Space Policy Pod

Sean O’Keefe is University Professor and the Howard and Louise Phanstiel endowed Chair in Strategic Management and Leadership at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Previously, O’Keefe was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Group Inc. Prior to joining Airbus, he was a company officer and Vice President of the General Electric Company following service as Chancellor of the Louisiana State University. On four separate occasions O'Keefe served as a presidential appointee when he led NASA, as Secretary of the Navy, as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Deputy Assistant to the President, and as Comptroller and CFO at the Defense Department. O'Keefe is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

Omran Sharaf is Project Director of the Emirates Mars Mission at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. He and his team are responsible for developing, launching, and operating the Hope Probe, the spacecraft of the mission. An experienced electronics and systems engineer, Sharaf was responsible for developing and implementing the Command & Data Handling Subsystem (C&DH) for the DubaiSat-1 high resolution LEO imaging satellite. He also headed the development of the C&DH subsystem and payload electronics subsystem for DubaiSat-2, along with being a systems engineer of that project. Sharaf earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia, in 2005, and his Master's in Science and Technology Policy from the Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea, in 2013.

Peter Crabtree is the General Manager Science, Innovation, and International at the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment. He is responsible for enterprise policy, science and innovation policy, international science partnerships, trade and regulatory cooperation, and international strategy. He also heads the New Zealand Space Agency. Prior to this role, Crabtree was Deputy Chief Executive, System Strategy and Policy at the Ministry of Science and Innovation. He has held other senior roles government roles as well.

Christian Davenport is a reporter covering the defense and space industries for The Washington Post’s Financial desk. He joined The Post in 2000 and has had an array of assignments. Before joining the Financial staff, Christian was an editor on the Metro desk, overseeing coverage of local government and politics. He has also worked at Newsday, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Austin American-Statesman. Christian is the author of two books, and he won the Peabody Award in 2010. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies from Colby College.

Ann Devereaux is Division Manager for Systems Engineering for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Systems Engineering Division, which includes both project and spacecraft systems engineering from proposal formulation and initial design through integration, test, and launch operations. Ann served as lead spacecraft systems engineer for Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover as well as most recently for the initial design phase of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. She has over 25 years of experience with both technology demonstrations and flight programs, designing and building custom high-reliability electronics for radios and instruments.

Marcia Smith is President of Space and Technology Policy Group, LLC and founder and editor of the website SpacePolicyOnline.com. A veteran space policy analyst, Ms. Smith spent 31 years as a science and technology policy expert specializing in space activities at the Congressional Research Service. After leaving CRS, she was Director of the Space Studies Board and of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Among her professional activities, Ms. Smith is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society (AAS), and the North American editor of the quarterly journal Space Policy. A graduate of Syracuse University, Ms. Smith is the author or co-author of more than 220 reports and articles on space, nuclear energy, and telecommunications.

Episode 15 features Karl Rodrigues, Executive Director for International and National Engagement at the Australian Space Agency. Mr. Rodrigues is responsible for developing relationships with international space agencies. He also engages with Australian industry, start-ups, domestic agencies, research institutions, and state and territory governments to help grow the Australian space sector. Mr. Rodrigues has over 25 years of experience in innovation, venture investment, research, development and commercialization of technology. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Computing Science from the University of Technology in Sydney, an MBA with Distinction from Griffith University in Queensland, and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Since the recording, the Australian Government has announced that Virgin Galactic’s Chief Operating Officer, Enrico Palermo will be the new Head of the Australian Space Agency from January 2021.

This episode features Dale Nash, CEO and Executive Director of Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority. Also known as Virginia Space, the authority owns and operates the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) including three Launch Pads and a Payload Processing Facility, as well as the MARS UAS Airfield. Mr. Nash has 38 years of experience in the aerospace industry. He headed the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska for six years prior to joining VA Space. He has also served in senior management positions working Space Shuttle launch operations and program development on the Orion program with United Space Alliance, Lockheed Martin, and Thiokol Corp. Mr. Nash has a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Utah and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida.

This podcast discussion features Kelvin Coleman, the FAA’s deputy associate administrator for commercial space transportation. His office is responsible for licensing commercial operators for space launch and re-entry. Prior to joining AST more than 20 years ago, Mr. Coleman worked for the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command as both a systems engineer, and as a guidance, navigation, and control engineer for several weapon system acquisition programs. Mr. Coleman holds a B.S. in Electronics and Computer Engineering from George Mason University and an M.B.A. from Marymount University.

This podcast discussion features Alex Macdonald, NASA’s chief economist. He also serves as program executive of the International Space Station National Lab. He was previously the Senior Economic Advisor in the Office of the Administrator and was the founding program executive of NASA's Emerging Space Office. Dr. Macdonald is a former executive staff specialist on commercial space at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a former research faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University, and has worked on small satellite mission design at NASA’s Ames Research Center. Dr. Macdonald received his undergraduate degree in economics from Queen's University in Canada, his master's degree in economics from the University of British Columbia, and his doctorate from the University of Oxford. 

This podcast discussion features Conner Prochaska, chief commercialization officer for the Department of Energy and director of the Office of Technology Transitions. His office advances the economic, energy, and national security interests of the United States by expanding the commercial impact of the department’s research and development portfolio. Prior to his current roles, Mr. Prochaska was senior advisor and chief of staff of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). He previously worked at a public investment fund and also served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy. Mr. Prochaska earned his J.D. at The George Washington University School of Law and his B.A. at Texas A&M University.

