Crosslink Spring 2007 Contributors

The State of the National Security Space Workforce

Michael A. Leon is a Senior Project Leader in the Economic and Market Analysis Center, where he leads activities that research how the acquisition of national security space systems is affected by economics, government policies, and the defense industrial base. He has an M.B.A. in finance from California State University at Long Beach (michael.a.leon@aero.org).

Patricia A. Maloney is Director of the Economic and Market Analysis Center, which strives to bring together the technical and business aspects of national security space. Her areas of concentration are the national security space industrial base and acquisition strategy. Maloney joined Aerospace in 2001. She has an M.B.A. in Operations Research/International Business from Dartmouth College (patricia.a.maloney@aero.org).

A Corporate Approach to National Security Space Education

Bruce E. Gardner is Principal Director of Learning Systems, The Aerospace Institute. He is responsible for directing the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of employee and customer continuing-learning and career-development programs and multimedia resources. Gardner joined Aerospace in 1984. He has an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Drexel University and a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University (bruce.e.gardner@aero.org).

Building and Sustaining Strong College and University Relationships

(from left to right)

Peggy C. Zweben is a Training and Development Representative, The Aerospace Institute, where she coordinates the Corporate University Affiliates Program. Zweben joined Aerospace in 1991. She holds an M.A. in organizational leadership from Chapman University (peggy.c.zweben@aero.org).

Gary W. Stupian, a Distinguished Scientist in the Electronics and Photonics Laboratory, joined Aerospace in September 1969. His work in the area of analytic instrumentation, particularly as applied to the root cause analysis of failures in space systems, earned him an Aerospace President's Distinguished Achievement Award in 1994. He has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (gary.w.stupian@aero.org).

Marian G. Peebles, Director of the Operations Center, The Aerospace Institute, oversees corporate educational assistance programs, university affiliations, and Institute marketing and publicity. She has a B.S. in organizational behavior from the University of San Francisco. Peebles joined Aerospace in 1980 (marian.g.peebles@aero.org).

Karen L. Owens is a Senior Project Leader in the Software Acquisition and Process Department, Software Engineering Subdivision, Computers and Software Division. Since joining Aerospace in 2000 she has supported multiple programs preparing requests for proposals and monitoring contracts. She has a B.A. in mathematics from the University of California at Riverside (karen.l.owens@aero.org).

Joseph Betser is a Senior Project Leader for Strategic Planning, Knowledge Management, and Business Development. Betser joined Aerospace in 1991, establishing the network management laboratory. He has M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science and an executive M.B.A. from UCLA (joseph.betser@aero.org).

Samuel S. Osofsky, Associate Director of the Communication Electronics Department, provides technical support in the areas of microwave systems and microwave measurements, and participates in several research projects including chaotic radar. He has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Osofsky joined Aerospace in 1991 (samuel.s.osofsky@aero.org).

Sergio J. Alvarado, Director of the Software Systems Acquisition Department, leads engineering teams performing independent assessments, research, and training to help Aerospace customers achieve successful acquisition, development, and operation of software-intensive ground and space systems. He has a Ph.D. in computer science from UCLA (sergio.j.alvarado@aero.org).

Developing the Next Generation of Systems Engineers

Heidi L. Davidz is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff in Systems Architecture, Engineering, and Cost. She advises the NASA Office of the Chief Engineer's Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership in developing its systems engineering capability. Davidz joined Aerospace in 2005. She has an M.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Ph.D. in engineering systems from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (heidi.l.davidz@aero.org).

Can Concept Maps Bridge the Engineering Gap?

Michael J. Kramer, a Senior Project Leader in the Program Acquisition and Management group of the Advanced Technology Division, joined Aerospace in 2000. He has led Aerospace support for the Agile Design and Development Program in the Advanced Systems and Technology Division at the NRO. He received an M.S. in systems management from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in computer information systems and education at Nova Southeastern University (michael.j.kramer@aero.org).

Training the National Security Space Workforce in Systems Architecting

Mark W. Maier is a Distinguished Engineer in the Electronics and Sensors Division. He directs systems architecture education programs and works with sensor system and architecture definition. Maier and Eberhardt Rechtin, former Aerospace president and University of Southern California professor, coauthored The Art of Systems Architecting. Maier joined Aerospace in 1998. He received an M.S. in electrical engineering from Caltech and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from University of Southern California (mark.w.maier@aero.org).

Supporting the Development of Customer Education

Albert C. Hoheb, a Principal Engineer in The Aerospace Institute, is responsible for developing space-related technical educational offerings for government and commercial customers. Hoheb joined Aerospace in 1987. He has an M.S.E.E. from California State University at Fullerton (albert.c.hoheb@aero.org).

Bradley J. Ayres, Project Engineer, Tactical Development and Acquisition Directorate, serves as a liaison between the Air Force Institute of Technology and the NRO. He has a Ph.D. in business administration from Florida State University, and joined Aerospace in 2005 (bradley.j.ayres@aero.org).

Daniel W. Bursch fills the NRO-endowed chair position at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Bursch retired as a captain in the Navy and from NASA's Astronaut Corps in 2005, later joining Aerospace. The last of his four NASA missions was onboard the International Space Station from December 2001 to June 2002. He has an M.S. in engineering science from the Naval Postgraduate School (daniel.w.bursch@aero.org).

Gerard H. Fisher, a Senior Project Engineer in the National Systems Group, supports the NRO Systems Integration and Engineering Directorate. He is responsible for the systems engineering professional development and certification program at the NRO and joined Aerospace in 1999. Fisher earned an M.S. in systems engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (gerard.h.fisher@aero.org).

Dana L. Honeycutt is a Senior Technical Advisor to the National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs. Honeycutt joined Aerospace in 1999. She has an M.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder (dana.honeycutt@aero.org).

To Spring 2007 Table of Contents