monitored Mir systems, and communicated with the NASA astronaut on Mir.

In 1998, Gerstenmaier was named manager, Space Shuttle Program Integration, responsible for the overall management, integration, and operations of the Space Shuttle Program. This included development and operations of all Space Shuttle elements, including the orbiter, external tank, solid rocket boosters, and Space Shuttle main engines, as well as the facilities required to support ground processing and flight operations.

In December 2000, Gerstenmaier was named deputy manager, ISS Program, and two years later became manager. He was responsible for the day-to-day management, development, integration, and operation of the space station. This included the design, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of complex space flight hardware and software, and for its integration with the elements from international partners into a fully functional and operating space station.

Named associate administrator for the Space Operations Directorate in 2005, Gerstenmaier directed the safe completion of the last 21 Space Shuttle missions that witnessed assembly completion of the International Space Station. During this time, he provided programmatic direction for the integration and operation of the ISS, space communications, and space launch vehicles.

Gerstenmaier received a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University in 1977 and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo in 1981. He completed course work early in his career for a doctorate in dynamics and control with emphasis in propulsion at Purdue University, and in spring 2019, he will receive an honorary doctorate from his alma mater.

For his technical contributions and leadership in national and international human spaceflight programs, Gerstenmaier was elected into the 2018 class of the National Academy of Engineering.

Gerstenmaier is the recipient of numerous awards, including three NASA Certificates of Commendation, two NASA Exceptional Service Medals, a Senior NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award, and Distinguish Executive Presidential Rank Award. He also was honored with an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award from Purdue University. Additionally, he was twice honored by Aviation Week and Space Technology for outstanding achievement in the field of space. His other awards include: the AIAA International Cooperation Award; the National Space Club Astronautics Engineer Award; National Space Club Von Braun Award; the Federation of Galaxy Explorers Space Leadership Award; AIAA International Award; the AIAA Fellow; Purdue University Distinguished Alumni Award; and honored at Purdue as an Old Master in the Old Masters Program; recipient of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement's National Space Trophy; Space Transportation Leadership Award; the AIAA von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management; and the AIAA von Karman Lectureship in Astronautics.

He is married to the former Marsha Ann Johnson. They have two children.

Professor Dava Newman is the Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Harvard–MIT Health, Sciences, and Technology faculty member. Her research in multidisciplinary aerospace biomedical engineering investigates human performance across the spectrum of gravity, including space suits, life support and astronaut performance. Newman has been the principal investigator on 4 spaceflight missions. Known for her second skin BioSuit™ planetary spacesuit, her inventions are now being applied to “soft suits” to enhance locomotion on Earth. Her BioSuit™ has been exhibited at the Venice Biennial, American Museum of Natural History, Victoria and Albert and Museum, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her latest research with Gui Trotti includes Earth Speaks™ – an open source platform of curated space data that applies AI to help accelerate actions and solutions to help regenerate Earth’s oceans, land and climate. Newman is the author of Interactive Aerospace Engineering and Design and has >300 publications. Dr. Dava Newman served as NASA Deputy Administrator from 2015–2017, and was responsible for articulating the agency's vision, providing leadership and policy direction, and representing NASA to the White House, Congress, international space agencies, and industry. Dr. Newman was the first female engineer and scientist to serve in this role and was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.

Dan Dumbacher is the Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Before joining the AIAA staff in January 2018, Dumbacher was a Professor of Engineering Practice in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, where he taught courses in systems thinking, systems engineering, and space policy.

Prior to Purdue, Dumbacher served as the Deputy Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Development Division, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. In that capacity, he provided leadership and management as the Program Director for Exploration Systems Development, which included: the Space Launch System, Orion, and Ground Systems Development and Operations development and integration efforts. He led a national team of over 5,000, spanning all NASA centers and industry, and was responsible for a $3 billion annual budget.

During his career, he has received numerous awards and honors including the coveted Silver Snoopy Award and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. In 2015, Purdue recognized him with the Gustafson Teaching Award.

Dumbacher earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has also completed the Senior Managers in Government program at Harvard University.

Dumbacher is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. He and his wife Lee have three grown children.

Debra D. Facktor is the vice president and general manager of Strategic Operations for Ball Aerospace, where she is responsible for increasing Ball Aerospace’s profile in the market and facilitating collaboration across the company. Facktor is the company’s senior executive in the Washington, DC area and leads Washington Operations, Marketing & Communications, and Strategic Development.

