Biographies of the Women In Science & Engineering Symposium Hosts, Keynotes and Speakers
2020 Keynotes
Assistant Professor, Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology
Dr. Daly-Engel’s research combines genomics with marine ecology to study the evolution of mating strategies in animals that invest heavily in reproduction, especially sharks and rays. She is interested in how reproductive behaviors, particularly from a female fitness perspective, interact with the environment to influence species, populations, and genomes. Her PhD work at the University of Hawaii explored the ecological and genetic effects of female promiscuity in sharks, a subject she expanded on using an insect model as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Arizona. As an...
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Success Advocate
NaShara Mitchell is a SUCCESS advocate reframing gaps to opportunities for women and the underrepresented. Formally, NaShara is a Lecturer in the Lacy School of Business at Butler University where her work focuses on experiential learning, entrepreneurship and people-centered innovation. In 2018, she was named Professor of the Year by the MBA program. Considering business and education as forms of social justice and catalysts for social innovation, she is also the founder of Studio B Creative Exchange, an enterprise and experience studio. She currently serves on the board of directors...
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NASA Project Scientist & Plant Scientist, Kennedy Space Center
Dr. Gioia Massa works on food crop production for the International Space Station and future space exploration endeavors. She led the science team for the initial Veggie hardware validation on the space station. Currently she heads an interdisciplinary group to study fertilizer and light impacts on yield, nutrition, flavor, and food safety of Veggie-grown crops, and to assess crew behavioral health benefits from space crop growth. In addition to Veggie, she helps with science needs for other space station hardware and works with external investigators to help their science...
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Hepatologist
Hope Hubbard is a native Texan and received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She completed her internal medicine residency and hepatology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, and a gastroenterology fellowship at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She is board certified in gastroenterology. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio and is hepatology director at the Robert B. Green clinic. She is currently licensed to practice medicine in Texas and Ohio. She is affiliated with South Texas Veterans Health Care System and...
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Associate Professor, University of Florida
Dr. Siobhan Malany came to Florida from California, where she worked for several years in the biotechnology industry advancing novel drug compounds to treat neurological and metabolic disorders. In Florida, she discovered her passion for space medicine. She founded Micro-gRx, a company focused on study the effects of microgravity on human muscle myocytes using an automated miniature laboratory called a lab-on-a-chip system to model age-related musculoskeletal disease. Her team launched the lab-on-a-chip payload on the NG-10 vehicle in November 2018 and is now part of an initiative funded by...
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2020 Speakers
PhD Student, Vertebrate Paleontology
Jeanette Pirlo is a part of the MacFadden Lab at the University of Florida, in the Vertebrate Paleontology range of Florida Museum of Natural History. She studies a group of extinct elephant relatives, Gomphotheres and Mastodons, that once roamed Florida and are found as fossils at her locality of interest, approximately 5-6 million years ago. Jeanette’s work focuses broadly on understanding the paleoecology of Central Florida during the Late Miocene, during a period of time before sea levels began to rise and flood the Florida platform. Her research will help inform how...
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Launch Engineer - SpaceX
Pamela Garcia is a Launch Engineer at SpaceX. She is the first female certified Launch Controller at SpaceX, one of two operators to launch Falcon Heavy, and is responsible for autonomous pad turnaround operations. Pam has been the primary controller for over 50 launches for the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets; a role in which she is solely responsible for all ground system functions and vehicle interactions during and after launch countdown. As a member of the Launch Operations Development team, she focuses on achieving SpaceX's long-term goal of creating the world's...
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Falcon Fleet Strategy Manager - SpaceX
Kursten O’Neill is new to the Space Coast as the Falcon Fleet Strategy Manager after spending 5 years working at the SpaceX headquarters in Los Angeles, California. She started at SpaceX back in 2013 as a Certification Engineer leading NASA and Air Force Falcon certification efforts until 2016 when she was promoted to a Falcon Vehicle Lead. In that new role, she managed the introduction of the Falcon Block 5 vehicle from conception through production, test and launch. Once all heritage vehicles retired, Kursten’s role expanded to manage the Falcon Block 5 fleet as the Falcon...
