USA

​Mr. Jeffrey Thon completed a BS/MS in Aerospace Engineering from Florida Tech in 2003, with an emphasis on Space Propulsion. He started work in the Space Industry with USA (United Space Alliance) at the Kennedy Space Center in 2000 on the Space Shuttle SRB (Solid Rocket Booster) program. He joined NASA in 2005 in the same capacity, but then started to branch out, and subsequently worked Space shuttle ET (External Tank) and Orbiter closeout and pyrotechnic operations. When the shuttle retired in 2011, Mr. Thon joined the CCP (Commercial Crew Program) working as POC in Landing Systems testing for all commercial providers engaged in LEO capability development. In 2014, four providers were down selected to two, Boeing and Space X, to complete their designs. He was then selected to serve as the LRS (Landing and Recovery System) subsystem manager, responsible for each of these vehicle’s (Boeing Starliner and Space X Dragon 2) landing systems certification.

Perú

Jackelynne Silva-Martinez was born in Cusco, Peru. She attended elementary school, middle school and part of high school at different cities within Peru, including Cusco, Arequipa, and Lima. She then moved to Paterson, NJ with her family and graduated from Eastside High School. Jackelynne earned two bachelor degrees from Rutgers University; one in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and a second one in Spanish Translation and Interpretation. She worked for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company as an Antennas Mechanical Design Engineer and as a Systems Integration and Test Engineer for commercial and government satellite programs. She earned a Certificate in Lean Six Sigma from the Lockheed Martin Greenbelt Program, and a Certificate in Engineering Management from Drexel University. Jackelynne then worked as a Mechanical Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the Robotic Manipulators and Deployable Booms group performing verification and validation ground tests for the Mars Science Laboratory mission. She obtained a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Science with concentration in Human Factors Aviation/Aerospace Systems from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Jackelynne is an alumna of the 2015 Space Studies Program from the International Space University, and currently completing a second Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering with concentration in Space Systems Integration at Georgia Institute of Technology. She works at NASA Johnson Space Center in the ISS Mission Planning Operations within the Flight Operations Directorate. Jackelynne is the founder of the Centro de Ciencia, Liderazgo y Cultura, which brings topics of science, leadership and culture to the young generation. She and her husband have a son. She enjoys reading, traveling, dancing, and learning from different cultures. Her interests include human spaceflight, mission operations, space architecture, systems engineering, project management, STEM and STEAM initiatives.

USA and Mexico.

Andres Martinez is currently the NASA, Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Small Satellites Executive Program Officer and the deputy program manager for the NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Program (SSTP). AES is a division of the NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD). SSTP is one of nine programs within the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). At SSTP, Mr. Martinez oversees seven spaceflight projects, two of which have been launched already to space. Mr. Martinez has over 26 years of experience as an engineer in Silicon Valley. He began his career at Xerox Corporation and spent 10 years working in various divisions, where he spent his last two years at the world-renowned Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). While at Xerox PARC, he co-founded an Internet start-up company, GroupFire Inc., in September of 1999, along with seven scientists and held an executive position – vice president of engineering. GroupFire, Inc. was eventually acquired by Google, Inc. in 2001. He has also held senior management positions at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Motorola, Inc. At LLNL, Mr. Martinez led a software development team. At Motorola, Inc., Mr. Martinez was Director of Program Management, leading a global team based in 12 different geographies with responsibilities for delivering new technologies for the cable industry.

USA and Peru

Mr. Diaz is a Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer in the Advanced Spacecraft Division of Boeing Phantom Works. In this capacity, he supports NASA's Commercial Crew Transportation (CCTS) program as the Ascent/Entry Suit (AES) Integration Lead, Water Recovery Trainer (WRT) Lead, Up-Righting System Lead, and Up-Righting System Test Director. Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Diaz supported NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and International Space Station (ISS) programs. He is a Boeing Designated Expert (BDE) in the areas of EVA & Spacesuit Design and Operations. As part of the Boeing EVA Team,  he was assigned as a SCUBA Diver and dove with astronaut crews in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at NASA JSC in preparation for ISS  Assembly Operations.

Peru , Lima.

Principal lecturer and researcher, Dr. Heraud is also Director of the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the PUCP and manages three major areas of research in space astrophysics and radio astronomy, Earth science and artificial satellites. It is about to complete the commissioning of an 8 meter radio telescope and has completed the design of a 20 meter radio telescope, the largest designed and built in Peru. With them, the study of radio galaxies and pulsar stars will be undertaken. Using the same radioscience techniques used to study deep space, it has allowed using emissions of electromagnetic pulses from the pressure in subduction zones to triangulate precursor earthquakes. In the last two years, more than a dozen earthquakes have been predicted with 15 days in advance. Peru is well ahead of the rest of the world and moves to help reverse the idea of the impossibility of predicting earthquakes, a process of great social responsibility. Lately, the Institute achieved a three dimensional image of the subduction zone using the same data used for predictions. Finally, on November 21, 2013, the first two Peruvian satellites were put into orbit, after being designed, built and tested on the campus of the PUCP, becoming the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru the first university in Latin America to successfully launch a satellite. Other research satellites continue strengthening the link between students and their commitment to research and experimentation.

Peru , Lima.

