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At the Yellowstone Conference Center in Big Sky, Montana, March 01 – March 08, 2025

Confirmed Track/Session Organizers

  • David Woerner

    Project Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Deputy Principal Investigator/Mission Integration Lead, University of Dayton Research Institute. Lunar project and infrastructure development for NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM). JPL/Caltech Retired 12/2025. Forty-two years of service. Numerous NASA awards, including Exceptional Service and Exceptional Achievement Medals. Editor and co-author of the book, The Technology of Discovery: Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators and Thermoelectric Technologies for Space Exploration. David served as the Systems Formulation Manager for the Radioisotope Power System Program at NASA, the MMRTG Office manager for the MSL mission, and the Chief Engineer of the avionics for Mars Pathfinder. He was a Systems Engineer on the Galileo, Cassini, and Magellan missions. He is currently the Chair, Board of Directors of IEEE Aerospace Conferences.

  • Kendra Cook

    , : Kendra Cook is a Space System Security Subject Matter Expert at SAIC, where she supports NASA in advancing the future space system security. She brings over two decades of experience in aerospace engineering, cybersecurity, and mission operations. Prior to her current role, she spent nine years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), serving in multiple engineering positions, most recently as a System Security Engineer with the Mission Protection Office and as the Lead Systems Engineer on the Europa Clipper mission operations team. Her career also includes 15 years supporting various satellite development and emerging technology programs across government and industry, and seven years of distinguished service as an Officer in the United States Air Force. Kendra holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Boston University and dual M.S. degrees in Astronautical Engineering and Computer Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified U.S. Export Compliance Officer (CUSECO) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), reflecting her multidisciplinary expertise at the intersection of engineering, cybersecurity, and policy.

    Technologies, techniques, demonstrations and applications of Antennas, RF and Microwave systems, components, and instruments, and Radio Science

    • Glenn Hopkins

      Principal Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute: GTRI Fellow and Chief Engineer of the Antenna Systems Division of the GTRI Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory, specializing in array antenna technologies. Interests include phased arrays, wide bandwidth antennas, digital beam forming and RF subsystems.

    • James Hoffman

      Vice President of Engineering, Erciyes University: Quite possibly the only person on LinkedIn who isn’t a “results-orientated team player with excellent interpersonal skills.”

    • 3.01 Phased Array Antenna Systems and Beamforming Technologies

      Included are active power combining, thermal management, phasing networks, integration, power, test and evaluation and beamsteering, algorithm development and associated hardware implementations, and modeling and simulation for all levels of phased array development and beamsteering.

      • Glenn Hopkins

        Principal Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute: GTRI Fellow and Chief Engineer of the Antenna Systems Division of the GTRI Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory, specializing in array antenna technologies. Interests include phased arrays, wide bandwidth antennas, digital beam forming and RF subsystems.

    • 3.02 Ground and Space Antenna Technologies and Systems

      Topics on all aspects of antenna systems associated with ground-based and space-based sensors, communications, and antenna technologies. Systems include ground based terminals, ground-to-space and space-to-space data links, and radar sensors. Antenna technologies include reflectors, lenses, feeds, arrays, and the transmit/receive subsystems associated with the antenna(s).

      • James Hoffman

        Vice President of Engineering, Erciyes University: Quite possibly the only person on LinkedIn who isn’t a “results-orientated team player with excellent interpersonal skills.”

      • Thomas Williamson

        Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute: Thomas G. Williamson (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree (hons.) and M.S. degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2018 and 2019, respectively. He received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA, in 2025. He is currently a Research Engineer at Georgia Tech Research Institute, in the Antenna Systems Division of the Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory, where he works on bespoke antenna designs, modern active electronically scanned arrays, radars, and digital beamforming systems. His research interests also include RF and mmWave circuits and phase change materials. He has had internships at LANL, SNL, and Qorvo in 2016, 2017, and 2018 respectively. He is a reviewer for Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters and a member of the Phased Array Symposium Technical Program Committee. He won the Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship in 2019. He received the GTRI Star Performer Award in 2021. He received the GTRI IRAD of the Year award in 2025.

    • 3.03 RF/Microwave Systems

      Papers about RF and microwave systems or components, passive and active, including radar systems.

      • James Hoffman

        Vice President of Engineering, Erciyes University: Quite possibly the only person on LinkedIn who isn’t a “results-orientated team player with excellent interpersonal skills.”

      • Christopher Edmonds

        Senior Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute: Dr. Christopher Edmonds is a Senior Research Engineer in the Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). He is involved in RF design. His prior experience includes RF and optoelectronic circuit design. Dr. Edmonds earned a Bachelor's (1996) and Master’s (1999) degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as a Ph.D. in Bioengineering (2013), all from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

    • 3.04 Radio Astronomy and Radio Science

      Papers on the techniques, hardware, systems, and results in the fields of Radio Astronomy and Radio Science.

      • Mark Bentum

        Professor, Eindhoven University of Technology: Mark Bentum received his MSc and PhD degree in electrical engineering from the University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands, in 1991 and 1995. In 1996 he joined the Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy (ASTRON). He was in various positions at ASTRON. In 2005 he was involved in the eSMA project in Hawaii to correlate the Dutch JCMT mm-telescope with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) of Harvard University. From 2005 to 2008 he was responsible for the construction of the first software radio telescope in the world, LOFAR (Low Frequency Array). In 2008 he became an Associate Professor in the Telecommunication Engineering Group at the University of Twente. In 2017 he became a full Professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology. He is now involved with research and education in radio science. Since 2023 he is the Dean of the Electrical Engineering faculty at Eindhoven University of Technology.

      • Melissa Soriano

        Payload Systems Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Melissa Soriano is a telecom systems engineer in the Flight Communications Section at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She developed real-time and high-performance software for over a decade for the Deep Space Network, including open loop receivers used for radio science and radio astronomy. Melissa specializes in telecom, especially challenging scenarios with low signal strength and high dynamics. She is currently the lead Telecom systems engineer on the Europa Clipper Flight Systems Engineering Team and the X-band Telecom systems engineering lead on the Mars Sample Retrieval Lander Mission. She has a BS from Caltech (double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business Economics and Management) and an MS from George Mason University.

    This track focuses on missions, systems, and technologies for small spacecraft, which includes CubeSats, “ESPA-class” spacecraft (generally less than approximately 250 kilograms mass), and more unique small spacecraft (e.g. rovers, helicopters, etc.). In addition, this track seeks papers which focus on mission, systems, and technologies which are lower cost compared to typical large space programs, including educational and university submissions. This track also seeks submissions from commercial industry with innovative products and opportunities. Submissions are also sought regarding distributed systems (swarms, constellations, etc.).

    • Alex Austin

      Systems Engineer, Erciyes University: Alex Austin is a Systems Engineer in the Advanced Design Engineering group at JPL. He is the Flight System Systems Engineer for the INCUS mission, as well as the Lead Engineer for Team Xc, JPL’s formulation team for CubeSat and SmallSat missions. He received a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering and a master’s in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

    • Catherine Venturini

      Principal Engineer, The Aerospace Corporation: Catherine Venturini is a Principal Engineer in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer at The Aerospace Corporation. Focus areas include space mission architectures, mission concept development, and small satellite mission capabilities and technology advancements. Catherine has over 18 years of experience in the CubeSats and smallsat community. Her past work includes involvement in the development and operations of 5 Aerospace CubeSat missions, and currently is the PI for the Disksat mission. She leads numerous studies related to small satellite technical trends, mission concepts and capabilities, and new approaches to mission success.

    • 5.01 Small, Low-Cost Missions in Development and Operations for Space and Earth Exploration

      This session will explore the use of small spacecraft and other low-cost implementations to enable new, exciting missions for space exploration. The session will focus on SmallSat and low-cost missions in development and operations and how form factor or other novel approaches can reduce cost and affect the mission.

      • Young Lee

        Senior Program Systems Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Ms. Young Lee is a Senior Program Systems Engineer in the Project Systems Engineering and Formulation Section at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She works with NASA program offices including the Mars Exploration Program (MEP) and the Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) Program. Her work includes program-level systems engineering and strategic formulation supporting future planetary missions, including concepts that expand flight opportunities for Mars science payloads and the application of RPS technologies. She also represents JPL on the NASA Small Satellite Coordination Group. She has over 25 years of experience supporting deep-space mission operations and systems engineering for NASA planetary missions. She holds an M.S. in Management of Information Systems from Claremont Graduate University in California.

      • Benjamin Donitz

        Systems Engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Benjamin Donitz received his Bachelor and Masters degrees in Aerospace and Space Engineering, respectively, from The University of Michigan. He now works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the Project System Engineering and Formulation section where he is involved with the development of early-phase mission concepts. Since joining JPL in 2019, Benjamin has worked on several mission concepts and studies evaluating the feasibility of sending dedicated spacecraft to interstellar objects and long period comets. Benjamin now supports the Investigation of Convective Updrafts (INCUS), a NASA Earth Science mission, on the Project Systems Engineer team.

      • Lee Jasper

        System Engineer , Space Dynamics Laboratory: Lee Jasper received his B.S./M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering from CU Boulder. He currently works for the Space Dynamics Laboratory as a Systems Engineer supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory. Lee has worked on many small satellite (including CubeSat) missions as well as the large Earth science mission NISAR managed by JPL-CalTech. His research/work has included orbital debris, controls, astrodynamics, small satellites, aggregating new and existing capabilities into relevant missions, mission assurance, spacecraft autonomy, and workforce development.

    • 5.02 Future Small, Low-Cost Mission Concepts

      This session is focused on small mission concepts and missions in formulation. Missions in all areas of space exploration are welcome, including Earth science, planetary science, astrophysics, and heliophysics.

      • Dexter Becklund

        Project Leader, The Aerospace Corporation: Project Leader working at Aerospace Corporation for just over 5 years. Worked in a variety of related fields ranging from market and industry research on smallsat technologies, developing and testing prototype CubeSat technology and understanding commercial industry bus capabilities. Now focusing largely on developing and leading efforts within Aerospace to build up digital twins and simulations of smallsat vehicles.

      • Laura Jones-Wilson

        Guidance and Control Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Laura Jones-Wilson obtained her Ph.D. at Cornell University in Aerospace Engineering specializing in the Dynamics and Controls of space systems. She then joined JPL in 2012 as a guidance and control systems engineer taking on roles including the PI on a Mars Sample Capture technology development effort and the co-manager of the SmallSat Dynamics Testbed. She joined Europa Clipper in 2015 as the instrument engineer for UVS then REASON, and later served as the lead systems engineer for the REASON-Solar Array Integrated Product Team and Payload V&V Lead through instrument deliveries to ATLO. She then became the lead systems engineer for the Aerial Mobility team of the Sample Recovery Helicopter (SRH) and the Aerial Mobility Lead for Chopper. She is also the JPL co-lead for the Super STABLE Cosmic Web Imager balloon-borne telescope project.

      • Tyler Presser

        PhD Student, Endeavor Optical Networks: Tyler is a PhD Student in the Astronautical Engineering Department at the University of Southern California (USC). His research aims to develop tools and concepts for low-cost cislunar mission formulation. Tyler also leads the mission formulation team at Advanced Space. Tyler earned his joint B.S. and M.S. in Astronautical Engineering from USC Viterbi in 2021. An Advanced Space LLC Research Fellowship funds Mr. Presser's research.

    • 5.03 Applications for Distributed Systems of Small Spacecraft

      This session focuses on distributed systems, swarms, networks, and constellations of small spacecraft, enabling low-cost missions while unlocking new capabilities and scientific opportunities. Advances in miniaturization and launch accessibility have fueled the rise of modular distributed architectures, such as fractionated systems, that transform space operations. We invite contributions on the design, coordination, and application of these modular systems for Earth observation, space weather monitoring, formation flying, inter-satellite communications, space domain awareness, and deep-space exploration. Key topics include guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), onboard autonomy, AI/ML-driven collaborative decision-making, and scalable resource sharing. The focus is on addressing the challenges of modular system-level design, resilience, and performance in contested or constrained environments. Researchers and mission planners are invited to contribute theoretical insights, flight tests, and practical concepts that demonstrate the way in which modular distributed small spacecraft systems facilitate flexible, scalable, and resilient missions and transform the future space exploration and technology.