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Animal Emergency & Critical Care Center of Brevard
Mary D’Ambrosio (previously Mary Jackson) and is a Board Certified Veterinary Criticalist at Animal Specialty and Emergency Center of Brevard. She grew up in central Missouri where she developed a love for all animals and an appreciation for the doctors that kept ours healthy. After completing an undergraduate degree in Animal Science, she was accepted to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. Upon completion of her DVM, she accepted a rotating Internship position at Coral Springs Animal Hospital in Coral Springs, FL to learn all about small...
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Materials & Process Engineer- Blue Origin
Ilana Lu is a Materials and Process Engineer for Blue Origin where she is part of a cutting-edge team performing friction stir welding for the New Glenn Rocket. Ilana graduated in 2017 from University of South Carolina, Columbia, with her bachelor’s of science degree in Mechanical Engineering. While there, she performed research with friction stir welding of aluminum alloys and graduated in 2019 with a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Afterwards, Ilana partnered with GKN Aerospaceattended at Oak Ridge National Laboratory while she was attending graduate...
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Manufacturing Engineer - Blue Origin
Carmen L. De Leon-Acosta is a Manufacturing Engineer for Blue Origin where she is part of a cutting-edge team performing manufacturing and test in support of the New Glenn Rocket. She has deployed on several occasions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Horn of Africa. Carmen was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 10 1981. She was raised in Providence, Rhode Island, graduating from East Providence Senior High School. She continued her education at the University of Rhode Island for a year and a half, then decided to change course and...
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Imagineer
Deborah Bortolin is a Sr Facility Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, where she works as an architectural lead, overseeing design anagement and coordination. In her role, Deborah also interfaces with other stakeholders for the overall implementation of the project and supports adherence to project strategies to guarantee successful results. She began working at Walt Disney Imagineering in 2017 as a project architect for Tron Lightcycle Power Run at Magic Kingdom. Prior to her time as an Imagineer, Deborah recently worked as a studio director at Architecture Plus International where...
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Engineer
Ms. Veronica graduated from Florida Polytechnic University in May 2018 with a Mechanical Engineering degree. In college, she was the Founding President of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) collegiate section. She created an inclusive culture on campus that empowers and mentors female students. The club focused on mentorship and also hosted several Lab Days at Florida Poly for low income students that encourage them to pursue a STEM degree. Hundreds of students participated in STEM activities that were conducted by college students and industry professionals, such...
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Speaker, Trainer and Executive Consultant
Dr. Amicitia (Cita) Maloon-Gibson is an executive consultant, speaker, author, and certified mediator and life coach. She established MGAA-Professional Development Institute (PDI) to help others develop strategies for mastering business, careers, life and relationships. Known as “The Empowerment Doc,” Dr. Gibson shares effective strategies for leadership and empowerment through her keynotes, seminars, Leadership Academy and Advanced Leadership Masterminds and Retreats. Dr. Gibson’s audience is diverse and includes a spectrum of clients in North America and abroad...
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Deputy Director, Strategic Integration Directorate
Julia S. Ignacek is the Deputy Director, Strategic Integration Directorate, Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC), Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. AFTAC operates and maintains the United States Atomic Energy Detection System to monitor foreign compliance with various treaties limiting nuclear testing. In her role as Deputy Director, Ms. Ignacek provides technical oversight and program management support for the organization’s innovative and applied research programs, novel concept development, and strategic partnership development supporting the verification of nuclear...
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2020 Symposium Hosts
Commander, 45th Space Wing
Brig. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess is Commander, 45th Space Wing, and Director, Eastern Range, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.General Schiess is responsible for more than 15,000 military, Department of Defense civilian and contracted personnel. As the commander he leads the safe and secure processing and launching of U.S. government and commercial satellites from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. General Schiess is also the final approval authority for all launches on the Eastern Range, a 15-million-square-mile area which supports an average of 25 launches per year aboard Delta, Atlas...
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Vice Commander, 45th Space Wing
Colonel Brande H. Walton is the Vice Commander, 45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Colonel Walton is responsible for the processing and launching of U.S. government and commercial satellites from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Colonel Walton serves as a Launch Decision Authority with final approval for launches on the Eastern Range, a 15-million-square-mile area supporting an average of 20 launches per year aboard various launch vehicles. She leads more than 15,000 military, DOD civilian and contracted personnel assigned to operating locations in Florida...