Facktor brings over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry to her current role. Prior to joining Ball in January 2013, she served as the president of DFL Space LLC, an aerospace consulting firm focused on developing innovative business strategies for a wide range of clients. As an industry professor at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, she led its Masters of Engineering in Technical Leadership program and served as Director of Strategic Programs for the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC). She was Principal Investigator on the SERC research project “Expedited Systems Engineering for Rapid Capability and Urgent Needs,” sponsored by the U.S. Air Force.

Her extensive business experience includes serving as president and an owner of AirLaunch LLC, a small business which won funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Air Force to develop an operationally responsive small launch vehicle. She previously served as vice president of Business Development and Strategic Planning for Kistler Aerospace Corporation. Earlier in her career, she was chief of Moscow Operations for ANSER’s Center for International Aerospace Cooperation.

Among other distinctions, Facktor was honored with the University of Michigan 2014 Alumni Merit Award for Aerospace Engineering and as the Women in Aerospace (WIA) “Most Outstanding Member” for 2012. She is the former chair of the board of WIA and founding president of the WIA Foundation. Facktor serves on the board of the American Astronautical Society (AAS), the Future Space Leaders Foundation, and the industry advisory boards of the University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Department and the Johns Hopkins University Space Systems Engineering program. She is also an appointed member of the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). Facktor is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a fellow of the AAS and an Academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). She holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan, and is an alumna of the International Space University summer session program in space policy and law.

Jim Chilton is senior vice president of the Space and Launch division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS). Chilton assumed this role in April 2018 as BDS announced a new operating structure to sharpen focus on key markets and move faster to meet customers’ needs. It realigned his previous Space and Missile Systems organization created in July 2017 to focus entirely on space and launch programs for government and commercial customers.

The Space and Launch portfolio includes the International Space Station; the CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle; NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS); government and commercial satellite systems; and Boeing’s participation in United Launch Alliance.

From October 2016 to the July 2017 restructuring of Boeing’s space and defense business, Chilton led Network & Space Systems (N&SS), which included much of the current Space and Launch portfolio. Prior to that role, starting in 2013, he was vice president and general manager of Strategic Missile & Defense Systems within N&SS. Previously, Chilton served as vice president and program manager for Exploration Launch Systems and led SLS, Boeing’s heavy lift launch vehicle program. Before SLS, Chilton served as program manager for the Checkout, Assembly and Payload Processing Services (CAPPS) contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. He led final assembly and testing of space shuttle and expendable launch vehicle payloads, including hardware destined for the International Space Station.

Chilton began his career with Boeing in 1984 as a turbo machinery development engineer at the Rocketdyne division in Canoga Park, Calif. He went on to hold a number of roles in engine test and launch operations.

Chilton has served on many boards, including the board of directors for the National Children's Advocacy Center and the International Astronautical Federation industry relations committee.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Washington State University and a master’s degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. He also completed the systems acquisition course for general and flag officers at Defense Acquisition University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s advanced management program.

Tim Hughes leads the policy, regulatory, and global business development efforts at SpaceX. Joining in 2005 as the company’s first in‐house counsel, Tim defined SpaceX’s legal and government affairs functions from the ground up, helping to take the company from true start‐up to one of the world’s most recognizable and innovative technology firms. His responsibilities now span the company's government business development efforts in the civil and national security space markets, insurance, regulatory affairs, and launch licensing portfolios, as well as SpaceX's domestic and international policy agenda for both the launch services and satellite business sectors.

Robert M. Lightfoot Jr. has been NASA's associate administrator, the agency's highest-ranking civil servant, since Sept. 25, 2012.

Lightfoot served as NASA's acting administrator from Jan. 20, 2017 through April 23, 2018.

Before becoming assistant administrator, Lightfoot was director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Named to the position in August 2009, he headed one of NASA's largest field installations, which plays a critical role in NASA’s space operations, exploration and science missions. Lightfoot managed a broad range of propulsion, scientific and space transportation activities contributing to the nation's space program. He served as acting director of the center from March 2009 until his appointment as director.

From 2007 to 2009, Lightfoot was deputy director of the Marshall Center. Lightfoot served as manager of the Space Shuttle Propulsion Office at Marshall from 2005 to 2007, where he was responsible for overseeing the manufacture, assembly and operation of the primary shuttle propulsion elements: the main engines, external tank, solid rocket boosters and reusable solid rocket motors.

From 2003 to 2005, he served as assistant associate administrator for the Space Shuttle Program in the Office of Space Operations at NASA Headquarters in Washington. His responsibilities included space shuttle Return to Flight activities following the Columbia tragedy, technical and budgetary oversight of the $3 billion annual budget and initial transition and retirement efforts for shuttle infrastructure.

