Steve Swanson is a former NASA astronaut and engineer, serving the space agency for 28 years before retiring in August 2015. Among his most notable achievements are three missions to the International Space Station (ISS), one as Commander; logging over 195 cumulative days in space; traveling over 83 million miles in orbit; and completing five spacewalks, two as lead spacewalker, totaling over 28 hours of extravehicular activity. Steve began his NASA career in 1987 as a systems and flight engineer in the Aircraft Operations Division of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, working on the Shuttle Training Aircraft to improve the navigation and control systems and to include a real-time wind determination algorithm to model the handling, flight and landing dynamics of the space shuttle from 35,000 feet to main gear touchdown. In May 1998, he started Astronaut Candidate training and was selected as mission specialist, which included intensive instruction in Shuttle and ISS systems. He also worked in the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch as a CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator) for ISS and Shuttle missions and received advanced training in spacewalk, Shuttle and ISS robotic arm operations, and Shuttle rendezvous procedures. His first spaceflight was in June 2007 on the Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-117 mission, the 21st trip to the ISS and the longest mission for Atlantis, where he was mission specialist and flight engineer (MS-2), traveling 5.8 million miles in 14 days, with two spacewalks. In March 2009, Steve was mission specialist and lead spacewalker on the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-119 mission, the 28th trip to the ISS, where he traveled 5.3 million miles in 13 days, with two spacewalks. In March 2014, Steve launched aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket (TMA-12M) from Baikonur, Kazakhstan as a member of Expedition 39, docking with the ISS where he performed extensive scientific research which included Earth remote sensing and biology, bone and muscle physiology studies, and conducted an emergency spacewalk to repair a computer relay box. In May 2014, Steve joined Expedition 40 and assumed command of the ISS which concluded in September 2014 with a safe landing in central Kazakhstan, marking an end to 169 days in space that covered almost 72 million miles in orbit. His honors include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the Flight Simulation Engineering Award. Prior to joining NASA, he was a software engineer with GTE in Phoenix, Arizona. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics from the University of Colorado, a Master of Applied Science in Computer Systems from Florida Atlantic University, and a Doctorate in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. He is currently a Distinguished Educator in Residence at Boise State University and promotes the space sciences through events and programs throughout the world.

John “Bones” Parker has over 35 years of experience in aviation, strategic planning, global operations, program management and international relations. Over his distinguished career, he has held leadership positions in the United States Marine Corps, the Pentagon, the Council on Foreign Relations, and most recently, with The Boeing Company. As Director of Boeing’s Vertical Lift Global Sales and Marketing, John was responsible for the development of foreign military sales for Boeing’s vertical lift aircraft portfolio, leading an international sales team focused on worldwide sales and marketing of the AH-64E Apache, AH-6 Little Bird, CH-47 Chinook and V-22 Osprey, coordinating purchases with U.S. Government agencies, allies and eligible coalition partner nations. At the Pentagon, he was International Affairs Branch Head – Headquarters Marine Corps, supporting the Commandant of the Marine Corps on politico-military matters, international affairs, security cooperation, foreign disclosure and technology transfer. In this position, he was responsible for identifying key international partnerships, capitalizing on emerging global opportunities, and establishing policy to facilitate security cooperation activities, providing authorization and oversight for more than 90 Foreign Military Sales cases, including MRAP, to multiple countries with a combined value of over $2 billion. As Marine Corps Fellow to the Council on Foreign Relations, John served as subject matter expert to promulgate civil-military relations and concepts to world leaders and figures. As Commanding Officer of HMM-261, he led both the Marine Corp Squadron and Aviation Combat Element, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom II and Operation Vigilant Resolve, with no casualties and zero loss of aircraft (30 airframes/400 personnel). At AIRLANT, he provided executive oversight on over 400 Navy and Marine aircraft to include engineering, acquisition and logistical support during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Among Mr. Parker’s awards and recognitions over his over 27 years in the Marine Corps are the Alfred A. Cunningham Award, the USMC Aviator of the Year Award (1997), Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star), Strike Flight and Mission Air Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon (with Gold Star). Mr. Parker received a B.S. in Political Science from The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina, a M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Command and Staff – Naval War College, and a M.A. in Strategic Studies and Joint Campaign Planning from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School - Joint Forces Staff College.