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Commander, Air Force Technical Applications Center
Colonel Chad J. Hartman is the Commander, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. AFTAC operates and maintains the United States Atomic Energy Detection System to monitor foreign compliance with various treaties limiting nuclear testing. The focus of AFTAC’s more than 1,000 professionals is to detect special events in the atmosphere, underwater, underground, and in space to determine if they are nuclear and to report them to U.S. senior decision makers. Colonel Hartman earned his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at...
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Vice Commander, Air Force Technical Applications Center
Colonel Ralph E. Bordner III is the Vice Commander, Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. AFTAC operates and maintains the United States Atomic Energy Detection System to monitor foreign compliance with various treaties limiting nuclear testing. The focus of AFTAC’s more than 1,000 professionals is to detect special events in the atmosphere, underwater, underground and in space, to determine if they are nuclear, and to report them to national decision makers. Colonel Bordner received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps...
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Command Chief, 45th Space Wing
Chief Master Sergeant Scott J. King is the Command Chief for the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. He advises the wing commander on matters concerning the morale, welfare, utilization and training of enlisted members for the wing and 30 tenant units in multiple operating sites. The wing is responsible for the processing and launch of government and commercial satellites. Additionally, the wing provides final approval authority for all launches on the 15-million square mile Eastern Range. The wing also manages launch and range...
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Command Chief, Air Force Technical Applications Center
Chief Master Sergeant Amy L. Long is the Command Chief for the Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., where she advises the AFTAC wing commander on matters concerning the readiness, utilization, training, morale and welfare of the 1,000- member center and its 14 detachments around the globe who support AFTAC’s international treaty monitoring activities. AFTAC operates and maintains the United States Atomic Energy Detection System to monitor foreign compliance with various treaties limiting nuclear testing. AFTAC is also the designated U.S...
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Previous Keynotes
24th Secretary of the Air Force
Doctor Heather Wilson is the 24th Secretary of the Air Force and is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training and equipping and providing for the welfare of 660,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces as well as their families. She oversees the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $132 billion and directs strategy and policy development, risk management, weapons acquisition, technology investments and human resource management across a global enterprise. Wilson has more than 35 years of professional experience in...
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Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Lt. Gen. VeraLinn “Dash” Jamieson is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. She is responsible to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force for policy formulation, planning, evaluation, oversight, and leadership of Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. As the Air Force's senior intelligence officer she is directly responsible to the Director of National Intelligence and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. She leads five directorates and...
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Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Staff
Lt. Gen. Stayce D. Harris is the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. She also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Air Force Council, and is the Air Force accreditation official for the international Corps of Air Attachés. Gen. Harris received a commission in the Air Force through the University of Southern California's Air Force ROTC program. She served on active duty until joining the Air Force Reserve in 1991. Her staff assignments include serving as a mobility force planner for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and...
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Retired USAF Commander
General (Ret) Janet C. Wolfenbarger retired from the Air Force in July 2015. In her last assignment before retirement she served as Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command employs some 80,000 people and manages $60 billion annually, executing the critical mission of warfighter support through leading-edge science and technology, cradle-to-grave life cycle weapon systems management, world-class developmental test and evaluation, and world-class depot maintenance and supply chain management. She was commissioned in 1980 as a graduate of the...
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Mae Krier was born in North Dakota in the 1920's. Calvin Coolidge was President and it was during the Great Depression and the infamous Dust Bowl. Times were really difficult for everyone, not just the ones in the Middle West. Our family was poor, but a happy family with very loving and generous parents. When someone would be down and out, they would take them in or help them through the bad times. That was the way of life during those years. Things didn't start to get better until Roosevelt brought in programs like the WPA and the CCC's. They were great programs to help bring us out of the...
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Previous Speakers
Chief, Policy And Sustainment, Air Force Diversity and Inclusion Office
Lieutenant Colonel Angel J. Lugo is the Chief, Policy and Sustainment Divison, Directorate of Diversity and Inclusion, Manpower, Personnel & Services, Headquarters Air Force, implementating the Air Force’s strategic vision, priorites, and goals for Air Force diversity and inclusion. The directorate is responsible for creating sustainable change throughout the Air Force while integrating diversity and inclusion-focused leadership with operational, functional and talent management strategies and processes. After serving twelve years in the enlisted ranks, Colonel Lugo received his...
