Tarek A. Elgohary,  an assistant professor in the  UCF’s mechanical and aerospace engineering department. He is the director of the Astrodynamics and Space Robotics Laboratory. Before joining UCF, he was a postdoctoral research associate at Texas A&M and a visiting scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the American University in Cairo and his master's degree and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University. His research interests are in astrodynamics, optimal control, robotics and space situational awareness.   We look forward to a long relationship with Dr. Elgohary as our Wolfpack continues to dream of the Amaris Lunar Rover, and , as always, we hope you will stay tuned after the episode. https://mae.ucf.edu/ UCF website 

Today, Kevin and I meet with Andres Permuy, a third-year Physics Major and Math minor at Georgetown University. He aspires to receive a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering/Robotics to pursue a career in Advanced Robotics and Automation.  Andres’ current goal is to work with automation that can be utilized in the space industry for extraterrestrial exploration and excavation.  Currently, Andres helps lead the Georgetown University Space Initiative as the Co-President and conducts space policy research at the Beyond Earth Institute. We look forward to working with him on several projects including the Amaris Lunar Rover. Stay tuned after for our take away.

Georgetown University Space Initiative 

Aerospace and Innovation Academy website

Today Kevin and I meet with Sara Alvarado who is a current  economics and industrial engineering undergrad working towards her masters in Industrial Engineering at The University of Central Florida. In addition to her school load, Sara works at Universal Orlando Resort as an Industrial Engineer, Hailing from Colombia, she always dreamed big but knew her options were limited in her home country. The US has given her the career opportunities and the reach to empower many more to look up and imagine what could be, and she has kickstarted this by being the national chair of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). SEDS is a student-run non-profit that fosters the development of the interdisciplinary future leaders in space, with close to 100 chapters nationwide. This year Sara has taken a total of 18 students, with over half from Minority Serving Institutions, to the Satellite and ISDC conferences in Washington, DC where they have presented, networked, and even gotten internships on the spot. Sara sees her future job to be in space tourism, and is excited about helping many others become spectators of our blue dot.

SmallSat Education Conference

Aerospace and Innovation Academy

For those who follow our social media or are part of the Aerospace and Innovation Academy family, you know our students do real-world experiential aerospace on a regular basis. Students find a place in the industry to capitalize on their passions and interests. Today’s two featured students have taken these opportunities to a whole new level. Paul Kiesling, a freshman at Exeter Academy, returns to share about his current research and entrepreneurial endeavors while Jasmin Schauer, a college student at Florida Atlantic University’s Honors College, discusses her work with osteoblasts as well as her presentations at recent conferences.

In what we hope to be a series, we will interview  students who are actively engaged in setting their personal bars high in order to pursue their futures. As always, stay tuned after the episode for our takeaway!

AIA website: www.aerospacehigh.org

Today Kevin and I meet with Megan Wnek who is entering her 4th year as an Aerospace Engineering student with an Electrical Engineering minor at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.  She has interned as a structural engineer for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics on the F-35 program and most recently, Northrop Grumman Space Systems as a systems engineering intern. During her time at UF, she has been involved in and led teams for multiple industry-sponsored design competitions including the NASA Student Launch Initiative, the NASA Tournament Lab Exploring Hell competition, and the Fairchild Growing Beyond Earth maker contest, in which her team placed in the top 5. Megan is passionate about exploration and its importance to the world and is striving for a career that will make the earth a better and safer place for future generations."

We hope you will stay tuned after the episode for our takeaways.

Aerospace and Innovation Academy website:  www.aerospacehigh.org

In an ongoing effort to prepare our students for their futures, today Kevin and I meet with Joseph Blassberg.  Joe began his counseling career at American University in Washington, D.C. then went on to serve as the Director of College Counseling at Milken Community Schools in Los Angeles.. There,  he implemented a college counseling curriculum and provided students and families with grade-level workshops, panel discussions, and college essay workshops. Most recently, Joe was the Director of College Counseling and Academic Dean at The Buckley School in Los Angeles, CA, Mr. Blassberg's accomplishments at Buckley are many; he guided thousands of students successfully through the academic advising and college process, and  he also brought new programs and innovations such as the annual college application and essay workshop, PSAT 8/9, and assisted in the redesign and revision of the Upper School profile and the college counseling materials. During his time at Buckley and Milken, Mr. Blassberg helped to place students in some of the world’s top colleges and universities including Amherst, Brown, Cal Tech, Cambridge, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, McGill, MIT, Oxford, Penn, Princeton, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Williams, and Yale.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Blassberg has visited over 500 college campuses in the United States and abroad. He has also participated in the Institute on College Admissions sponsored jointly by Harvard University and The College Board, and he has presented at conferences and sat on committees for the National Association for College Admission Counseling

Mr. Blassberg has now joined The Greene School in West Palm Beach, Fl as the Director of College Counseling as the school begins its high school journey this Fal/The Greene School family is sure to benefit from his wisdom, and we know our listeners will as well. Stay tuned.