Francisco Cuellar is a leader and developer of science, technology and innovation disruptive projects with industry and academy. He has solid and recognized experience with the mining, metal-mechanics, security,

telecommunication, health and education industries. Currently he is the Director of the Center of Advanced     Manufacturing Technologies (CETAM), and an Associate Professor of the Engineering School of  Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP). Founder of the Group of Innovative Technology (GIT) at PUCP,  which executes government funded innovation projects for the Industry (Innovate Perú), publishes scientific papers and generates intellectual property. He earned his  Bachelor of Science in Electronics from PUCP, a Master of Science in Mechatronics from Kings College University of London, a Master on management and Politics of Innovation and Technology from PUCP, and is a PhD. candidate in Robotic Intelligent Systems at Osaka University.

USA

Mr. Patrick Gronna has worked for Boeing/NASA since January of 2015. During this time, Mr. Gronna has been involved with the fabrication, integration, and testing of the Landing Attenuation System of the Commercial Crew Transportation (CCTS) program. Mr. Gronna has been an integral part of the success of the CST-100 Water Landing Development Test (WLDT) campaign at NASA LaRC, where he took proactive steps to ensure the successful completion of this major program milestone. In recognition of his dedication and efforts in support of the WLDT campaign, he received the Advanced Space Exploration (ASE) Division ‘Employee of the Month’ award in June 2015.He is also supporting the design and fabrication of BP-5, a highfidelity CST-100 test article, which will be used for land landing qualification testing and later reconfigured into a water recovery trainer for astronauts to train egress operations.

Peru

Medical Surgeon graduated from the National University of San Agustín de Arequipa, Peru. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, both depending from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Post-doctoral work in the Life Sciences and Astrobiology Division at NASA Ames Research Center - USA, and Stanford University - School of Medicine - USA, as well as the National Institute for Cancer Research (Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia) in Mexico DF. Participant in the Graduate Student Program of Singularity University in 2010 and program organizer of Future Med in 2012. Currently associate researcher at SETI (NASA), he returned to Peru under the INNOVATE Perú program, depending from the Ministry of Production. Manager coordinator of the Bioengineering degree career in the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC).

USA

Mr. Preston Ferguson has worked at The Boeing Company since 1992.During this time, Mr. Ferguson has developed, assembled and tested experimental vehicles including DC-X/XA, X-33, Hyper-X, X-37, Orbital

Express and CST-100. Mr. Ferguson is presently a member of Boeing's  Advanced Space Exploration Division in Huntington Beach, CA. In this  capacity, Mr. Ferguson supports NASA's Commercial Crew  Transportation (CCTS) program, where he is the Landing Airbag System  Lead.

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Ferguson supported Ground  Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptor development and flight testing for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). His primary experience includes  advanced structures development, experimental vehicle design, system testing, and launch vehicle integration. Mr. Ferguson holds an M.B.A. in International Business from University of Redlands (2012), and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from CSULB (1995).

Peru , Lima.

​Professional Aeronautical Engineer graduated from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). Currently studying the Masters Degree of Engineering in Mechatronics at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Perú. More than 7 years of experience developing projects related to Unmanned Aerial Systems for the military and civilian industry. Researcher and Professor of The Unmanned Aerial Systems Research Group at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and CoFounder and Chief Operations Officer at qAIRa.

Argentina , Buenos Aires.

Ximena Abrevaya is Senior Research Scientist and Astrobiologist at Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio (UBA – CONICET), in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Currently, she is leading the Argentinian Research Unit in Astrobiology (Núcleo Argentino de Investigación en Astrobiología). She obtained a PhD degree in Biological Sciences at University of Buenos Aires, with the first thesis in Astrobiology in Argentina. She obtained postdoctoral degrees at University of Buenos Aires and University of Sao Paulo, with studies focused in stellar astrophysics, microbiology and simulation of extraterrestrial environments in laboratory conditions. Her research interests are related to stellar radiation as a constraint for habiltability in planetary bodies of the Solar System and extrasolar planets, halophilic archaea as models in astrobiology, hypersaline environments as analogs of extraterrestrial environments , and methods for the in situ detection of extraterrestrial life, among others. She carries out interdisciplinary work combining astrophysical, biological and geological approaches and she is leading several national and international projects related to these topics in collaboration with researchers of multiple institutions.

USA

Dr. Andrew Aldrin serves as the Director of the Buzz Aldrin Space Institute (BASI) and is an Associate Professor at Florida Institute of Technology. BASI is a multidisciplinary institute created to advance space exploration and development toward the goal of establishing and  maintaining a permanent human presence on Mars. Prior to FIT, Dr. Aldrin was President of Moon Express, responsible for day to day operations for the company. Prior to Moon Express, Dr. Aldrin was  Director of Business Development and Advanced Programs at United Launch Alliance where he oversaw development of corporate strategies, business capture, senior  customer relations and advanced program development for civil space markets. Before ULA, Dr. Aldrin headed Business Development and Advanced Programs for Boeing’s NASA Systems, and Launch Services business units. He has also served as a Resident Consultant at the RAND Corporation and Professional Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Dr. Aldrin holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from UCLA, an MBA from TRIUM, a MA in Science

Technology and Public Policy from The George Washington University, and a MA in International  Relations from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is an Adjunct Faculty member at  International Space University and has been Adjunct Faculty at the University of Houston and California State University inception in 1998.

USA

Brandon is an award-winning science university student with a focus in planetary science. He also has acute knowledge of astronomy, physics, seismology, meteorology, rocketry, and geography. He attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo his freshman year with a focus on physics. Then, in his sophomore and junior years, he attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa with a focus on geology and astronomy. He lectured on geologic principles for the 6th grade physical science class and presented for his college level planetary science course on exoplanetary systems as well as potential planet habitability. He currently attends Cal Poly Pomona as a Bachelor of Science Geology major and runs on school’s NCAA Cross Country and Track and Field Team.