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Aerospace/STEM Educator
Susan Broderick Mallett is a retired teacher, administrator and university instructor with an educational tenure of 31 years in Alabama schools. As a public school principal, she led a nationally and internationally-recognized elementary school that integrated the aerospace theme throughout the curriculum. Since 2006 she has served as the Youth Development and Air Force Association (AFA) Programs Coordinator at the National HQ of the Civil Air Patrol at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. In her position at CAP, Ms Mallett works across the country to coordinate free CAP airplane orientation...
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Lakisha Robertson is currently assigned to the Air Force Personnel Center, Talent Acquisitions Division, Recruiting Branch, and has over 10 years of Human Resources experience. Specializing in staffing and recruitment, she is responsible for identifying "top" talent for the Air Force Civilian Service Acquisition Workforce. Lakisha guides a Team of dedicated professionals whose primary task, is to seek-out potential candidates for STEM related vacancies. With a Bachelor's Degree in Management and a passion for recruiting, she takes great pride in cultivating relationships with...
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Operational Analyst, NATO Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation
Dr. Bianca Barbu works as an Operational Analyst, in the Operational Analysis Branch at NATO Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT) in Norfolk, VA. She employs a combination of defense analysis, experiments and parallel studies to understand the context of NATO’s operational problems, the associated war-fighting impact of implementing various solutions, and the requirements for new capabilities. Her work is dedicated to bringing modern science and technology to bear on defense problems and finding feasible courses of action, while generating information and...
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Surgeon, Author, Mentor
Dr. Oneeka Williams is on a mission to ‘Educate, Empower and Enrich’ the lives of children, especially girls towards a greater interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. As Founder and President of Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo LLC, Dr Williams has developed a mechanism to engage children in the joys of science at an early age. Her belief is that by planting the seeds of curiosity, incorporating science content into an entertainment platform and delivering the message in the form of a powerful, confident girl character, she will be create early imprinting of what is...
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Senior Research Physicist Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate
Julie Smith is a Senior Research Physicist for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate. Julie received her Master’s degree in Physics from the University of New Mexico in 2008 and began working for AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate at Starfire Optical Range right after. For 7 years in the Directed Energy Directorate, Julie worked on advances in atmospheric propagation, atmospheric modeling and simulation, MEMS technology, adaptive optics, quantum communications and optical communications. In 2015 Julie moved to AFRL’s Space...
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Dr. Dana Joseph is an assistant professor in the College of Business at the University of Central Florida. She has a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from the University of Illinois with a minor in Quantitative Psychology. Her research involves using state-of-the-art quantitative techniques to investigate management “fads” including emotional intelligence and employee engagement. Her research has been published in top journals in the field (e.g., Journal of Applied Psychology, Emotion, and Organizational Research Methods) and has been highlighted in the American Psychological...
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Raised by scuba diving parents who taught her to value and respect the ocean, Darcy donned her first scuba tank at age 9 and blew bubbles in the backyard swimming pool. She told everyone afterward that she was going to break out of Oklahoma and become a marine biologist. Darcy earned a BS in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and an MS in Environmental Science from the University of Oklahoma. Her research experience includes studying coral recruitment and larval development in Key Largo and Puerto Rico, tagging and rehabilitating sea turtles in the Carolinas...
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Dr. Andrew Aldrin is currently an Associate Professor at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and Director of the Buzz Aldrin Space Institute (BASI). 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. Dr. Aldrin was Director of Business Development and Advanced Programs at United Launch Alliance and served in a similar position at Boeing’s NASA Systems, and Launch Services business units. He has also served...
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President of Larsen Motorsports, Elaine Larsen, has over two decades of racing experience. Finding her home behind the wheel of a jet powered dragster, she lives her life at full-throttle. STEAM ambassador, championship driver of the Florida Tech jet dragster, comic book creator and mentor are just a few of Elaine’s roles. Giving young ladies an opportunity to get hands-on experience in the high-performance vehicles industry, she inspires the next generation of motorsports professionals to have the Guts to go for the Glory!