      • Ryan Woolley

        Mission Design Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Ryan Woolley is a mission design engineer in the Inner Planet Mission Analysis group at JPL. His focus has primarily been on early mission formulation for the Mars Exploration Program. This includes mission concept studies, systems engineering, propulsion systems, low-thrust trajectories and optimization, mission design tools, and launch vehicle performance. He has worked on nearly all aspects of the Mars Sample Return campaign and has recently begun focusing on small missions to Mars. He received a B.S. in Physics-Astronomy from Brigham Young University, an M.S. in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado. He has been at JPL since 2005.

      • Ashwati Das-Stuart

        Navigation Engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab: Dr. Ashwati Das-Stuart is a member of the Mission Design and Navigation Section at JPL working on both the NISAR and Europa Clipper missions. She is also the lead Systems Engineer for the United States Greenhouse Gas Center project. Her experience includes systems engineering, software architecting and automation, as well as mission design and navigation. She has also gained a wide array of insights from working in early formulation concept studies to operations. Prior to JPL, she graduated with a Ph.D. focused on artificial intelligence-aided trajectory design in multi-body systems from Purdue University. She loves engaging in outreach efforts to inspire the next generation to join the space journey.

      • Rachit Bhatia

        Principal GN&C Engineer, CesiumAstro: Dr. Rachit Bhatia is a Space Research Scientist at the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department in the West Virginia University. Dr. Bhatia has an extensive experience in designing, developing, and testing mathematically intensive software applications related to space safety and space operations, with special focus on topic like state-estimation, stochastic processes, maneuver detection, and collision probability analysis. In his current role, he performs and leads technical research, mentor early-career researchers, and helps to develop & modify mathematical models for relevant areas, including space weather, space operations, space domain awareness (SDA), and orbit prediction. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Utah State University (Logan). He has previously served in the role of Space Safety Analytics and Research Lead at the LeoLabs and as an astrodynamics technical expert at SpaceNav and Aquarian Space. His other research interests include optimal estimation theory, autonomous spacecraft navigation, and control system design. Dr. Bhatia is an innovative aerospace engineer with a robust background & 9 years of experience in R&D, committed to continuous learning, teaching, & conceptual development for organizational success.

    • 5.04 Lessons Learned from Small Spacecraft Missions

      The past decade has seen major advancements in the development and demonstration of CubeSat and SmallSat technologies and missions. There are many issues and challenges to flying CubeSats and SmallSats successfully, including performance, cost, risk, reliability, fault tolerance, thermal management, radiation hardness, and mission lifetime. University involvement in CubeSat and SmallSat development has provided an excellent training ground for future spacecraft developers. CubeSat and SmallSat technology demonstrations have been experimental and operational. CubeSat and SmallSat technology and mission developments and demonstrations have experienced total successes, partial successes, and, undoubtedly, a few failures. Each success and failure provide opportunities to learn. The objective of this session is to allow CubeSat and SmallSat developers to share their lessons learned, both good and bad, with the CubeSat and SmallSat community.

      • Michael Swartwout

        Professor, Saint Louis University: Michael Swartwout is a professor of aerospace engineering at Saint Louis University. His research focuses on systems and models for improving mission assurance for small spacecraft. He earned his BS and MS in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois, and his PhD in aeronautics & astronautics from Stanford. While at Stanford, he was the manager of the Sapphire satellite, launched in 2001. At SLU, his students have several CubeSats in development for NASA-sponsored launches: COPPER (2013), Argus (2015), Argus-2 (2019), DARLA (2026), DARLA-02 (2027?)

      • Bruce Yost

        Director, S3VI, NASA - Ames Research Center: Bruce Yost is currently the NASA Director of the Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI), funded by the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). Prior to that, he was the Program Manager for the Small Spacecraft Technology Program within the STMD. He began his aerospace career working on the Space Shuttle at Kennedy Space Center, and also worked at NASA HQs prior to moving to Ames Research Center. Bruce has worked on a number of Shuttle, ISS, and more recently, smallsat missions and programs for over 30 years.

      • John Samson

        Research Affiliate / Aerospace Consultantant, Morehead State University : Dr. Samson has 50+ years experience in onboard processing for space and airborne applications. More than 50 publications in the area of onboard processing systems and architectures. Senior Member IEEE, Associate Fellow AIAA. Graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of South Florida.

    • 5.05 Small Missions for Workforce Development and Education

      The purpose of this session is to highlight the use of Smallsat missions for workforce development/education. While examples of undergraduate education programs that leverage Smallsats are welcome, this session has a particular emphasis on the use of these systems for professional workforce development as well as the training of graduate researchers. We invite papers covering individual missions (past, present, future) as well as workforce development programs at an institution or company.

      • Michael Swartwout

        Professor, Saint Louis University: Michael Swartwout is a professor of aerospace engineering at Saint Louis University. His research focuses on systems and models for improving mission assurance for small spacecraft. He earned his BS and MS in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois, and his PhD in aeronautics & astronautics from Stanford. While at Stanford, he was the manager of the Sapphire satellite, launched in 2001. At SLU, his students have several CubeSats in development for NASA-sponsored launches: COPPER (2013), Argus (2015), Argus-2 (2019), DARLA (2026), DARLA-02 (2027?)

      • Jin S. Kang

        Professor, U.S. Naval Academy: Dr. Jin S. Kang is a Professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department at the United States Naval Academy, and serves as the Director of the Naval Academy Small Satellite Program. His main research area is in small satellite technology development and was involved in development of four micro-satellites and numerous CubeSat satellites. He received his B.S. from the University of Michigan, M.S. from Stanford University, and Ph.D. from Korea Aerospace University (KAU) in Aerospace Engineering. After working for General Electric for two years, Kang taught at Korea Air Force Academy, KAU, and Drexel University before joining the Naval Academy faculty.

    • 5.06 Instruments and Payloads for Small, Low-Cost Missions

      Instruments and payloads for small, low-cost missions bring unique challenges, yet can offer unique opportunities. These opportunities range from the delivery of novel science data to meeting new business cases to delivering capabilities at great scale. This Session is focused on all types of instruments and payloads for small, low-cost missions and the benefits they can deliver.

      • Michael O'Connor

        , United States Space Force: Michael O'Connor's professional experience ranges from space systems to aircraft flight test. His previous research has focused on the intersection of autonomy, commercial space, and national security. He currently supports the development of U.S. Government space systems.

      • Rashmi Shah

        Technical Group Supervisor for Water and Ecosystems, Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology: Interests include technology development, Small Satellites implementation, early concept developments, and science system engineering. Research expertise are in the area of microwave remote sensing, electromagnetic scattering, remote sensing using signals of opportunity reflectometry and microwave remote sensing instrument development.

      • Laila Kazemi

        ADCS R&D Engineer , Star Forge Consulting : Laila Kazemi holds a Doctorate, a Master of Applied Science, and a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University. She has over 10 years of experience working on small satellite components. As part of her graduate studies, she worked on the ST-16RT star tracker and is credited as a co-inventor. She has contributed to small satellite component research through multiple publications. She currently holds the position of ADCS R&D Engineer at arcsec, where she contributes to star tracker algorithm development, fully integrated ADCS subsystem design, and the space situational awareness and defense domain. Her current project, DeDUST, focuses on the opportunistic detection of space debris through star trackers. The increasing computational capabilities of star tracker microcontrollers, coupled with their integration into the majority of spacecraft buses, present an opportunity to incorporate additional functionality. DeDUST will enable platforms to contribute to clean space guidelines at no extra operational cost or hardware. She is also a key personnel member for the development of a modular, fully integrated ADCS subsystem for nanosats, designed to meet the increasing performance demands and strict timelines of the current smallsat market. The Arcus ADCS will be developed under a GST program and ESA supervision.

    • 5.07 Technologies for Small, Low-Cost Missions

      This session seeks papers covering technologies, systems, and RF components for very small spacecraft (secondary platforms such as CubeSat, ESPA and ASAP-class) that enable "big" science and technology missions on a small budget. Papers that evaluate flight or testing results are strongly encouraged.

      • John Dickinson

        Manager, Research & Development, Radiation Effects & Mission Sciences, Sandia National Laboratories: Managing $45M research investment in radiation effects assessment for state-of-the-art digital microelectronics. Experience in spacecraft & payload systems engineering and avionics design & test on Kepler, WISE, JUNO, IBEX, RBSP, MMS, SPP, Solar Orbiter, CYGNSS, and multiple government programs. BSEE, Johns Hopkins University; MSEE, Georgia Institute of Technology.

      • Dimitris Anagnostou

        Associate Professor, Heriot Watt University: Dimitris E. Anagnostou received the BSEE degree from the Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, in 2000, and the MSEE and PhD from the University of New Mexico in 2002 and 2005, respectively. From 2005 to 2006, he was a Post-Doc at Georgia Tech. In 2007, he joined the ECE Department, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. He is currently Associate Professor at Heriot Watt University, in Edinburgh, UK. His interests include reconfigurable antennas and arrays for space and wearable applications, RADAR, and wireless vital sign monitoring. Dr. Anagnostou is a recipient of the DARPA Young Faculty Award, the IEEE John Kraus Antenna Award, and is currently supported by the H2020 Marie Curie Individual Fellowship. He is past Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

      • Michael Mclelland

        Vice President, Space Systems Division, Southwest Research Institute: Michael McLelland leads Southwest Research Institute’s Space Systems Division, which develops next-generation space missions, systems and enabling technologies to support fundamental space science, national security and commercial applications. Mr. McLelland has over 32 years engineering and management expertise in spacecraft constellations, small satellites, spacecraft avionics, power systems, science payloads and autonomous high-altitude airships. He has played key roles in the development of over 28 spaceflight systems.

    Methods to remotely observe and study the environment via stand-off sensors. All aspects of remote sensing system theory, design, and development are considered. This includes system architecture, hardware, software, and algorithms.

    • Jordan Evans

      Director - Flight Projects Directorate, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Director, Flight Projects Directorate. Previous roles have included the Europa Clipper Project Manager, the Deputy Director for Engineering and Science at JPL, and Division Manager of JPL's Mechanical Systems Division. Development experience with space projects at both NASA Goddard and JPL, including FUSE, WFC3, GLAST, LISA, MSL, and Europa Clipper along with numerous architecture studies.

    • Darin Dunham

      LM Fellow, Lockheed Martin: Darin Dunham is a Lockheed Martin Fellow and works as a Spiral Chief Engineer for the C2BMC Missile Defense National Team in Huntsville, Alabama. Currently, he works on target tracking and discrimination algorithms within the Missile Defense System. Previous work includes composite network-level tracking algorithms in various scenarios, including air targets with phased-array radar and multiple input, multiple output radar. Darin served almost 10 years in the Marine Corps, ending at the Marine Corps Systems Command. He has an MS in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon.

    • 6.01 Systems Engineering Challenges and Approaches for Remote Sensing Systems

      The need to make a particular measurement from a particular vantage point drives us to build sophisticated remote sensing instruments and launch them on similarly sophisticated spacecraft, aircraft, submersibles, balloons, etc. This session explores the highly coupled nature of the instrument, platform architecture, flight path design, ground system and mission operations, and the systems engineering challenges and solutions employed. Topics include instrument influences on platform architectures and flight path design, platform-to-instrument integration, trade studies, trends and novel solutions.

      • Travis Imken

        Systems Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Travis Imken is the Psyche Launch Phase Lead. He previously served as a Deployment Phase Systems Engineer for the InSight Lander and the Project Systems Engineer for the RainCube mission. Travis has worked on Mars Sample Return, ARRM, and the Lunar Flashlight and NEA Scout deep space CubeSats.

      • Bogdan Oaida

        Group Supervisor, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology: Bogdan Oaida is a Systems Engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Over his 15 years at JPL he has worked as a Systems Engineering supporting technology development (OPALS), planetary (Europa Clipper) and Earth science (EMIT) instruments, encompassing TeamX, proposal work, implementation, and operations, often in close, sustained, collaboration with numerous NASA Centers and industry partners. In the workplace, he is passionate about data visualization and melding people, processes, and tools.