This podcast discussion features Dr. Douglas Terrier, NASA’s chief technologist. In this role, Dr. Terrier serves as the agency's principal advisor and advocate on technology policy and programs, helping plot the strategic direction of the agency's space technology program.  Prior to his current position, Dr. Terrier was the chief technologist of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He also was the deputy director of NASA Johnson’s Strategic Opportunity and Partnership Development Office. Dr. Terrier worked in the commercial aerospace sector for a total of 23 years with Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and General Electric Aircraft Engines. Dr. Terrier earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas.

This episode features Kevin O’Connell, Director of the Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. O’Connell leads an office with responsibility as a space industry advocate within the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. Previously, Mr. O’Connell served as the CEO of Innovative Analytics and Training, a professional services firm focused on analysis and decision support for U.S. government and commercial clients. He also served as a senior consultant to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as an independent advisor to the Director, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

This podcast discussion features Erin Miller, VP of Operations for Space ISAC, National Cybersecurity Center. Erin has over a decade of experience building meaningful tech collaborations and has formed hundreds of formal partnerships between government, industry and academia to solve problems for warfighters and national security. Currently Erin is building a Public-Private Partnership (P3), called Space ISAC. This is the third non-profit launch Erin has led and has been passionate about P3 for her entire career. Erin was the Managing Director of the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization (C-TRAC) and brought three USAF-funded programs to bear at the Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation (www.catalystcampus.org) from 2016-2018. Her expertise in brokering unique partnerships using non-FAR type agreements led to the standup of the Air Force’s first cyber focused design studio, AFCyberWorx at the United States Air Force Academy, and the first space accelerator, Catalyst Accelerator, at Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs - in partnership with Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX. Erin serves on the board of cyber teaching certifications at Handshake Leadership.

This podcast discussion features Tommaso Sgobba, Executive Director and Board Secretary of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). Until 2013, Mr. Sgobba was head of the Independent Safety Office at the European Space Agency (ESA), including human-rated systems, spacecraft re-entries, space debris, use of nuclear power sources, and planetary protection. He joined the ESA in 1989, after 13 years in the aeronautical industry. Mr. Sgobba holds an M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin (Italy). He has published several books, articles, and papers on space safety. Additionally, he received the NASA recognition for outstanding contribution to the International Space Station in 2004, and the NASA Space Flight Awareness Award in 2007.

This podcast discussion features Shawn Barnes, a member of the Senior Executive Service, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration. Mr. Barnes is responsible for carrying out Air Force space missions and integrating space policy, guidance, coordination and synchronization of space-related activities, and issue resolution for the Department of the Air Force.

This podcast features an engaging discussion with IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute expert Dr. Bhavya Lal. Dr. Lal leads strategy, technology assessment, and policy studies and analyses at the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Space Council, and federal space-oriented organizations including NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community. Bhavya has published over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Her work is routinely covered by technical and mainstream press outlets including Space News, The Economist, Science, Chronicle of Higher Education, and National Geographic, among others. Bhavya holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a second M.S. from MIT’s Technology and Policy Program, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration from George Washington University.

This podcast takes an inside look at the intelligence community space enterprise with senior executive John Paul (JP) Parker. Mr. Parker is a Senior National Intelligence Service officer serving as Intelligence Community Space Executive, a newly formed office designed to increase collaboration, integration and innovation throughout the IC space enterprise. Previously, Mr. Parker was Special Advisor to the Vice President for Space, Cyber, Intelligence, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Science and Technology. Mr. Parker represented the Vice President on all national security space matters, and was instrumental in reestablishing the National Space Council and drafting the National Strategy for Space.

This episode features an in-depth discussion on space and national security with Stephen L. Kitay, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. Kitay, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is responsible for establishing policy and guidance to assure U.S. and allied warfighters the benefits of space capabilities and to help guide the Department’s strategy for addressing space-related issues. He also leads Departmental activities in international space cooperation. About the Space Policy Pod Brought to you by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), MITRE, Space Foundation, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce The Space Policy Pod series unites leading organizations in space to share timely thinking in the new environment and upcoming changes to the policy landscape. Each episode will feature an open and candid discussion with a prominent policy leader to bring new insights to the space community.

This episode features a discussion on cybersecurity with Matthew Scholl of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Scholl is the Chief of the Computer Security Division in the Information Technology Laboratory at NIST. He is responsible for the development of cryptographic standards used by the U.S. Government and internationally, cybersecurity research and development at NIST, and cybersecurity standards and guidelines for federal agency security programs. He also co-leads NIST’s participation with cybersecurity national and international standards development organizations (SDOs) and associated conformance testing programs.

This episode features an engaging conversation with Dr. Scott Pace, covering a range of key topics impacting the future of space exploration and commercial development. Dr. Scott Pace currently serves as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council. Pace was formerly the Director of the Space Policy Institute at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, where he was also a Professor of the Practice of International Affairs. About the Space Policy Pod Brought to you by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), MITRE, Space Foundation, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce The Space Policy Pod series unites leading organizations in space to share timely thinking in the new environment and upcoming changes to the policy landscape. Each episode will feature an open and candid discussion with a prominent policy leader to bring new insights to the space community.