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Amy S. Courter served as the National Commander and CEO of the all-volunteer Civil Air Patrol, a federally chartered nonprofit corporation and the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL from 2007-2011. Her primary duty was to lead CAP’s 61,000-plus volunteers in fulfillment of the organization’s three congressionally chartered missions: Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education, as well as CAP’s increasing role in America’s homeland security. As CAP’s commander, Courter served as a Major General...
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Director of Science and Technology
Ms. Lisa R. Sanders is the Director of Science and Technology for Special Operations Forces, Acquisition, Technology & Logistics (SOF AT&L), U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. She is responsible for all research and development funded activities. Ms. Sanders has over 30 years of civilian Federal service. Ms. Sanders entered Federal Service as an Electronics Engineer at Naval Avionics Center in Indianapolis, Indiana where she served in quality engineering, production engineering and program management. In 1996, she transferred to Naval Air...
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Senior Research Electronics Engineer
Monica Allen is a is a Senior Research Electronics Engineer at the Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Her research focuses on resonant sensing platforms for EO/IR technologies and components that can find applications in detection and sensing. Her primary areas of interest include nonlinear optical, photonic, and plasmonic physics concepts through the exploitation of light-matter interactions. Her other research interests include investigation of nonlinear optical phenomena and quantum photonic devices at infrared wavelengths. Her current...
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Scientific Adviser to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
Dr. Janet S. Fender, a senior level executive, is the Scientific Adviser to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. She serves as the Command Chief Scientist providing scientific expertise and technical guidance throughout ACC. As primary interface to the scientific community, Dr. Fender identifies leading edge technologies and catalyzes effective, rapid enhancements to ACC's warfighting capabilities. In previous positions at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Dr. Fender served as Chief Scientist for Space Vehicles and Senior Scientist for Advanced Imaging. Her...
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Director of Engineering
Angela Lamb is the Director of Engineering for Harris Corporation. Her responsibilities include establishing and improving engineering processes and tools; defining and driving productivity and quality measures; developing and enhancing technical career paths aligned with Harris’ growth strategies; identifying and managing technology partnerships with other companies and suppliers; and promoting the disciplined execution of projects within cost, schedule and technical constraints. Most recently, Lamb was Director of Engineering for Harris Corporation’s Critical Networks segment...
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Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Dr. Sutch serves as the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Office of Personnel Management where she leads the efforts of developing government-wide policies and guidance to assist Federal agencies in building diverse workforces and inclusive and engaged organizational cultures that leverage diversity, and provides expert advisory services to Federal agencies undergoing cultural transformation. Prior to serving in this capacity, Dr. Sutch held the position of Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of the Executive Secretariat leading the...
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Secretary General
Monica Groba is the Secretary General of the National Geographic Institute (IGN), the national organization that manages Astronomy, Geophysics, Geodesy and Cartography facilities of the Spanish Government. The Secretary General is responsible for budget, procurement, human resources and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) for the IGN. She coordinates central and peripheral centers, national and international projects and furnishes the legal support required. Through the Geographical Superior Council, the Secretary General has sole authority for management of the National...
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Journalist
Christine Negroni writes about aviation safety for The New York Times, Air & Space, Airways and other publications. She is the safety consultant to ABC News and worked with the network in Malaysia during its coverage of the disappearance of Malaysia 370. Her book about the accident has just been published by Penguin in the United States and Atlantic Books in the UK. She was the chief of investigations for the aviation law firm Kreindler & Kreindler from 2000 to 2008. Prior to that she covered aviation for CNN. Her work on the crash of TWA Flight 800 led her to write the New York...
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Retired U.S. Navy Captain and Aviator
Winston E. Scott is a retired U.S. Navy Captain, aviator and two-time shuttle astronaut and currently serves as special assistant to the president at Florida Institute of Technology. He entered Naval Aviation Officers Candidate School in 1973 and completed flight training and was designated a naval aviator in 1974. Scott later earned his Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering with avionics. During his Navy career, Captain Scott served as a helicopter pilot with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron Light Thirty-Three at NAS North Island, CA. flying the...
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