      • Maria De Soria Santacruz Pich

        Systems Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Maria de Soria-Santacruz Pich received a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT in 2014. During 2014 she was a postdoctoral scholar at UCLA working on the development of an energetic particle detector for the ELFIN satellite and on the analysis of Van Allen Probes data. She joined JPL in 2015, where she defined space radiation environments and supported radiation analyses and testing for multiple missions. In 2017, she joined the Psyche project, where she stayed through launch in October 2023 as the Payload Lead Systems Engineer. Maria is currently the Flight Systems Engineer and Contract Technical Manager for the SBG-VSWIR mission. Her interests include systems engineering, instrument development, space physics, and climate sciences.

    • 6.02 Instrument and Sensor Architecture, Design, Test, and Accommodation

      This session covers topics related to the physical or functional architecture and design of instruments/sensors. Topics include hardware/software trade studies, fault protection approaches, unique or innovative system interfaces, accommodation of payloads within a system, system-level instrument/sensor testing, instrument/sensor integration, test, and calibration, and approaches to the processes involved in engineering an instrument or sensor.

      • Keith Rosette

        Deputy Project Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Mr. Rosette is currently the Deputy Project Manager for the Mars Sample Return Sample Retrieval Lander Project at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Prior to this role, he was the Deputy Section Manager for the Flight Systems Engineering, Integration and Test Section and was also the Product Delivery Manager for the Sampling and Caching Subsystem of the Mars2020 Perseverance Rover. He started in aerospace in 1991 and has experience in both industry and JPL including hardware development for human spaceflight and spacecraft development for LEO, GEO and interplanetary missions. He earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 1991 and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1994, both from Virginia Tech.

      • Michael Lisano

        Project Systems Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Mike Lisano has been developing and flying missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 2000, having worked previously in GN&C roles for Space Shuttle and ISS at NASA Johnson Space Center. Mike spent six years as the Project Systems Engineer who tested and launched NASA's NISAR Earth radar mission with ISRO; was previously the Deputy Project Systems Engineer and Surface Energy Lead on NASA's InSight mission to Mars, and was on the EDL team on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission. He was also a leading member of the JPL teams that designed and proposed NASA's VERITAS mission to Venus and the NEO Hunter asteroid mitigation concept. Mike holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Auburn University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas, all in Aerospace Engineering.

    • 6.03 Spectral Imaging in Remote Sensing

      This session covers multi-spectral, hyperspectral, and imaging spectrometer remote sensing techniques from ultraviolet to infrared wavelengths. Papers are welcome on instrument design, implementation, calibration, and operation; science and applications; and lessons learned from all phases.

      • Peter Sullivan

        Electrical Engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab: Peter Sullivan is an electrical engineer specializing in mixed-signal design and infrared instrumentation at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He has previously worked at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and holds a B.S. from Cornell University and a S.M. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has characterized image sensors for applications ranging from Earth science to exoplanet detection.

      • Mohamed Abid

        SRL Payload Chief Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory / NASA: Dr. Abid is the Mars Sample Return Payload Chief Engineer. He was the Mars 2020 deputy Mechanical Chief Engineer, M2020 Cruise, Entry, Descent & Landing (CEDL) MSE, and M2020 Anomaly Response Team lead. Prior to that, Dr. Abid was the JPL Mechatronics technical group manager, the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission Chief Engineer, the Flight System SE for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission, and Project SE on Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM). Dr. Abid received his Ph.D. from the Dept of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering of the University of Southern California (USC). He is a lecturer at USC and the author of the text book “Spacecraft Sensors”, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2005

    • 6.04 Radar, IR, and Electro-Optical Sensor Systems and Signal Processing

      This session focuses on remote sensing devices, systems, and signal processing. Topics of interest include surveillance and imaging radars, infrared search and track systems, IR components and instrumentation, and electro-optic imagers and their application to environmental, defense, astronomical, and meteorological sensing. Papers that use AI in sensing applications are also of interest.

      • Thomas Backes

        Research Engineer, Georgia Institute of Technology: Research engineer in the area of radars and tracking. BSEE, MSEE, MS Mathematics, MS Industrial Engineering, and MBA, all from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

      • Donnie Smith

        Radar Engineer, Waymo: Radar Engineer, Waymo. Interests include target tracking, estimation theory, and radar imaging and kinematics. M.S. EE, Georgia Institute of Technology.

    • 6.05 Information Fusion

      This session focuses on exploitation of all sources of information, including physical sensor data, context information, and human inputs. Methodologies for effective multi-sensor multi-target tracking and sensor management of disparate sources are of interest, as are algorithms and advances in downstream analysis of track data for situational awareness.

      • Craig Agate

        Chief Scientist, Toyon Research Corporation: Craig Agate is a Chief Scientist and Fusion and Tracking Team Lead at Toyon Research Corporation. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from California State University in Northridge, California and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of California in Santa Barbara where his doctoral thesis dealt with state and parameter estimation using density function approximation. In particular, he analyzed the small-sample and large-sample properties of a nonlinear parameter estimation algorithm that minimizes the Kullback-Leibler distance between the probability density function (PDF) of an unknown parameter and a mixture density. His interests lie in tracking targets using passive RF, track identity management algorithms, track-to-track fusion algorithms, and general problems in information fusion.

      • Dan Harris

        Causal AI Architect, Northrop Grumman Corporation: Dan Harris is a causal AI architect for Northrop Grumman, who builds algorithms to perform tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence. He is a 2008 Naval Academy graduate and earned his Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Arizona in 2019. Mr. Harris has worked on many AI algorithm development projects, for which he has produced several original works contributing to their success. His approach, as a causal AI architect, is to discover and leverage invariant correlations, governed by causal laws, between system inputs and desired outputs, which then allows him to build causal AI systems that consistently perform well after deployment and are robust against various forms and degrees of noise. Notable achievements include: recipient of the IEEE 2023 Industrial Innovation Award for engineering and implementing System Level Discrimination in the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications system; and US patent author of Hyperdimensional Simultaneous Belief Fusion Using Tensors (Patent~No.~11,651,261).

    • 6.06 Multisensor Fusion

      Papers that address all aspects of information fusion for the integration of multiple sensors are sought. Of particular interest are the theoretical aspects of some popular questions. When is sensor fusion better than a single sensor? How does one ensure that sensor fusion produces better results? Papers that document algorithms that address one of the many challenges in multisensor/multitarget tracking or multisensor resource management are also sought. Finally, fusion papers that use AI would also be of interest to this session.

      • William Blair

        Principal Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute: Principal Research Engineer at Georgia Tech and IEEE Fellow. Originated two benchmark problems for target tracking and radar resource allocation at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. Demonstrated modern tracking algorithms can reduce radar time/energy required for surveillance tracking. Research interests: radar signal processing/control, resource allocation for multifunction radars, multisensor integration/data fusion. Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of Virginia.

      • Laura Bateman

        System Engineer, Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory: Laura Ritter Bateman received her B.A. degree in Mathematics from McDaniel College in 1997 and an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst in 2000. From 2000 to 2006, she worked for Raytheon as a software engineer developing tracking code for the Patriot radar and later as a system engineer developing tracking algorithms for the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Command and Control Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system. Mrs. Bateman currently works as a Chief Engineer for Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Her efforts are focused in the areas of non-kinetics, cognitive communication, tracking, battle management, and sensor resource management.

      • Benjamin Davis

        Chief Technical Advisor, KBR Inc: Benjamin Davis studied Electrical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology where he received BS (2010), MS (2011), and PhD (2017) degrees with a minor in Computer Science. His research focus is in estimation and tracking filters and radar modeling and simulation applications. Dr. Davis has worked with GTRI, MITRE, Hill Technical Solutions (Valkyrie Enterprises), and KBR Inc supporting customers such the US Army and MDA on sensor and C2 system development, data analysis, and modeling and simulation.

    • 6.07 Classical and AI-Based Applications of Target Tracking

      Tracking of cooperative and non-cooperative targets across underwater, surface, land, air, and space domains using sonar, radar, passive RF, and electro-optical sensors. Topics include maneuvering target estimation, data association, and estimation of sensor properties such as biases and noise. Contributions spanning traditional tracking algorithms and AI/ML-based methods are welcome, particularly those demonstrating robustness, scalability, and performance in operationally relevant environments.

      • John Glass

        Systems Engineer, RTX: Dr. Glass is a systems engineer with RTX in Woburn, Massachusetts. In 2009 he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and in 2010 at Georgia Tech with a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. In May 2015, Dr. Glass completed the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. His dissertation focused on the monopulse processing and tracking of targets. From 2011-2017, Dr. Glass was a member of the Editorial Board for the Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine as Associate Editor for Student Research, recruiting and handling student highlight articles. His research interests include target tracking, sensor resource allocation, detection and estimation applied to radar, and the general field of digital signal processing.

      • John Grimes

        Scientist, BAE Systems, Inc: John Grimes currently works at BAE Systems C4ISR in Merrimack, NH. He is the direct of Space Systems RFx leading programs in space RF processing and payloads. He previously was the Director in the distributed fusion and resource management research group. He also continues to lead programs in multi-domain command and control, data fusion, and space autonomy. He previously worked at MIT Lincoln Laboratory from 2007-2017 on a wide variety of problems related to space systems and ISR. John recieved a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University (2007) in extragalactic astrophysics. His research was focused on space satellite operations, data analytics, and computational modeling. His particular research areas of expertise are in automated battle management, adversary behavior modeling, predictive tracking, data fusion, and systems analysis. Previously he has also worked at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the University of Chicago.

    • 6.08 Fusion Integration of Sensor Harvesting

      Methods for situation awareness/assessment, threat/impact analysis, sensor/processing refinement, user/man-machine interfaces, and mission awareness/responsiveness. Techniques for system design leveraging information fusion for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Cyber Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) over multi-domain sensor data and intelligence collections. Applications focusing on space, air, and architecture developments for efficient and effective distributed net-centric operations, edge computing, and complex networks. Approaches for software/hardware dynamic data-driven applications systems (DDDAS) improvements, context-enhanced results, and avionics protocols for big data scenarios. Use of information fusion to optimize and coordinate machine analytics with users for human-machine teaming.

      • Erik Blasch

        IEEE Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society, Air Force Research Laboratory: ERIK BLASCH is a program officer at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). He has held various positions at the Air Force Research Laboratory: Principle Scientist fielding multi-int fusion systems, Exchange Scientist to Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), and Information Fusion Evaluation Tech Lead supporting design evaluations. Dr. Blasch has been an Adjunct Electrical Engineering Professor at Wright State University teaching signal processing courses and reserve colonel. He has focused on information fusion, target tracking, pattern recognition, and avionics compiling 11 books,160 journal and 500+ scientific papers and 43 patents, and is an associate editor of three academic journals. He is an Fellow of AIAA, IEEE, MSS, and SPIE.

    This track presents avionics, electronics, and ground systems for space applications. All spacecraft electrical systems and subsystems are topical. Designs in the notional, active development, or implemented phase are covered. Sessions cover high performance computing, peripheral electronics, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) technologies, and power electronics as implemented in a resilient manner and adapted for the extreme space environment for all sizes of spacecraft.

    • John Dickinson

      Manager, Research & Development, Radiation Effects & Mission Sciences, Sandia National Laboratories: Managing $45M research investment in radiation effects assessment for state-of-the-art digital microelectronics. Experience in spacecraft & payload systems engineering and avionics design & test on Kepler, WISE, JUNO, IBEX, RBSP, MMS, SPP, Solar Orbiter, CYGNSS, and multiple government programs. BSEE, Johns Hopkins University; MSEE, Georgia Institute of Technology.

    • Patrick Phelan

      Sr. Manager - R&D, Southwest Research Institute: Patrick T. Phelan is a Sr. Manager at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, TX, USA in the Space Systems Division. He received a B.S. in Computer Engineering in 2005 and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2006, both from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has been with SwRI for almost twenty years serving in a variety of roles with growing responsibility on space programs. Most recently, he is serving as a project manager for a DoD technology demonstration program as well as a pair of NASA programs.