Today, we meet with Karolina Rivera-Osorio,  a young lady with an avid interest in STEM with a particular focus on the psychological effects of living in space. Karolina was an intern at NASA Headquarters Science Mission Directorate supporting the Mars sample Return Mission. She participated in Human Factors creating the first Lunar Transport Modules for Incapacitated Astronauts for Johnson Space Center while studying Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Recently, Karolina spent the last 7 months in France researching “The Psychology of Sustainable Agriculture for Future Martian Astronauts,” using hydroponics/microgreens in a Mars analog.  In addition to her interest in these areas, Karolina is also a scuba diver and pilot, and she loves  gardening, music and traveling. It was fascinating hearing how she blended her many passions into a career field and we know you will be likewise impressed

Today we meet with Kevin Johnson, a Systems Engineer at Jacobs supporting the Artemis Program for NASA based out of the Kennedy Space Center. As a first generation college student born to a single teenage mother and raised under the poverty line, Kevin spent his early years working in the food service industry, honing a hard working and team oriented skillset to succeed. This also led to him planning for the future, a 20 year career target that is dedicated to being a lead for the human mission to Mars.

After graduating from Penn State University with Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering, he spent 10 years at Boeing as an engineer supporting the entire Rotorcraft program lifecycle: from proposal to production, sustainment, and R&D efforts. Eventually after taking a brief stint as a contractor for Lockheed Martin's Navy Nuclear Propulsion team; it was then that  Kevin took a dream opportunity to work in the space industry

Along the way, Kevin gas taken time and effort to give back and has been volunteering in local communities since he was thirteen. Recognized by Boeing for his community give back, receiving the "Community Outreach" award, he spent over 7 years as an instructor for the "Girls in Science and Technology" program (GiST)

Kevin is also an active member in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) serving on the Cape Canaveral Council,  which is where he met our Kevin, and is a and a volunteer/judge for both FIRST Robotics and the International Science and Engineering Fair Kevin was recently accepted to the PnD aero engineering program at a husband to a very patient wife, and a proud father to two young children.

We know you will love his story as he inspires us with his vision and advice

Today, we meet with, Space Florida President and CEO, Frank DiBello. in May 2009 Mr. DiBello was chosen to lead Space Florida, which is the principal state agency for aerospace-related economic development, and the Space Authority for the State of Florida. In his position, he develops and executes programs designed to attract, retain and grow aerospace business across the state. Additionally, Mr. DiBello focuses on Florida aerospace workforce development and retention as well as international partnership development.

Mr. DiBello has been involved in multiple civic, social and industry volunteer organizations. He founded the Washington Space Business Roundtable and for his work as President of the Board of the USO Metropolitan Washington, he received the Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Department of Defense’s highest civilian honor.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University, and did graduate work at American and George Washington Universities. Recently Mr. DiBello was inducted into the Space Satellite Hall of Fame.

Register for Summer Sessions at the Aerospace and Innovation Academy here:  https://forms.gle/YFqTyviJRtzipKX19

Dr. Anand “Sunny” Narayanan is currently a Research Professor at Florida A&M AND  - Florida State University (FAMU-FSU). As a first-generation, immigrant, Indian American from a disadvantaged background, Sunny has held a life-long interest in encouraging diversity through educational outreach and interdisciplinary projects. Sunny holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Medical and Space Physiology, and B.S. degrees from West Virginia University in Mechanical Engineering and Biology.

Now as a Research Professor, he continues his support of NASA’s space program, leading and supporting multiple biomedical studies investigating the physiological effects of deep space radiation, Lunar, and Martian gravity, relevant to our human space exploration goals as we return to the Moon and beyond through the Artemis program.

Check out the Aerospace and Innovation Academy website here: www.aerospacehigh.org

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