Ronald Mandel has more than 40 years of experience in the design, development, and integration of highly complex aerospace systems used in telecommunications, exploratory missions and defense applications, including satellites and space vehicles. A Lockheed Martin Fellow, Mr. Mandel recently retired from Lockheed Martin Space, where he held the position of Chief Systems Engineer. Throughout his impressive career, which was almost entirely at Lockheed Martin, Mr. Mandel led large engineering teams in all program phases from conceptualization through deployment for the successful completion of numerous multimillion-dollar commercial and government contracts. As a senior systems engineering executive, Mr. Mandel was involved with formulating and evaluating procurement proposals, reviewing costs and risk assessments, and collaborating with customers to resolve issues and ensure program deliverables either met or exceeded expectations. He has also been responsible for recruiting and training departments exceeding 250 people - standing up project teams, and he has served as a technical consultant on a variety of critical engineering challenges. For 30 years, Mr. Mandel designed and developed complex digital, RF and optical systems, including testing hardware and software for satellite command and telemetry systems. Among his many achievements, Mr. Mandel led operational readiness planning and execution for the MUOS 1 Space Vehicle for the U.S. Navy. As a mentor and visionary, he has taught and developed the curriculum for more than 25 different courses on Systems Engineering, Space Systems Design and Integrated Product Development Team Leadership, directed at various staff levels and mid-career professionals. Mr. Mandel has been recognized with 7 Lockheed Martin Team Excellence Awards, as well as other industry honors over his career.

Jeanne Yu is a visionary leader in the aerospace industry with over 30 years of experience at Boeing, where she received numerous honors in the areas of sustainability and accelerating new technologies. Most recently, she was the Product Development Director of Technology Integration for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. In this role, she planned and executed Boeing’s technology R&D portfolio for current and future commercial airplanes. In 2010, Ms. Yu created the innovative ecoDemonstrator Program, a cadence of flight test platforms to catalyze “learn by doing” and accelerate innovation, collaboration, and technology implementation. Seven ecoDemonstrator airplanes have flown to date, including the 737, 787, 777, 757 and an Embraer E170. She also established a Design for Environment program focusing technology on energy, global and local emissions, community noise, and better sustainable materials. Ms. Yu initiated and led Boeing’s first biofuel flights on commercial aircraft establishing the viability of sustainable aviation biofuel and its reduced lifecycle carbon footprint. She has previous experience in Environmental Control Systems, air quality, 787 cabin environment, fire protection systems and certification. Ms. Yu has served on the National Academies Engineering panel and Transportation Research Board Committees, FAA Research Engineering and Development Advisory Committee, International UK advisory for Aviation and Environment, OMEGA, and the FAA Center of Excellence for Aircraft - Cabin Environment. She was inducted as an AIAA Associate Fellow in 2019. She is also an International Coach Federation certified coach. Ms. Yu received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Illinois and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering – Thermosciences from Stanford University. Prior to joining Boeing, she worked at Sandia National Laboratories. Throughout her career, Ms. Yu has chosen to Lean Forward, Learn Continuously and Lead with Courageous Optimism.

Robert Carullo has worked with leading edge technologies for over 50 years. He is the Executive Director of the Strengthening Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow (SMART) Congressional Initiative. SMART’s mission is to support research, development and technology-based opportunities for economic growth in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. SMART has provided issue papers, conducted 335 major events, and facilitated $625 million in direct and $1.2B in indirect projects. Prior to SMART, he was Supervisory Program Manager (PM) of NAVAIR Lakehurst’s International Sales, overseeing a $1.0B budget, including 27 Allied Aircraft Programs. During his career, he was assigned to all Navy/Marine aircraft programs. His international assignments took him to six continents. Mr. Carullo became a loaned executive in May 1999 from the Naval Air System Command (NAVAIR) to Congress standing up SMART. Retired from government in December 2003, he continues as an industry loaned executive. The highlight of his DoD (Department of Defense) career was seven-year detail at Boeing for the V-22 Tiltrotor Full Scale Development Program as the PM’s Technical Representative. He led a 21 person DoD team providing preliminary approval of data for NAVAIR HQ PM’s approval. Mr. Carullo twice led NAVAIR teams conducting 12-month reviews of program data as source information for continued Congressional funding. During this period, he founded the National Tiltrotor Technology Coalition that focused on leveraging the V-22 program to develop a civil tiltrotor. A U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, Mr. Carullo was an Attack Helicopter Crew Chief, Senior Mechanic and Technical Inspector. Returning to the U.S., he became a Maintenance Instructor. He received various awards over his career, including Congressional Commendations, Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service and multiple U.S. Army Air Medals, Campaign Badges and Expeditionary Medals. Mr. Carullo received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University and is an active Drexel University Alumni, having founded Drexel Wrestling Alumni and the Veterans Alumni Network, and he has been an Adjunct Professor in Mechanical Engineering.

David Zajac has over 40 years of experience as a seasoned building materials executive. Over his distinguished career, he has held leadership positions with a number of international corporations in the architectural and industrial coatings industries. His background includes advisory work for private equity firms which led to several mergers and acquisitions in the building products space where he acted as CEO to run and integrate the newly combined businesses. At PPG Industries, a global Fortune 500 company, he was General Manager of its Architectural Coatings Division which included Pittsburgh Paints, Lucite Paints and Olympic Stains. Dave then became President of the Parker Paint Manufacturing Company located in the Seattle area. Parker was a division of Williams Holdings PLC based in England. He was also the COO of Flohr Metal Fabricators in Seattle which was an engineering and metal fabricating company producing marine infrastructure components and seafood processing equipment. Dave is currently President and CEO of AMF Building Products, a manufacturer of aluminum building products used in the construction of multifamily, commercial, and residential properties. Zajac founded AMF in 2010, after purchasing WeatherGuard Building Products from a private equity firm. Dave received his BA and MBA from Governors State University and has completed management and international business Advanced Executive programs at the Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University and Oxford University in England.