    • 7.01 High Performance Computing and On-Board Data Processing for Space Applications

      Explore innovations and new developments in spacecraft on-board and embedded computing architectures for GEO, MEO, LEO and 5G NTN missions . Example hardware topics: processors, data handling and companion processing ASICs and FPGAs, multicore processing architectures, application of soft-core embedded FPGA processors, emerging GPU technologies for space-based applications, on-orbit reconfiguration, and new or applied standards for embedded space electronics applications. Example software topics: machine learning techniques, embedded cluster computing, on-board big data analytics, power-aware optimal reconfiguration algorithms, reconfigurable software-implemented hardware fault tolerance algorithms and designs, evolutionary platforms, and autonomous computing designs. Papers should address, as applicable: processing performance, size-weight-power (SWaP) comparisons of different components and architectures, standardized form factors, protocols and interfaces, radiation hardness by design, process, or technology, mitigation of other spacecraft environmental factors, software support, and integration and test of elements. Descriptions and performance of actual development, test, flight, or mission usage are highly sought.

      • Jamal Haque

        Chief Satellite Architect/ LM Fellow, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company: Dr. Haque is a Chief Satellite Architect and LM Fellow at Lockheed Space Communications, where he leads the various solutions for satellite applications. Dr. Haque's experiences and interests are LOS, BLOS, and NLOS communication systems across terrestrial and non- terrestrial applications, i.e., satellites, 5G/6G etc. In particular he has focused on waveforms for highspeed mobile platforms, channel estimation, cognitive software defined radio, signal processing, channel coding, high-speed connectivity, channelizer and robust space processing systems and architectures. He has worked at advance development groups at AT&T ( Bell Labs), Rockwell, Lucent (Bell Labs) technology, Honeywell and Raytheon Space. He brings wealth of knowledge in research, system design, system engineering, program management, leadership and Product leadership. As a Sr Manager Product Leader he was responsible for P&L, and also led M&A . As Tech. Director at Raytheon, he was responsible for technology road maps, IR&D allocation and management of a business unit. His dissertation is focused on OFDM based system for aerial platforms. He has 16 publications and has been awarded 33 US patents.

      • Robert Merl

        Electrical Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory: Robert Merl received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1992 and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago in 1996. He has been with Los Alamos National Laboratory for 19 years and was previously with Argonne National Laboratory. Rob is the project engineer for the Processing and Communication team in the Intelligence and Space Research Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He is also the principal design engineer for several space flight modules currently under development at the laboratory. Rob has 26 years of experience in circuit design. Rob is an instrument rated pilot and a commercial drone pilot.

    • 7.02 Peripheral Electronics, Data Handling, and Interconnects for Space Applications

      This session explores novel concepts for hardware and software technologies that support but are peripheral to the main computing core. Example topics include: novel instrument or payload hardware and software technologies; network connections architectures; high speed interconnects; mixed signal and systems-on-a-chip technologies; onboard signal, data, and command processing; telecommand reception, decoding, and distribution; payload data pre-processing; dedicated accelerators for data processing; transmission and storage (e.g. compression, encoding, parallel processing for payloads (GIPs, GFLOPs), etc.); fault-tolerance mechanisms; autonomous operations, reconfigurable approaches, and failsafe strategies; emerging and novel designs and tests for high performance embedded computing platforms; temporal and spatial reuse of systems' resources; sensor, detector, and imager readout circuits; high resolution/ high speed ADCs and DACs; resource efficient (mass/ volume ) miniaturized multi-channel/ parallel systems; circuit designs for analog and digital processing functions; and designs for integrated communications systems applications on a chip.

      • Patrick Phelan

        Sr. Manager - R&D, Southwest Research Institute: Patrick T. Phelan is a Sr. Manager at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, TX, USA in the Space Systems Division. He received a B.S. in Computer Engineering in 2005 and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2006, both from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has been with SwRI for almost twenty years serving in a variety of roles with growing responsibility on space programs. Most recently, he is serving as a project manager for a DoD technology demonstration program as well as a pair of NASA programs.

      • Mark Post

        Senior Lecturer, University of York: Mark A. Post received his B.A.Sc. in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto in 2004, and his M.Sc. in ultrasonic material analysis and Ph.D. in space robotics from York University, Canada in 2008 and 2014 respectively. His research focuses on development of modular, adaptable, and autonomous systems, robots and vehicles for challenging environments and has developed a multitude of highly-integrated self-* systems that allow intelligent and efficient autonomy. From 2014-2018 he was a Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde. He joined the University of York in January 2019 and is now a Senior Lecturer in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology Intelligent Systems and Robotics group. His research interests and experience include machine vision for navigation and recognition, autonomous control, sensor data fusion and mapping methods, semantic probabilistic learning and reasoning methods and reliable and efficient bio-inspired mechatronic architectures for robots.

    • 7.03 Assembly, Integration, and Test for Electrical Space Systems

      This session explores all aspects of assembly, integration, and test of electrical space systems. This includes assembly, integration, and test efforts at the board-level for RF, analog, or digital card assemblies; box-level for command, telemetry, data handling, data processing, control, power, or mixed-purpose avionics; subsystem-level for instruments/payloads; or system-level for entire spacecraft electrical subsystems. Papers can address innovative uses of test software, test scripts, mission simulation, human-computer interface, electrical support ground equipment, and harnessing to accomplish integration and test. Papers also address unique system engineering and configuration control approaches to manage test, and transition from system test to launch and mission operations.

      • Eric Bradley

        Computer Engineer, Naval Research Lab: Eric Bradley works as a program manager for the Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Eric has experience in the development of experimental space systems in technology areas ranging from propulsion to communications to remote sensing. He has led teams through all phases of the space system development lifecycle including requirements definition, design, implementation, test, launch, and on-orbit operations. Eric’s technical focus area is on all aspects of electrical system integration and testing from avionics to software to entire spacecraft.

      • Eric Rossland

        Electronics Engineer, Naval Research Laboratory: Eric Rossland is an employee at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) with over 20 years experience in spacecraft systems engineering. Eric works in the spacecraft systems electrical integration and test section on efforts from robotics, to space sensors, to entire spacecraft, and mission operations. Eric’s most recent technical focus area is space robotics, specifically robotic arm system design, integration, and test. On multiple flight programs, Eric managed teams through the entirety of the project from requirements development, design, hardware and software implementation, integration and test, verification/validation, spacecraft launch and on-orbit operations. As a subject matter expert in the field of spacecraft electrical and robotic systems integration and test, Eric has been consulted to support internal and external program design reviews.

    • 7.04 Power Electronics for Aerospace Applications

      This session explores advanced power electronics designs and systems for space and avionics applications. Example topics include: power devices; wide bandgap power semiconductors; power electronics; electro-magnetic devices; photo-voltaic modules; energy storage and battery management systems and power systems. Papers discuss technical aspects of power electronics including extreme thermal and power requirements, radiation hardening, efficiency and power management, tolerance to aerospace environments, and reliability.

      • Thomas Cook

        Senior Electrical Engineer, Voyager Space: Thomas Cook received a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 and PhD in 2023. Dr. Cook is currently a senior electrical engineer at Voyager Technologies.

      • Chris Iannello

        Professor of Practice, Space Electrical and Power, University of Central Florida: Dr. Chris Iannello brings an unique experience in spacecraft and launch vehicle electrical power systems, forged through 35 years of technical leadership across NASA, industry, and academia. He served as NASA’s longest-tenured Technical Fellow for Electrical Power, acting as the agency’s senior-most authority on spacecraft and launch vehicle electrical power systems. Over the past decade, Dr. Iannello has been intimately involved in the design, integration, and flight operations of nearly every major spacecraft and launch system in the U.S. civil and commercial space sectors. His distinguished service has been recognized with numerous national honors, including the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Senior Technical Executives , the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for flight power system leadership, and the NASA Silver Snoopy Award, personally presented by astronauts for exceptional contributions to crew safety.

    • 7.05 Electronics for Extreme Environments

      This session explores innovations in electronics technologies and packaging that help enable operation of electronics in extreme environments, including space. Technologies resilient to extremes in temperature, radiation, and launch vehicle environments are relevant. Example topics include: materials and techniques for assembling and testing microelectronics; component packaging, attachment, and connectors; thermal/mechanical/electrical/radiation performance comparisons; reliability and failure analyses; adaptation of manufacturing methods for space applications; and integration of diverse modules such as MEMS, power electronics, sensors, optics, RF and microprocessors.

      • Mohammad Mojarradi

        Assistand Division Manager for Formulation and Technolofy, California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Assistant Division Manager for Manager for Technology and Formulation at JPL, prior to this assignment was manager of Component Engineering and Assurance section at JPL. IC design specialist, expert in mixed-signal/mixed-voltage circuits, sensors, micro-machined electro-mechanical interface systems for extreme environment of space. Twenty years experience. Twenty-seven patents, forty publications.

      • Andrew Kirby

        R&D Engineer, Los Alamos National Laboratory: Andrew Kirby received his B.S. in Computer Engineering from Montana State University. He has been an R&D Engineer in the Space Electronics and Signal Processing Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory since 2021, developing digital architecture, signal processing, and controls for space-based neutron, gamma, and plasma instruments on scientific and national security missions. He specializes in the design, modeling, and verification of cognitive radio networks and their RF environments.

    • 7.06 Fault Tolerance, Autonomy, and Evolvability in Spacecraft and Instrument Avionics

      This session explores adaptation, including Fault Tolerance, Autonomy, and Evolvability, in space electronics. Adaptation reflects the capability of a system to maintain or improve its performance in the presence of internal or external changes, such as faults and degradations, uncertainties and variations during fabrication, modifications in the operational environment, or incidental interference. This session addresses all aspects of adaptivity for spacecraft and instrument avionics with the scope of papers encompassing theoretical considerations, design solutions, and actual techniques applied to space flight operations.

      • Didier Keymeulen

        Principal, Member Technical Staff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Principal, Member technical staff, JPL. Interests in design and implementation of adaptive and intelligent embedded flight systems

      • Neil Dahya

        Manager, GRACE-C Flight System, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Neil T. Dahya is the Flight System Manager for the GRACE-C Mission. In his 18 years at JPL and 28 years in the aerospace industry Neil has served as the Deputy Flight System Manager for the Psyche Project, the Project Systems Engineer (PSE) on the GRACE Follow-On Mission, flight systems engineer on the GRAIL mission and delivered hardware for the Mars Curiosity Mission. Prior to work atJPL Neil has supported Orbital Space Plane development under NASA contract, been lead mechanical and ATLO Mechanical Lead for the GALEX mission at Orbital Sciences, supported the SMAP probe at Goddard Spaceflight Center and has supported shuttle payload missions. Neil received a B.S. in Mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware in 1995.

    • 7.07 Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technologies for Space Applications

      This session explores sensor, actuator, algorithm and processing innovations related to the guidance, navigation, and control of space vehicles. This session welcomes manuscripts that discuss technologies applicable to satellites, probes, landers, launchers, and other space-related missions.

      • Leena Singh

        Senior Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory: Leena Singh is a Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems engineer with experience in the autonomous GN&C of space, missile, and planetary reentry & landing bodies. She presently holds a Senior Technical Staff position in Control and Autonomous Systems Engineering at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. She has previously worked at Draper Laboratory holding various positions providing GN&C expertise in the area of single spacecraft operations, formation control of spacecraft clusters, and in the rendezvous and proximity operations of spacecraft approaching for docking. Leena Singh has been a member of the IEEE and the AIAA for over 20 years and is a Fellow of the AIAA.

      • Matthew Lashley

        Senior Research Engineer, GTRI: Dr. Matthew Lashley is a Senior Research Engineer in the Air & Missile Defense Division (AMDD) of the Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL) at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). He received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Auburn University in 2004, 2006, & 2009. His research background is in the area of vector tracking algorithms for GPS receivers and the deep integration of GPS and inertial measurement units. He joined GTRI in 2015 and has since worked in the areas of radar interferometry, target tracking, and GPS-denied navigation.