In 2002, Lightfoot was named director of the Propulsion Test Directorate at NASA's Stennis Space Center. He served as deputy director of the organization beginning in 2001, until his appointment as director.

Lightfoot began his NASA career at the Marshall Center in 1989 as a test engineer and program manager for the space shuttle main engine technology test bed program and the Russian RD-180 engine testing program for the Atlas launch vehicle program.

Lightfoot received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1986 from the University of Alabama. In October 2007, he was named Distinguished Departmental Fellow for the University of Alabama, Department of Mechanical Engineering. He was selected as a University of Alabama College of Engineering fellow in 2009. Lightfoot serves on the University of Alabama Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board. In 2010, he was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame.

Lightfoot has received numerous awards during his NASA career, including a NASA Outstanding Leadership medal in 2007 for exemplary leadership of the Shuttle Propulsion Office, assuring safety for the return to flight of the space shuttle. In 2006, he was awarded the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives, and in 2010 and 2016, he received the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executives -- the highest honors attainable for federal government work. In 2000, Mr. Lightfoot received a Spaceflight Leadership Recognition Award, which recognizes leaders who exemplify characteristics necessary for success. In 1999, NASA's astronaut corps presented him with a Silver Snoopy Award, which honors individuals who have made key contributions to the success of human spaceflight missions. He also received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 1996 for significant contributions to NASA's mission.

Robbie Schingler is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Planet. Prior to Planet, Robbie spent 9 years at NASA, where he helped build the Small Spacecraft Office at NASA Ames and was Capture Manager for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Robbie later served as NASA’s Open Government Representative to the White House; and served as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA. He received a MBA from Georgetown University, a Masters in Space Studies from the International Space University, and a BS in Physics from Santa Clara University. Robbie was a 2005 Presidential Management Fellow.

Clay Mowry is Vice President for global sales, marketing and customer experience at Blue Origin, a private space company developing launch vehicles and technologies that dramatically improve access to space for people and payloads. His mission is to provide customers with safe and affordable commercial space transportation services using the reusable New Shepard & New Glenn launch vehicles.

Clay came to Blue Origin from Arianespace, Inc. where he served for 15 years as Chairman and President. As the leader of Arianespace’s U.S. subsidiary, he was responsible for managing sales, marketing, strategy, communications and government relations activities in the region.

He also served for six years as the founding Executive Director for the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), a non-profit alliance of satellite operators, manufacturers, and ground equipment suppliers.

Prior to his role at SIA, Clay worked as a commercial space industry analyst and Senior International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.

Clay Mowry received a Master of Business of Administration from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts in politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.

In addition to his work at Blue Origin, Clay is the Vice President of Finance for the International Astronautical Federation. He currently serves on the advisory boards of Via Satellite magazine and the Space Generation Advisory Council. Clay is also the founder and Chairman of the Future Space Leaders Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the career development of young space and satellite industry professionals.

In this role as senior vice president of the Space Business Unit, Maser will oversee all NASA programs, defense and commercial launch systems, advanced space and launch strategy programs, and in-space propulsion system programs supported by sites throughout the country. He will be based out of the company’s Los Angeles facility in Canoga Park, California.

Maser brings more than 32 years of global aerospace experience spanning entrepreneurial space launch and human spaceflight as well as commercial and military jet engines. He previously served as president of James G. Advisors, LLC, a strategy, leadership and technical execution consulting firm. Prior to that, Maser held a number of roles within Pratt & Whitney between 2006 and 2017, including vice president of the F135 engine program and president of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, where he was responsible for the design, manufacture and performance of power and propulsion systems across numerous platforms.

Prior to Pratt & Whitney, Maser served in several other high-profile roles, including president and general manager at Boeing-led Sea Launch company, and president and chief operating officer at SpaceX.

“Jim’s incredible breadth of expertise in the industry includes leadership for both commercial and traditional space companies, providing unique perspective as we continue driving innovation and proven reliability into our expanding space portfolio,” said Drake. “Because Jim previously served as president of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne for more than six years, he also brings familiarity with our products, our customers and our world-class workforce. I can’t think of a better match for our company and for our Space organization, and I am thrilled to have Jim join my senior leadership team.”

Maser is the immediate past president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and currently serves on the association’s board of trustees.

Salvatore T. “Tory” Bruno is the president and chief executive officer for United Launch Alliance (ULA). In this role, Bruno serves as the principal strategic leader of the organization and oversees all business management and operations.

