17 May 2021 Update: 2021 ASCEND Guiding Coalition Announced
The ASCEND Guiding Coalition (GC) is perhaps the most accomplished off-world advisory board on Earth. Representing the highest levels of technical, scientific, and engineering leadership in government, industry, the military, and academia, GC members play an active role in crafting and championing the ASCEND program to maximize its global reach and impact.
“As the interconnections between space and the world economy grow deeper, it is important for everyone interested in the future to keep a wide perspective on the changes and technologies ahead,” said GC member George Whitesides, Chair of the Space Advisory Board for Virgin Galactic. “The Guiding Coalition of ASCEND helps shape the agenda of this event, making sure that we stay abreast of the latest developments and pioneering people impacting our industry.”
Thanks to the leadership and dedication of the GC, the ASCEND program attracts a multidisciplinary community of students, professionals, and serious enthusiasts — from classrooms through careers — who are actively pursuing their interests in space. This includes “endemic” aeronautic and astronautic sectors traditionally served by AIAA, and “adjacent” sectors that see space as a new place to build, work, and live.
Whether you’re already active in the ASCEND community or just beginning to explore our space, scroll down to meet the members of the 2021 Guiding Coalition, and start planning your trajectory to join them at ASCEND in November.
Rob Meyerson
Executive Producer, ASCEND
Nina Armagno
U.S. Space Force
Sirisha Bandla
Virgin Galactic
Arthur William (Bill) Beckman
The Boeing Company
Bobby Braun
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
Tory Bruno
United Launch Alliance
Michael Costas
Bechtel
Robert Curbeam
Maxar
Mary Lynne Dittmar
Dittmar and Associates
Dan Dumbacher
AIAA
Debra Facktor
AIRBUS U.S. Space & Defense, Inc.
Alec Gallimore
University of Michigan
Mike Gazarik
Ball Aerospace
Bill Gerstenmaier
SpaceX
Alexis Harroun
Ph.D. Student, Purdue University
Tim Hughes
SpaceX
Phil Ingle
Morgan Stanley
Robert Lightfoot
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
Sandra Magnus
AstroPlanetview, LLC
Jim Maser
Aerojet Rocketdyne
Clay Mowry
Blue Origin
Dava Newman
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Todd M. Nygren
The Aerospace Corporation
Shawna Pandya
Project PoSSUM / Association for Spaceflight Professionals
Cheryl Reed
Northrop Grumman
Andrew Rush
Redwire
Melissa Sampson
Ball Aerospace
Robbie Schingler
Planet
Kay Sears
Lockheed Martin
Wanda Sigur
NASEM Space Technology Industry-Government-University Roundtable
Ellen Stofan
Smithsonian Institution
George Whitesides
Virgin Galactic
Thomas Zurbuchen
NASA