      • John Enright

        Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University: John Enright is a Professor in Department of Aerospace Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). His primary research interests concern the development of attitude sensors for spacecraft, optical navigation, and mobile robotics.

      • Sheral Crescent Tissera

        Assistant Professor/Deputy Director, National University of Singapore: Sheral Crescent Tissera is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS). He is a founding member of the Satellite Technology and Research Centre (STAR), a joint laboratory between NUS and DSO National Laboratories, and currently serves as its Deputy Director. Prior to joining NUS, he was a Research Engineer at the Satellite Research Centre (SaRC), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, from 2013 to 2017. He received his B.Eng. in Aerospace Engineering and M.Eng. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from NTU in 2013 and 2017, respectively, and earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from NUS in 2023, focusing on satellite attitude determination and control. His research centres on guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) for space autonomy, with particular emphasis on spacecraft attitude determination and control, space-based surveillance for space situational and domain awareness, and collision avoidance. He also maintains complementary research interests in small satellite systems, space robotics, space mechanisms, edge computing, and GNC verification and experimentation through hardware-in-the-loop testing. He was part of the SaRC team awarded the President’s Technology Award in 2016.

    • 7.08 Emerging Technologies for Space Applications

      This session explores a wide range of advanced, novel, and cutting edge device technologies for space applications. Example topics include: advanced MEMS devices; 3D circuit printing; innovative embedded electronics applications (including multi-functional components); as well as the leveraging of advanced commercial electronics for space applications. This session also serves as a catch-all for unique advanced technology topics that do not fit cleanly into other sessions or are inherently multi-disciplinary in nature.

      • William Jackson

        Senior Scientist, L3Harris Technologies: Senior Scientist, L3Harris Technologies. Spacecraft systems engineer for various mid-size satellite programs. Expertise in systems engineering, mission analysis and operations, mathematical modeling and optimization, and spacecraft design. Senior member of IEEE, and Associate Fellow of AIAA.

      • Michael Mclelland

        Vice President, Space Systems Division, Southwest Research Institute: Michael McLelland leads Southwest Research Institute’s Space Systems Division, which develops next-generation space missions, systems and enabling technologies to support fundamental space science, national security and commercial applications. Mr. McLelland has over 32 years engineering and management expertise in spacecraft constellations, small satellites, spacecraft avionics, power systems, science payloads and autonomous high-altitude airships. He has played key roles in the development of over 28 spaceflight systems.

    • 7.09 COTS Utilization for Reliable Space Applications

      This session explores the use of commercial, off-the-shelf electronics and technologies in a space environment. Using commercial electronics not intended for an application in a space environment is becoming increasingly common. Topics of interest include: adaptations of COTS electronics for fault tolerance and environmental resilience; flight proven COTS electronics; novel implementations of electrical functions using COTS components; and results of COTS component use. Papers address theoretical considerations, design solutions, and actual techniques applied to space flight operations.

      • Douglas Carssow

        Electronics Engineer, Naval Research Laboratory: Dr. Douglas Carssow is the Naval Center for Space Technology Digital Flight Systems section head. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Boston University in 2010. He is a former Naval Research Laboratory Karle’s Fellow and has 19 years of space hardware experience. He is currently working on edge processing for space applications.

      • Matthew Spear

        Electronics Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory: Matthew got his PhD in Electrical Engineering from ASU in 2024. His research focused on radiation effects and neuromorphic devices. Now at the Air Force Research Lab, he works in the FORTRESS lab leading radiation testing. His in-house research projects focus on novel devices. Supports a wide range of testing on parts for space applications.

    The Air Vehicle Track is open to any atmospheric vehicle concept ranging from fixed wing, rotary wing, propulsive and buoyant lift applications for Earth-based or other Planetary Atmospheric application (atmospheric referring to the envelope of gases that surrounds any planet or dwarf planets or moons within or outside the solar system). The track houses sessions focused on atmospheric flight applications for piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous Un-piloted Aerial Systems (UAS) platforms including any aerial vehicle(s). The Air Vehicle Systems and Technologies Track includes five sessions categorized to focus on development, technologies, and innovations in (i) Modeling, Simulation, Flight Testing, and Verification & Validation (V&V); (ii) Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence for Atmospheric Platforms; (iii) Integrated Systems, Sensors, Safety-Critical Hardware, and Avionics; (iv) Air Vehicle Flight Guidance, Navigation, and Control Theory and Application; and (v) Distributed, Cooperative, and Multi-Vehicle GNC.

    • Christopher Elliott

      Principal Research Engineer, CMElliott Applied Science LLC: Christopher M Elliott is a Principal Research Engineer at CMElliott Applied Science LLC, a company that provides innovative solutions for challenges in engineering research and production. With over 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry including roles as a Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Technical Fellow in Flight Control and Vehicle Management Systems, Dr. Elliott has worked on a number of diverse research programs for the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, such as the International Space Station, Block 60 F16, F35 Joint Strike Fighter, and Hybrid Airship. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Texas Christian University and the University of Texas at Arlington, where he teaches and mentors students in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He holds a PhD and an MS in Aerospace Engineering from UT Arlington, and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from UT Austin. He is an AIAA Associate Fellow and the Air Vehicle Chair for the annual IEEE Aerospace Conference and a passionate advocate for advancing the field of aerospace and mechanical engineering; guidance, navigation, and control; modeling, simulation, estimation, and optimization of dynamic systems; and quantum information science.

    • Tom Mc Ateer

      System of Systems Test and Evaluation, NAVAIR: Systems of Systems Test and Evaluation, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD.

    • 9.01 AV Physics, Modeling, and Simulation

      This Air Vehicle (AV) session focuses on methodology and techniques for the governing physics, modeling and simulation of atmospheric vehicles including piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous platforms including fixed wing, rotary wing, and any other aerial vehicle(s). The AV Physics, Modeling, and Simulation is open to any atmospheric vehicle concept including fixed wing, rotary wing, propulsive and buoyant lift applications for Earth-based or other Planetary Atmospheric GNC applications (atmospheric referring to the envelope of gases that surrounds any planet or dwarf planets or moons within or outside the solar system).

      • Will Goins

        Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer, William Goins P.E. : Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer in Huntsville AL, USA. Previously he held research and design positions with commercial companies supporting aerospace and defense customers. His research interests are in aerospace and electronic systems areas, with specific focus in autonomous vehicles and sensors. He holds a B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering

      • Richard Hoobler

        Graduate Research Assistant, University of Texas at Austin: Dr. Richard Hoobler has a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University and earned his PhD from UT Austin. His research interests are in Aircraft GNC, Adaptive Control, and System Identification.

    • 9.02 AV Autonomy, Artificial Intelligence, and Distributed Atmospheric Platforms

      This session includes papers on all aspects of autonomy and artificial intelligence and machine learning for Air Vehicle (AV) applications including piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous platforms in atmospheric flight. Example topics may include human and automony interaction; real time prognostics and integrity monitoring and mitigation; path planning in dynamic and uncertain environments; conflict detection and resolution; and work from experimental to operational applications. Other topics may range from resource allocation and command and control of complex, autonomous systems to self-organization and autonomous operation and decision making, or any AI augmented concepts with GNC for homogeneous or mixed types of a multi-vehicular distributed AV system.

      • Will Goins

        Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer, William Goins P.E. : Sr. Principal Electronics Engineer in Huntsville AL, USA. Previously he held research and design positions with commercial companies supporting aerospace and defense customers. His research interests are in aerospace and electronic systems areas, with specific focus in autonomous vehicles and sensors. He holds a B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering

      • Nathaniel Hamilton

        Reinforcement Learning Engineer, University of Dayton: Nathaniel Hamilton is a Reinforcement Learning Engineer supporting the Safe Autonomy Team at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Autonomy Capability Team (ACT3). There he investigates Safe Reinforcement Learning (SafeRL) approaches and how we can better integrate safety into the learning process to enable safe, trusted, and certifiable autonomous and learning-enabled controllers for aircraft and spacecraft applications. His previous experience includes studying how Run Time Assurance (RTA) impacts the learning and performance of SafeRL agents, and work in simulation to real-world (sim2real) transfer for learning-enabled controllers. In 2019, Dr. Hamilton was awarded the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship. Dr. Hamilton has a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Lipscomb University, and an MS and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

    • 9.03 AV Systems, Sensors, Flight Testing, and V&V

      This session includes a broad focus on topics ranging from integrated systems, sensor technologies and safety critical hardware, and operator feedback and avionics technologies for atmospheric flight applications including piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous platforms. Papers may address concepts and practices for the design, integration and testing of these systems for improving aircraft performance, operator situational awareness, survivability, energy state, and airspace deconfliction. Novel sensor concepts and sensor fusion, aircraft state estimation, and operator feedback are all important example topics for this session.

      • Andrew Lynch

        Director, U.S. Marketing, Tactical Air Support Inc.: Mr. Lynch graduated with merit from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. He is a graduate and former Commanding Officer of the United States Naval Test Pilot School and led the Navy's Specialized and Proven Aircraft Program (PMA-226). He is currently the Director, U.S. Marketing at Tactical Air Support Inc.

    • 9.04 AV Flight Guidance, Navigation, and Control Theory and Application

      This session focuses on Atmospheric Flight Control and includes theory, application, and future or historical operational example topics ranging from guidance algorithms and path planning; navigation state estimation and sensing and control variable construction; to flight control law loop closure design, synthesis, and evaluation. The Air Vehicle Flight GNC session is open to any atmospheric vehicle concept including piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous platforms categorically ranging from fixed wing, rotary wing, propulsive and buoyant lift applications for Earth-based or other Planetary Atmospheric GNC applications (atmospheric referring to the envelope of gases that surrounds any planet or dwarf planets or moons within or outside the solar system). Example topics may include linear and nonlinear derivation, analysis and simulation results to experimental or operational flight events and lessons learned.

      • Christopher Elliott

        Principal Research Engineer, CMElliott Applied Science LLC: Christopher M Elliott is a Principal Research Engineer at CMElliott Applied Science LLC, a company that provides innovative solutions for challenges in engineering research and production. With over 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry including roles as a Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Technical Fellow in Flight Control and Vehicle Management Systems, Dr. Elliott has worked on a number of diverse research programs for the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, such as the International Space Station, Block 60 F16, F35 Joint Strike Fighter, and Hybrid Airship. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Texas Christian University and the University of Texas at Arlington, where he teaches and mentors students in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He holds a PhD and an MS in Aerospace Engineering from UT Arlington, and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from UT Austin. He is an AIAA Associate Fellow and the Air Vehicle Chair for the annual IEEE Aerospace Conference and a passionate advocate for advancing the field of aerospace and mechanical engineering; guidance, navigation, and control; modeling, simulation, estimation, and optimization of dynamic systems; and quantum information science.

      • Richard Hoobler

        Graduate Research Assistant, University of Texas at Austin: Dr. Richard Hoobler has a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University and earned his PhD from UT Austin. His research interests are in Aircraft GNC, Adaptive Control, and System Identification.

      • Nikolaus Ammann

        Research Scientist, DLR (German Aerospace Center): Nikolaus Ammann received his B.Sc. degree in computer science from the University of Lübeck in 2009. Afterwards he continued his study at the Auckland University of Technology and the University of Lübeck and received the M.Sc degree in 2012. Since then, he works as a research scientist at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). His research activities include sensor fusion, visual navigation for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and spacecraft. Most recently, he was appointed head of a DLR-wide project on counter UAS technologies.

    This track explores the full spectrum of Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) technologies and methodologies applied across aerospace and related industries. Sessions cover PHM for aerospace systems, structures, and components; autonomous platforms and control systems; commercial space applications; and non-aerospace domains such as automotive, marine, and oil & gas. The track also examines PHM system design architectures and assessments, the integration of PHM with digital engineering paradigms such as Digital Twins and Model-Based Systems Engineering, and emerging applications in human health and performance monitoring for long-duration space exploration missions. A practitioner-focused panel session provides a forum for senior leaders from industry, government, and academia to share lessons learned, case studies, and innovative approaches to real-world implementation. Together, these sessions advance the state of the art in fault detection, remaining useful life estimation, autonomous decision-making, and integrated system health management across diverse platforms and mission domains.