Prior to joining ULA, he served as the vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Strategic and Missile Defense Systems. The business is a leading provider of ballistic missile and ballistic missile defense systems, supporting U.S. Department of Defense customers, as well as the U.K. Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence. Programs included the Navy’s Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM), the Air Force’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Reentry Systems, and the Missile Defense Agency’s Terminal High Area Altitude Defense (THAAD), Targets and Countermeasures and CommonExoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) Concept Definition. He also managed the corporation’s responsibilities in Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Management Limited, a joint venture that produces and safely maintains the U.K.’s nuclear weapons. He is a former member of the board of directors of Lockheed Martin U.K. Ltd.

Bruno joined Lockheed Martin in 1984. He previously served as vice president and general manager of FBM and ICBM, as vice president of the THAAD Missile, as vice president of Engineering, as chief engineer for Strategic Missile Programs, as program manager for FBM Rocket Propulsion and in engineering positions involving design and analysis for control systems of rockets and hypersonic reentry vehicles. He holds several patents. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo, California, and has completed graduate courses and management programs at Harvard University, Santa Clara University, the Wye River Institute, San Jose State University and the Defense Acquisition University.

Bruno is serving as a member of the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group chaired by Vice President Pence. In addition, he is an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Associate Fellow, a companion of the Naval Order of the United States, a member of the Navy League and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He served on the National Blue Ribbon Panel for Bettering Engineering & Science Education and as Chairman of the Diversity Council of Lockheed Martin Space Systems.

He is the author of two books that explore the organization of the medieval Knights Templar from the perspective of modern business management: “Templar Organization: The Management of Warrior Monasticism” and “Templar Incorporated.” He is a recipient of the Order of Merit of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem.

Melissa Sampson is a Senior Manager, Advanced Systems, at Ball Aerospace, supporting the company’s Civil Space business unit. In this role, Sampson is responsible for business development and program management.

Prior to joining Ball, Sampson worked at United Launch Alliance (ULA), where she worked as a program manager for cislunar technologies. Her experience gained at ULA spans business development, advanced programs, engineering, contracts and government affairs. Additionally, Sampson is a frequent international and domestic speaker on topics related to the cislunar economy; next-generation technologies; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Outside of the office, Sampson dedicates her time to developing the next-generation of aerospace leaders, through the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Diversity Scholars program, AIAA Diversity Working Group, AIAA Reusable Launch Vehicle Technical Committee and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Space Engineering and Construction technical committee. She was also s founding director for the Girls in STEM Board of Directors, an organization empowering and inspiring middle school and high school girls to pursue careers in STEM.

Sampson is an AIAA Associate Fellow, International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accredited Coach, Society of Women Engineers (SWE) member and a Lean & Six Sigma Black Belt. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the College of William & Mary and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen is the Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at the Agency’s Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Previously, Zurbuchen was a professor of space science and aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He also was the university’s founding director of the Center for Entrepreneurship in the College of Engineering. Zurbuchen’s experience includes research in solar and heliospheric physics, experimental space research, space systems, and innovation and entrepreneurship.

During his career, Zurbuchen has authored or coauthored more than 200 articles in refereed journals on solar and heliospheric phenomena. He has been involved with several NASA science missions — Ulysses, the MESSENGER spacecraft to Mercury, and the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE). He also has been part of two National Academy standing committees, as well as various science and technology definition teams for new NASA missions.

Zurbuchen earned his Ph.D. in physics and master of science degree in physics from the University of Bern in Switzerland.

His honors include receiving the National Science and Technology Council Presidential Early Career for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award in 2004, a NASA Group Achievement Award for the agency’s Ulysses mission in 2006, and the Swiss National Science Foundation’s Young Researcher Award in 1996-1997.

Dr. Robert D. Braun has more than 30 years experience as a space systems engineer, technologist, and organizational leader. He is a recognized authority in the development of entry, descent and landing systems and has contributed to the formulation, development, and operation of multiple space flight missions.

Dr. Braun presently serves as the Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. He previously served as a faculty member of the Georgia Institute of Technology and a member of the technical staff of the NASA Langley Research Center.

In 2010-2011, Dr. Braun served as the first NASA Chief Technologist in more than a decade. In this capacity, he was responsible for development of the Agency’s technology and innovation policy and programs. He created and led the initial implementation of a spectrum of NASA technology programs designed to build the capabilities required for our nation’s future space missions. This activity spanned all ten NASA Centers, industry and academia, and fostered partnerships between NASA and other government agencies.

Dr. Braun is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the AIAA and AAS, and the author or co-author of over 300 technical publications.