Chester Rodeheaver has nearly twenty years of experience in valuations, investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, cross-border joint ventures, feasibility studies, strategic planning, finance, real estate investments and development, and entrepreneurship. Chester has provided guidance founders and investors across many industries to help build companies that thrive. In 2003, he began his career in Washington D.C. with Booz Allen Hamilton, a leading management consulting firm. In 2009, Chester founded an investment banking firm in Dubai, called Pont Capital, now located in Miami, Florida, to advise family offices and growing businesses. He lived in Dubai from 2003-2013, a period that coincided with Dubai’s economic transformation. During his time in the Middle East, Chester worked with startups that included a regional investment bank; a $200 million operator of primary and secondary schools; a $400 million buyout of a German software company‘s regional presence; Ferrari World Theme Park in Abu Dhabi; a national savings business model that currently manages over $2 billion in assets; and a sovereign wealth fund. Since returning to the U.S., Chester has continued to advise several family offices, as well as a diverse range of startups. Chester is a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) and has been a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). He earned a Master of Business Administration (with honors) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Master in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Virginia. Chester has studied at the Sorbonne (University of Paris IV) and in Aachen, Germany. He also holds certificates in Financial Modeling and Entrepreneurship from Wharton Business School. Chester is a frequent speaker on topics such as and valuation, finance and investment.

Alfred (Al) Rapetti has had a long and distinguished career in energy, aerospace and finance, and his multiple disciplines have allowed him to launch specialized businesses across the globe. A nuclear engineer by trade, Mr. Rapetti began his career as a reactor test engineer on nuclear submarines and subsequently worked with the U.S. Air Force and Boeing on its 2707 supersonic airliner project. Mr. Rapetti went on to found AARK Enterprises, an equipment leasing company that acquired, financed and resold capital equipment, including commercial and corporate jet aircraft, and funded the first 737-100 to Air Florida. Following the sale of AARK Enterprises, he owned and operated a regional airline in Florida utilizing BAC 111 aircraft, competing against Pan Am and Eastern. He was also involved with the development of the LearFan 2100, an advanced business aircraft which had a rear pusher turboprop and carbon composite airframe. Later, he became the Managing Director of Stamford Capital Group, an investment and merchant bank that accomplished 255 acquisitions valued at over four billion dollars during his nine-year tenure. After retiring from Stamford Capital Group, Mr. Rapetti purchased and became Executive Chairman of Avantair, a fractional aircraft ownership company which he transformed into a major industry player, growing its equity value from twenty-five million to over one hundred million within a year, and expanding into FBO operations. He contracted with Embraer for the purchase of $2 billion in new aircraft and secured twenty-two acres and one hundred twenty thousand square feet of hangars at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater airport, adding FBO operations in New Jersey, California and Nevada. He pioneered the concept of paying for a single seat on a private plane, and founded Business Jet Seats, which later became Black Jet. Currently, Mr. Rapetti is the CEO of StarCore USA, a clean energy company operating in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power generation sector. Mr. Rapetti graduated from State University of New York Maritime College with a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering and a B.S. in Marine Engineering and then received his M.S in Nuclear Engineering from New York University.

Peter Einstein is a successful entrepreneur, socially-conscious investor, and award-winning advertising copywriter/creative director. He has over 40 years of experience launching groundbreaking products and advertising campaigns, including: the world’s first major environmental brand; the first cellular phone and cellular telephone service in the U.S.; the original concept and name for Jell-O Pudding Pops; a 30-second spot for Arm & Hammer credited with putting a box of Baking Soda into 7 out 10 refrigerators in the U.S.; and the introduction of the gull-winged DeLorean sports car of “Back to the Future” fame. His “Live the Dream” theme won the account from 107 other ad agencies. Mr. Einstein is an expert in new products and branding. As Executive Copy Director /Senior Creative Director at the storied Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency in New York City, he was the key creative force behind successful introductions of numerous new products for Colgate-Palmolive,Lipton, Wish-Bone Salad Dressings, AT&T, and Nabisco. As Founder and Executive Director of the Innovation Zone Project @ AEGEA, a planned international city of the arts and entertainment in Florida, Peter has worked extensively with Xeriant and AEGEA with the goal of eventually showcasing Xeriant’s VTOL technologies in AEGEA’s high-profile environment. One of the first 100 individuals cited in the "Who’s Who in Crowdfunding,” Peter co-hosted a special crowdfunding podcast series for CBS with internationally-renowned business growth expert Jay Abraham and wrote a comprehensive chapter on equity crowdfunding for one of Abraham’s recent books.