    • Andrew Hess

      President, The Hess PHM Group, Inc.: Consultant to government and industry on advanced diagnostics, prognostics, data and predictive analytics, CBM, smart manufacturing, health and asset management of machines and engineering systems. Previously program office lead for the JSF PHM effort. Current President of the PHM Society.

    • Wolfgang Fink

      Associate Professor and Keonjian Endowed Chair (emeritus), University of Arizona: Prof. Wolfgang Fink is the inaugural Edward & Maria Keonjian Endowed Chair (em.) at the University of Arizona, having held joint appointments in the Departments of ECE, BME, SIE, AME, and Ophthalmology & Vision Science. He is a LFNAI, FARVO, LFSPIE, FPHMS, FAIMBE, and SM IEEE, as well as the VP of the PHM Society. Prof. Fink holds a Ph.D. "summa cum laude" in Theoretical Physics, University of Tübingen, Germany, and a Commercial Pilots License for Rotorcraft. He is the founder and director of the Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory (https://www.vaesrl.com/) at Caltech and the University of Arizona. Prof. Fink has over 270 publications (incl. journal, book, and conference contributions), 6 NASA Patent Awards, as well as 32 U.S. and foreign patents awarded to date. Among numerous awards he received: NASA Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Launch Honoree Award in 2002, co-recipient of the 2009 R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 and R&D 100 Editors’ Choice Awards for the DOE-funded "Artificial Retina" Project, co-recipient of the 2009 NASA Board Award for pioneering work on a disruptive autonomous space exploration paradigm, co-winner of the $200,000 DOE/NREL-sponsored E-ROBOT Prize in 2021, and recipient of the 2023 SPIE Meinel Technology Achievement Award.

    • 11.01 PHM for Aerospace Systems, Subsystems, Components, Electronics, and Structures

      Advanced Diagnostics and PHM can be and is applied separately or concurrently at the device, component, subsystem, structure, system and/or total platform levels. This session will give PHM developers, practitioners, integrators, and users a chance to discuss their capabilities and experiences at any or all of these application levels. Discussion of the integration of PHM capabilities across these various levels of application is welcome and encouraged. Applications involving propulsion systems, fuel management, flight control, EHAS, drive systems, and structures are particularly solicited.

      • Andrew Hess

        President, The Hess PHM Group, Inc.: Consultant to government and industry on advanced diagnostics, prognostics, data and predictive analytics, CBM, smart manufacturing, health and asset management of machines and engineering systems. Previously program office lead for the JSF PHM effort. Current President of the PHM Society.

      • David He

        Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago: David He received a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from The University of Iowa. Dr. He is a Professor and Director of the Industrial AI and PHM Integration Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at The University of Illinois-Chicago. Dr. He is also a Fellow of the Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) Society. Dr. He’s research areas include PHM, Industrial AI, smart manufacturing systems modeling and analysis, quality and reliability engineering.

    • 11.02 PHM for Autonomous Platforms and Control Systems Applications

      This session focuses on diagnostics and prognostics for autonomous system applications and control systems. This would include autonomous system architectures, electronic controls, control systems, and electronic systems for both the item under control and the controlling system. Methods for autonomous decision making, fault detection, rate of progression, and consequence or mission risk are encouraged. The session also is looking for novel technical approaches to use diagnostic and prognostic information to provide control input adjustments that can slow or reverse fault progression.

      • Derek De Vries

        LMDS Fellow Emeritus, Nothrop Grumman Propulsion Systems: Mr. Derek R. DeVries, P.E., LMDS Fellow Emeritus for Discipline of Avionics and Controls at Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems. Senior Member of IEEE with over 35 years’ experience in the Aerospace Industry in Operation, Integration, and Development of Space Launch Systems. PHM Society Fellow, Board of Directors, and Honored as a Luminary Speaker for the PHM 2015 Conference. B.Sc Electrical Engineering from University of Utah, and M.Sc. Electrical Engineering from Utah State University. Industrial Advisory Board Member for the University of Utah Electrical Engineering, AIAA Standards Committee NATO Scientific Achievement Award 2016 "Application of Integrated Munitions health Management", Member for AIAA “S-122-2006 Direct Current Power Systems for Earth-Orbiting Satellites”, 15 U.S./Foreign Patents, and AIAA 2001 JPC Arthur D. Rhea Best Paper Award for "Ordnance Components and Systems". Research/Development interests include advanced Avionics and Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) of integrated systems.

      • Wolfgang Fink

        Associate Professor and Keonjian Endowed Chair (emeritus), University of Arizona: Prof. Wolfgang Fink is the inaugural Edward & Maria Keonjian Endowed Chair (em.) at the University of Arizona, having held joint appointments in the Departments of ECE, BME, SIE, AME, and Ophthalmology & Vision Science. He is a LFNAI, FARVO, LFSPIE, FPHMS, FAIMBE, and SM IEEE, as well as the VP of the PHM Society. Prof. Fink holds a Ph.D. "summa cum laude" in Theoretical Physics, University of Tübingen, Germany, and a Commercial Pilots License for Rotorcraft. He is the founder and director of the Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory (https://www.vaesrl.com/) at Caltech and the University of Arizona. Prof. Fink has over 270 publications (incl. journal, book, and conference contributions), 6 NASA Patent Awards, as well as 32 U.S. and foreign patents awarded to date. Among numerous awards he received: NASA Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Launch Honoree Award in 2002, co-recipient of the 2009 R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 and R&D 100 Editors’ Choice Awards for the DOE-funded "Artificial Retina" Project, co-recipient of the 2009 NASA Board Award for pioneering work on a disruptive autonomous space exploration paradigm, co-winner of the $200,000 DOE/NREL-sponsored E-ROBOT Prize in 2021, and recipient of the 2023 SPIE Meinel Technology Achievement Award.

    • 11.03 PHM System Design Attributes, Architectures, and Assessments

      Design of complex systems, such as aircraft and space vehicles, requires complex trade-offs among requirements related to performance, safety, reliability, and life cycle cost. The development of effective architectures and implementation strategies are extremely important. This session will focus on the application of methods such as testability, diagnosability, embedding sensors, prognostics, remaining useful life estimates used to design complex aerospace systems, and architectures to design, enable, and implement complex aerospace systems. We invite papers discussing new methodologies, lessons learned in application of health management methods in system design, and operational experience with health management capabilities embedded into systems early in the design process.

      • Andrew Hess

        President, The Hess PHM Group, Inc.: Consultant to government and industry on advanced diagnostics, prognostics, data and predictive analytics, CBM, smart manufacturing, health and asset management of machines and engineering systems. Previously program office lead for the JSF PHM effort. Current President of the PHM Society.

      • Derek De Vries

        LMDS Fellow Emeritus, Nothrop Grumman Propulsion Systems: Mr. Derek R. DeVries, P.E., LMDS Fellow Emeritus for Discipline of Avionics and Controls at Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems. Senior Member of IEEE with over 35 years’ experience in the Aerospace Industry in Operation, Integration, and Development of Space Launch Systems. PHM Society Fellow, Board of Directors, and Honored as a Luminary Speaker for the PHM 2015 Conference. B.Sc Electrical Engineering from University of Utah, and M.Sc. Electrical Engineering from Utah State University. Industrial Advisory Board Member for the University of Utah Electrical Engineering, AIAA Standards Committee NATO Scientific Achievement Award 2016 "Application of Integrated Munitions health Management", Member for AIAA “S-122-2006 Direct Current Power Systems for Earth-Orbiting Satellites”, 15 U.S./Foreign Patents, and AIAA 2001 JPC Arthur D. Rhea Best Paper Award for "Ordnance Components and Systems". Research/Development interests include advanced Avionics and Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) of integrated systems.

    • 11.04 PHM for Non-Aerospace Applications

      This session seeks contributions in non-aerospace but related applications, e.g., automotive industry, trains, marine, oil & gas, etc. Both programmatic and technology presentations are solicited, particularly those focused on capabilities, cost benefits, and lessons learned.

      • Andrew Hess

        President, The Hess PHM Group, Inc.: Consultant to government and industry on advanced diagnostics, prognostics, data and predictive analytics, CBM, smart manufacturing, health and asset management of machines and engineering systems. Previously program office lead for the JSF PHM effort. Current President of the PHM Society.

      • David He

        Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago: David He received a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from The University of Iowa. Dr. He is a Professor and Director of the Industrial AI and PHM Integration Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at The University of Illinois-Chicago. Dr. He is also a Fellow of the Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) Society. Dr. He’s research areas include PHM, Industrial AI, smart manufacturing systems modeling and analysis, quality and reliability engineering.

    • 11.05 PHM for Commercial Space Applications

      This session seeks papers on diagnostics, prognostics, health management (PHM) and autonomous fault management for satellites, satellite in-space servicing, and other commercial space applications (e.g., asteroid mining, etc.). Papers are sought in the areas of satellites, launch vehicles, and other new space ventures (e.g., tourism, natural resource exploitation). Papers may address research, actual flight experience, and future planning related to satellite and launch vehicle PHM and fault management.

      • Wolfgang Fink

        Associate Professor and Keonjian Endowed Chair (emeritus), University of Arizona: Prof. Wolfgang Fink is the inaugural Edward & Maria Keonjian Endowed Chair (em.) at the University of Arizona, having held joint appointments in the Departments of ECE, BME, SIE, AME, and Ophthalmology & Vision Science. He is a LFNAI, FARVO, LFSPIE, FPHMS, FAIMBE, and SM IEEE, as well as the VP of the PHM Society. Prof. Fink holds a Ph.D. "summa cum laude" in Theoretical Physics, University of Tübingen, Germany, and a Commercial Pilots License for Rotorcraft. He is the founder and director of the Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory (https://www.vaesrl.com/) at Caltech and the University of Arizona. Prof. Fink has over 270 publications (incl. journal, book, and conference contributions), 6 NASA Patent Awards, as well as 32 U.S. and foreign patents awarded to date. Among numerous awards he received: NASA Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Launch Honoree Award in 2002, co-recipient of the 2009 R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 and R&D 100 Editors’ Choice Awards for the DOE-funded "Artificial Retina" Project, co-recipient of the 2009 NASA Board Award for pioneering work on a disruptive autonomous space exploration paradigm, co-winner of the $200,000 DOE/NREL-sponsored E-ROBOT Prize in 2021, and recipient of the 2023 SPIE Meinel Technology Achievement Award.

      • Andrew Hess

        President, The Hess PHM Group, Inc.: Consultant to government and industry on advanced diagnostics, prognostics, data and predictive analytics, CBM, smart manufacturing, health and asset management of machines and engineering systems. Previously program office lead for the JSF PHM effort. Current President of the PHM Society.

      • Derek De Vries

        LMDS Fellow Emeritus, Nothrop Grumman Propulsion Systems: Mr. Derek R. DeVries, P.E., LMDS Fellow Emeritus for Discipline of Avionics and Controls at Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems. Senior Member of IEEE with over 35 years’ experience in the Aerospace Industry in Operation, Integration, and Development of Space Launch Systems. PHM Society Fellow, Board of Directors, and Honored as a Luminary Speaker for the PHM 2015 Conference. B.Sc Electrical Engineering from University of Utah, and M.Sc. Electrical Engineering from Utah State University. Industrial Advisory Board Member for the University of Utah Electrical Engineering, AIAA Standards Committee NATO Scientific Achievement Award 2016 "Application of Integrated Munitions health Management", Member for AIAA “S-122-2006 Direct Current Power Systems for Earth-Orbiting Satellites”, 15 U.S./Foreign Patents, and AIAA 2001 JPC Arthur D. Rhea Best Paper Award for "Ordnance Components and Systems". Research/Development interests include advanced Avionics and Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) of integrated systems.

    • 11.06 PHM and Digital Engineering and Transformation

      This session solicits contributions in the areas of PHM applications focused around the recent Digital Twin and Digital Thread paradigm, Model Based System Engineering, and Enterprise-wide Digital Transformation in aerospace and associated industries. Of particular interest are solutions, architectures, and technologies that leverage or enhance the use of DTs and MBSE for end-to-end PHM management and the delivery of enhanced overall situation awareness.

      • Andrew Hess

        President, The Hess PHM Group, Inc.: Consultant to government and industry on advanced diagnostics, prognostics, data and predictive analytics, CBM, smart manufacturing, health and asset management of machines and engineering systems. Previously program office lead for the JSF PHM effort. Current President of the PHM Society.

      • Mark Walker

        Director AI, Autonomous Systems, End to End Enterprise Solutions: Mark Walker received his BSEE from Cal Poly University, Pomona (1990), and his MSCompEng from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (1994), where he specialized in machine intelligence. He has been working in applied artificial intelligence since 1989, and has co-authored four patents in the field. His work with HUMS and PHM began with BFGoodrich Aerospace, Vergennes, VT in 1996. He also worked 6 years as Senior Consulting Engineer for expert system manufacturer Gensym Corporation and 10 years as Lead Engineer, Intelligent Systems for General Atomics, where he led GA in the development of reusable PHM systems applied to various industries. He founded D2K Technologies in 2014, a solution provider of intelligent model-based reasoning systems for mission critical systems. D2K was acquired by End to End Enterprise Solutions (E3S) in 2023, for whom he currently serves as Director, AI and Autonomous Systems. He also serves as a PHM and AO SME for NASA, with active projects at SSC, JSC, and KSC. He resides with his family in Oceanside, California.

    • 11.07 PHM for Human Health and Performance

      This session is an effort to bridge PHM to Space Medicine and healthcare domain as part of Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) as applied to High Value Human Asset. PHM4HHP is focused on tracking status of very healthy individuals 24/7, as well as ensuring a sustained top-level performance required on manned space exploration missions. Papers are sought that show how systems engineering and its particular subdomain PHM with MBSE techniques and methodologies, such as predictive analytics, predictive diagnostics, root cause analysis, virtual sensors, data and information fusion, data mining, and big data analytics with computationally generated biomarkers can serve as a scientific and engineering foundation for building both evidence-based and analytics-based individual health maintenance/support for human assets. Objectives include developing and demonstrating PHM capabilities for assessing, tracking, predicting, and ultimately improving long-term individual human health status to ensure mission success.

      • Alexandre Popov

        NASA Emeritus Docent at the USSRC and AIAA Systems Engineering Technical Committee (SETC) Member, AIAA SETC: currently working on MBSE and PHM-based technologies with predictive diagnostics capability to maintain crew health and performance on the ISS program as well as other crewed space exploration missions. His efforts on "PHM for Human Health and Performance (PHM4HHP)" are focused on a paradigm shift from telemedicine to HHP autonomy based on systems engineering concepts, methods and techniques, which are to identify precursors and computationally generated biomarkers of impending health issues, that otherwise would have gone undetected. Contributed to three manned space programs: BURAN space transportation system (1983-1988), Mir space station (1988-1998), and the ISS program at RSC-Energia (1996-1998), Lockheed Martin Canada (2000-2003) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) (2003-2014). Ran a project enabling Crew Electronic Health Records (CEHR) technology on the ISS program and led CSA efforts on system requirements and conceptual prototype development. AIAA SETC member since 2009. AIAA Senior Member.

      • Wolfgang Fink

        Associate Professor and Keonjian Endowed Chair (emeritus), University of Arizona: Prof. Wolfgang Fink is the inaugural Edward & Maria Keonjian Endowed Chair (em.) at the University of Arizona, having held joint appointments in the Departments of ECE, BME, SIE, AME, and Ophthalmology & Vision Science. He is a LFNAI, FARVO, LFSPIE, FPHMS, FAIMBE, and SM IEEE, as well as the VP of the PHM Society. Prof. Fink holds a Ph.D. "summa cum laude" in Theoretical Physics, University of Tübingen, Germany, and a Commercial Pilots License for Rotorcraft. He is the founder and director of the Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory (https://www.vaesrl.com/) at Caltech and the University of Arizona. Prof. Fink has over 270 publications (incl. journal, book, and conference contributions), 6 NASA Patent Awards, as well as 32 U.S. and foreign patents awarded to date. Among numerous awards he received: NASA Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Launch Honoree Award in 2002, co-recipient of the 2009 R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 and R&D 100 Editors’ Choice Awards for the DOE-funded "Artificial Retina" Project, co-recipient of the 2009 NASA Board Award for pioneering work on a disruptive autonomous space exploration paradigm, co-winner of the $200,000 DOE/NREL-sponsored E-ROBOT Prize in 2021, and recipient of the 2023 SPIE Meinel Technology Achievement Award.

    • 11.08 AI for Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) Applications

      Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we monitor, predict, and manage the health of complex aerospace systems. This session explores cutting-edge AI and machine learning techniques applied to PHM, including, but not limited to, fault detection, remaining useful life estimation, anomaly detection, and condition-based maintenance. Topics span physics-informed neural networks, deep learning for sensor fusion, reinforcement learning for maintenance decisions, and digital twin frameworks enabling real-time state estimation and predictive analytics. Presentations address data-driven, physics-based, and hybrid modeling approaches, with emphasis on safety-critical deployment. Key challenges including limited fault data, uncertainty quantification, and explainability for human-machine teaming are examined. Applications range from aircraft structures and propulsion systems to spacecraft subsystems and ground support equipment. Attendees will gain insight into the state of the art and emerging directions for AI and digital twin-enabled PHM across the aerospace enterprise.

      • Wolfgang Fink

        Associate Professor and Keonjian Endowed Chair (emeritus), University of Arizona: Prof. Wolfgang Fink is the inaugural Edward & Maria Keonjian Endowed Chair (em.) at the University of Arizona, having held joint appointments in the Departments of ECE, BME, SIE, AME, and Ophthalmology & Vision Science. He is a LFNAI, FARVO, LFSPIE, FPHMS, FAIMBE, and SM IEEE, as well as the VP of the PHM Society. Prof. Fink holds a Ph.D. "summa cum laude" in Theoretical Physics, University of Tübingen, Germany, and a Commercial Pilots License for Rotorcraft. He is the founder and director of the Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory (https://www.vaesrl.com/) at Caltech and the University of Arizona. Prof. Fink has over 270 publications (incl. journal, book, and conference contributions), 6 NASA Patent Awards, as well as 32 U.S. and foreign patents awarded to date. Among numerous awards he received: NASA Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Launch Honoree Award in 2002, co-recipient of the 2009 R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 and R&D 100 Editors’ Choice Awards for the DOE-funded "Artificial Retina" Project, co-recipient of the 2009 NASA Board Award for pioneering work on a disruptive autonomous space exploration paradigm, co-winner of the $200,000 DOE/NREL-sponsored E-ROBOT Prize in 2021, and recipient of the 2023 SPIE Meinel Technology Achievement Award.

      • Andrew Hess

        President, The Hess PHM Group, Inc.: Consultant to government and industry on advanced diagnostics, prognostics, data and predictive analytics, CBM, smart manufacturing, health and asset management of machines and engineering systems. Previously program office lead for the JSF PHM effort. Current President of the PHM Society.

      • David He

        Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago: David He received a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from The University of Iowa. Dr. He is a Professor and Director of the Industrial AI and PHM Integration Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at The University of Illinois-Chicago. Dr. He is also a Fellow of the Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) Society. Dr. He’s research areas include PHM, Industrial AI, smart manufacturing systems modeling and analysis, quality and reliability engineering.

      • Yigitcan Coskunturk

        Research Specialist, Emerson: Focusing on ultrasonics, vibrations, acoustics, and Applied AL/ML for prognostics and diagnostics.

    • 11.09 Panel: PHM from a Practitioner’s Perspective – a Potpourri of Capabilities, Issues, Case Studies, and Lessons Learned

      Practitioners in the PHM field are solicited to share their experiences and observations as part of a distinguished panel of experts. A short presentation will be required of all participants that describes their focus topic within the PHM and CBM+ domains. This session will cover a broad range of research, lessons-learned experiences and application topics covering the challenges and innovative engineering and/or business approaches associated with the development and implementation of PHM capabilities and CBM+ architectures. The session will feature presentations by senior leaders in the field and a panel discussion. Panel members from PHM communities, academia, government, and industry, will focus on strategies that have resolved or will resolve historical issues, and challenges, and provide insight. Interested parties should contact the session organizers.

      • Andrew Hess

        President, The Hess PHM Group, Inc.: Consultant to government and industry on advanced diagnostics, prognostics, data and predictive analytics, CBM, smart manufacturing, health and asset management of machines and engineering systems. Previously program office lead for the JSF PHM effort. Current President of the PHM Society.

      • Derek De Vries

        LMDS Fellow Emeritus, Nothrop Grumman Propulsion Systems: Mr. Derek R. DeVries, P.E., LMDS Fellow Emeritus for Discipline of Avionics and Controls at Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems. Senior Member of IEEE with over 35 years’ experience in the Aerospace Industry in Operation, Integration, and Development of Space Launch Systems. PHM Society Fellow, Board of Directors, and Honored as a Luminary Speaker for the PHM 2015 Conference. B.Sc Electrical Engineering from University of Utah, and M.Sc. Electrical Engineering from Utah State University. Industrial Advisory Board Member for the University of Utah Electrical Engineering, AIAA Standards Committee NATO Scientific Achievement Award 2016 "Application of Integrated Munitions health Management", Member for AIAA “S-122-2006 Direct Current Power Systems for Earth-Orbiting Satellites”, 15 U.S./Foreign Patents, and AIAA 2001 JPC Arthur D. Rhea Best Paper Award for "Ordnance Components and Systems". Research/Development interests include advanced Avionics and Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) of integrated systems.

    • Michael Machado

      International Earth Science Constellation Mission Operations Manager, NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center: Mike has nearly 30 years of Mission Operations experience as either a contractor or civil servant at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He advanced through the ranks as an online flight operations spacecraft analyst, mission planner, spacecraft lead engineer and manager. He has supported both Space Science Mission Operations (SSMO) and Earth Science Mission Operations (ESMO) covering a diverse group of science gathering missions in orbits ranging from near earth to geosynchronous and deep space). He has worked all phases of mission operations: pre-launch, integration and testing, launch & early orbit, normal, decommissioning and end of mission. Most recently, Mike has been the International Earth Science Constellation Mission Operations Manager as well as the Associate Branch Head for the GSFC Mission Validation and Operations Branch (Code 584). In these roles, Mike has enjoyed building relationships with mission representatives both internal to NASA and from other agencies (NOAA, USAF, USGS, etc) and international partners (CNES, DLR, ESA, JAXA, etc). In his free time, Mike enjoys trying to keep up with several hobbies such as tennis, soccer, poker, disc golf, science fiction and travel with his family (wife and toddler).

    • Vandi Verma

      Program Area Manager, NASA JPL-Caltech: Dr. Vandi Verma is a Program Area Manager at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Chief Engineer of Robotic Operations for the Mars 2020 mission with the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter. Robotics capabilities she has worked on are in use on the Perseverance, and Curiosity rovers, and in human spaceflight projects. She worked on the Mars Exploration Rovers and Ingenuity helicopter Technology Demonstration. She led the onboard global localization effort.

    • 12.01 Orbital, Surface and Payload/Instrument Mission Operations

      This session solicits papers which highlight innovative approaches for conducting spacecraft orbital, surface and payload/instrument mission operations. Responding to in-flight anomalies, mission operations challenges, automation, risk reduction and space debris collision avoidance are also topics that are encouraged. Additional topics solicited include: challenges to managing single or multi-mission operations, managing multiple payloads, operating satellite constellations, small satellite operations, team development, staffing, cost reduction and lessons learned for future missions.

      • Heidi Hallowell

        Staff Consultant GNC Engineer, Ball Aerospace: Heidi Hallowell received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Electrical Engineering. During her 21 years at Ball, Heidi has worked in a variety of GNC roles including spacecraft design and development, simulators, on-orbit commissioning, and spacecraft operation. These programs have included both LEO and interplanetary spacecraft. She has been the CloudSat ADCS lead since 2018 and is also the lead ADCS engineer for the S-NPP and JPSS-1/NOAA-20 programs.

      • Rachel Sholder

        Analyst, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (JHU/APL): Rachel Sholder is a parametric cost analyst in the Systems Engineering Group of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s (JHU/APL) Space Exploration Sector. She joined APL in 2017 after earning an M.S. in Statistics and a B.S. in Mathematics from Lehigh University. Rachel is currently a doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Engineering (DEng) program at Johns Hopkins University, where her dissertation bridges epidemiological modeling and orbital debris dynamics. Her research has been recognized beyond academic circles, with selection as a TEDxJHU speaker in November 2025. At APL, she is responsible for life-cycle cost estimates of space missions across all phases of program development, from pre-proposal through major mission milestone reviews. She has served as the cost analyst for multiple NASA missions, including EZIE at Preliminary and Critical Design Review (PDR/CDR) and IMAP at CDR. She is an active participant in the NASA Cost Estimating Community and was recognized as NASA’s “Cost Rising Star” in 2023 and NASA’s “Cost Analyst of the Year” in 2025.

      • Sarah Bucior

        Systems Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory: Sarah Bucior is currently a Senior I&T Engineer on the IMAP mission set to launch to observe the Sun in Spring 2025. She received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering Astronautics from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2001 and a MS in Systems Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore in 2015. She has been a Flight Controller on the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the STEREO Launch in 2006, and was a Test Conductor for the Van Allen Probes (formerly RBSP) Launch in 2012. She has served as an I&T Engineer for the launches of Parker Solar Probe and DART. She recently delivered the MEGANE Instrument to Japan for their upcoming launch of the MMX spacecraft.

    • 12.02 Mission Planning, Mission Operations Systems and Ground Architectures

      This session focuses on the design, development, integration, and operation of mission operations systems, ground data systems, and flight-ground interfaces. Topics may include methods, architectures, and technologies that support mission planning, development, testing, and operations across the mission lifecycle. Areas of interest include uplink systems and operations (e.g., procedures, planning, scheduling, commanding, and sequencing), downlink systems (e.g., telemetry processing, data analysis, and operational response), and strategic operations planning. We also welcome contributions related to autonomy and AI-assisted operations, as well as the design, integration, automation, and scalability of efficient ground systems. Submissions addressing multi-mission architectures, distributed and cloud-enabled operations, and large-scale constellation operations are encouraged. Submissions will be evaluated primarily on novelty, technical innovation, and broader impact to the mission planning and operations communities.

      • Kedar Naik

        Chief Engineer - AI Technical Lead, BAE Systems, Space & Mission Systems: Kedar Naik is Senior Principal Engineer II and Artificial Intelligence Chief Engineer at BAE Systems, Space & Mission Systems. He specializes in machine-learning applications related to spacecraft autonomy, thermal control, adaptive optics, spectral remote sensing, and ground operations. Prior to joining Ball, he was at Northrop Grumman, researching the application of machine learning to cyber-security problems. His professional and research interests lie in machine learning, design optimization, and computational math. He has a Ph.D. from Stanford University, where he was a member of the Aerospace Design Lab, under the direction of Prof. Juan Alonso. He was an NDSEG Fellow from 2009 to 2013 and – during the course of his academic career – he completed internships at NASA Langley, NASA Glenn, the U.S. Army’s Aeroflightdynamics Directorate, and Pratt & Whitney. In addition to his doctorate, he holds a master’s degree from Stanford University and a bachelor’s from the University of Southern California.

      • Rob Lange

        Staff Mission Lead Systems Engineer, Muon Space: Rob Lange is a Mission Lead Systems Engineer at Muon Space, where he is currently supporting the FireSat constellation. Previously, he spent more than 20 years at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) developing and operating flagship-class planetary missions, with experience spanning mission architecture, systems engineering, integration and test, and mission operations. His experience includes leadership roles on the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, Mars Science Laboratory, Mars Exploration Rover, and Cassini–Huygens programs, including Mission Planning, Commissioning Phase Lead, and Mission System Systems Engineering (MSSE). He has led cross-disciplinary teams through high-risk mission phases and helped develop operational approaches for complex robotic exploration missions. Rob holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan College of Engineering and an M.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California.

    • 12.03 Human Space Flight Development, Processing, and Operations

      This session covers all facets of human spaceflight development, processing, and operations across every mission phase. Topics include the design, development, and operation of crewed spacecraft and extraterrestrial destination systems, and associated support infrastructure. Emphasis is placed on commercial human spaceflight capabilities in low Earth orbit (LEO) and beyond, including the Commercial Crew and Commercial LEO Development Programs and crewed missions to the moon and Mars. Submissions are encouraged on operations research related to pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight human activities. Additional focus areas include mission analogs; IVA and EVA procedures; launch, landing, and recovery operations; and physiological and psychological effects on crew members throughout all mission types and phases.

      • William Koenig

        Production Operations Lead, NASA - Kennedy Space Center: William J Koenig Received a B.S. Degree in Marine Transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and a M.S. Degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida. He worked in the maritime industry for 8 years before entering the aerospace industry and supporting the Space Shuttle Program in numerous managerial positions for 20 years. In 2007 William joined NASA as the ORION Program Lead for Production Operations. He is presently responsible for supporting the fabrication, transportation, assembly, integration and checkout of the Artemis ORION spacecraft and associated components at Kennedy Space Center.

      • Aileen Rabsahl

        LUNA Campaign Director, DLR (German Aerospace Center): Aileen Rabsahl holds a M.A. in International Management from the International University in Germany. She is currently pursuing her PhD, focusing on the analysis and future prospects of orbital and lunar space tourism, in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center. Since 2024, she has been working as an Operations Engineer and Campaign Director at the LUNA analog facility in Cologne, Germany, where she leads and oversees mission campaigns.

    • 12.04 Resilient and Cyber Secure Systems for Operational Missions

      Cyber secure, resilient space systems are necessary to ensure continuity of operations and operators ability to execute their missions successfully. This session welcomes novel approaches, tailored to the aerospace domain, for ground systems as well as those spanning both space and ground segments. Examples of resilient operational technologies and systems include: cryptography, architectures (e.g. Zero Trust Architectures (ZTA)), compute and network infrastructure (e.g. redundant, failover systems), software, root of trust (RoT), intrusion detection/prevention, vulnerability/red team assessments, approaches to simplify and streamline Risk Management Framework (RMF) implementations, access control, diversified orbits from Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) to CisLunar, and others. We are also interested in applications of advanced technologies like AI-based analytics, blockchain, active defense, embedded agents, lessons learned in attempted attacks/breaches. Note: if presenting on vulnerabilities, please follow responsible disclosure practices to ensure operators' abilities to protect their systems.

      • John Kenworthy

        Vice President Strategy & Growth, Albedo: Mr. John Kenworthy's career has focused on identifying/exploiting failure modes and, ultimately, protecting systems from vulnerabilities--whether induced by the environment or adversaries. John leads growth and strategy at Albedo developing tech roadmaps aligned with customer needs leveraging Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) to deliver operational systems into this orbit regime. As a U.S. Air Force civilian, John conducted cybersecurity vulnerability research, analysis, and assessments for satellite programs. John developed his cyber security skills red teaming national critical infrastructure to inform customers of potential security vulnerabilities and training customers in how to mitigate security risks as a tech consultant. At BAE Systems John developed Military Space strategy and tech roadmaps. At Lockheed Martin, John developed spacecraft fault protection as a flight software and systems engineer, supporting flight operations and development for NASA interplanetary spacecraft missions. As a fault protection engineer, John was on-console supporting mission operations for interplanetary spacecraft critical events and anomaly recoveries. John holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Puget Sound and a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Denver. John attended the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics program as a National Security Education Program David L. Boren Scholar.

      • Seth Kricheff

        Software Engineer, Lynx Software Technologies: Seth Kricheff is an Avionics Software Engineer at Lynx Software Technologies, where he develops safety-critical software for military aviation systems with a focus on reliability, robustness, and real-time performance in mission-critical environments. He earned his B.S. in Computer Engineering from Purdue University in December 2024, with a focus in embedded systems and autonomous/aviation-adjacent software. Prior to his current role, he contributed to multiple space and aerospace & defense-focused efforts across industry and research. At Axiom Space, he worked on safety-critical embedded software supporting commercial space station development, focusing on flight software reliability and system-level integration for constrained hardware environments. He also worked with the Air Force Research Laboratory – Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), where he developed computer vision systems for autonomous drone detection in contested environments and designed and published an explainable machine learning model for satellite anomaly detection, resulting in his first IEEE publication focused on interpretability in high-consequence aerospace applications. Across these roles, his work has centered on avionics software, embedded avionics software, autonomous sensing systems, and safety-critical systems for space and aerospace & defense applications.

    • 12.05 Automation and Machine Learning Applications in Spacecraft Operations

      This session invites contributions that are concerned with the applications of machine learning and data science techniques to deal with the increasing amounts of data being collected in spacecraft operations on flight and/or ground segments. These techniques could be related to any subsystem of the spacecraft, including telecom, power, thermal, or specific instrument data and that of the ground segments. Topics ranging from theoretical and conceptual treatment in these areas to specific and operational treatments are solicited. The benefits of these techniques are very wide in scope from enhancing operator productivity by providing diagnostic tools that detect and explain causes of anomalous behavior either in real-time or by post-processing, to automating mission operations. These benefits are also crucial for smaller missions, such as the emerging CubeSats missions, that typically have very lean teams. Some consideration is made for the computing platforms required for the algorithms.

      • Zaid Towfic

        Director of Algorithms, Atomathic: Zaid Towfic holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Iowa. He received his Electrical Engineering M.S. in 2009 and Ph.D. in 2014, both from UCLA, where he focused on signal processing, machine learning, and stochastic optimization. After receiving his Ph. D., Zaid joined the MIT Lincoln Laboratory where he worked on distributed beam forming and geolocation, interference excision via subspace methods, simultaneous communication, and electronic warfare. Zaid joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in January of 2017 and has been focused on machine learning and signal processing efforts. He was the technical group supervisor of the Reprogrammable Signal Processing Group of the Flight Telecommunication Section. He is currently the Director of Algorithms at Atomathic.

      • Dennis Ogbe

        Software Engineer, Northwood Space: Dennis O. Ogbe (S’13, M’20) is a Software Engineer at Northwood Space in Torrance, CA. Prior to joining Northwood, he was a member of the technical staff at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he developed flight radios and high-performance flight computers. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Tennessee Technological University and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Purdue University. His research interests are in the fields of communication theory, signal processing, computer engineering, and their application to aerospace engineering problems.

    • 12.06 Robotics, Autonomy and Operations

      This sessions addresses the challenges and opportunities of space robotics autonomy and operations. Topics include autonomous systems, robotics, perception, machine learning, AI and their practical application to space robotics. Papers are solicited that discuss approaches for operating spacecraft with autonomous capabilities, advances in onboard and ground automation and tools, software and systems engineering for operability, fault tolerance and recovery, and human-robot interaction for both manned and unmanned missions. Approaches that address the unique challenges that come with operating robots in space, such as risk, uncertainty, harsh environment, communication delays, and limited resources are also encouraged, as are analyses of successes and challenges, highlights of latest trends, technologies, and best practices that can be leveraged to operate robots effectively in space.

      • Vandi Verma

        Program Area Manager, NASA JPL-Caltech: Dr. Vandi Verma is a Program Area Manager at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Chief Engineer of Robotic Operations for the Mars 2020 mission with the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter. Robotics capabilities she has worked on are in use on the Perseverance, and Curiosity rovers, and in human spaceflight projects. She worked on the Mars Exploration Rovers and Ingenuity helicopter Technology Demonstration. She led the onboard global localization effort.

      • Alexandra Holloway

        Flight Software Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Alexandra Holloway leads JPL's Mars Science Laboratory flight software team in developing new capabilities and fixing bugs with embedded software on Mars. Also a member of the data management team, she assesses file system data coming from the spacecraft and writes uplink products to keep the hard drives squeaky clean. Previously, Alexandra used ethnographic techniques to understand Deep Space Network operators' the workflows and design new tools for improved efficiency in a bursty environment.