2024 Competition Record

2024 Theme: Advancing Aviation for Natural Disasters

As climate change increasingly influences the frequency and severity of natural disasters on a global scale, opportunities to contribute at the intersection of technological advancement, aviation, and natural disasters grow in both number and importance. NASA Aeronautics is dedicated to expanding its efforts to assist commercial, industry, and government partners in advancing aviation-related systems that could help prepare for natural disasters, lessen their impacts, and speed up recovery efforts.

The 2024 Blue Skies Competition challenged teams to conceptualize, in terms of feasibility and viability, aviation-related system(s) that could be applied by 2035 to one phase of management of a chosen type of natural disaster to improve capabilities. Teams of collegiate students were encouraged to consider high-potential technologies and systems that aren’t currently mainstream or highly regarded as becoming mainstream in the future.

Based on the review of research paper submissions, 8 teams were chosen to present their findings in a competitive design review during the Gateways to Blue Skies Forum at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA on May 30-31, 2024. Each finalist team received a monetary award to facilitate full participation in the Forum. Members from the winning teams earned internship opportunities with NASA’s ARMD.

2024 FINALISTS & AWARDS

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California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

“Aero-Quake Emergency Response Network”
Faculty Advisor: Mark Gonda

*First Place*

Columbia University

“AVATARS: Aerial Vehicles for Avalanche Terrain Assessment and Reporting Systems”
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Mike Massimino, Nicholas Frearson

*Second Place*

North Carolina State University

“Reconnaissance and Emergency Aircraft for Critical Hurricane Relief (REACHR)”
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Felix Ewere

*Most Innovative*

Cerritos College

“F.I.R.E (Fire Intervention Retardant Expeller)
Faculty Advisor: Janet Mclarty-Schroeder
*Future Game-Changer*

Boston University

“Deployable Unmanned Aerial System to Detect and Map Volcanic Ash Clouds”
Faculty Advisor: James Geiger

Boston University

“Rapid Evaluation, Coordination, Observation, Verification & Environmental Reporting (RECOVER)”
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Anthony Linn

Bowie State University

“Enhancing Earthquake Disaster Relief with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning”
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Haydar Teymourlouei

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS at AUSTIN

“Data Integrated UAV for Wildfire Management”
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Christian Claudel

View 2024 Blue Skies Forum Agenda

View 2024 Blue Skies Forum Program Book

View 2024 Blue Skies Forum Livestream archive

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2024 PHOTOS

2024 MEDIA COVERAGE

NASA Feature Story Coverage:
NASA University Research Program Makes First Award to Community College Project
Winners Announced in Gateways to Blue Skies Aeronautics Competition
Finalists Selected: University Teams Selected as Finalists to Envision New Aviation Responses to Natural Disasters
Collegiate teams to focus on natural disasters in 2024 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition
Other Coverage:
Columbia Team Wins Second Place – IG
Falcon Student Team Wins NASA’s Gateways to Blue Skies Competition Award
Two Teams of Terriers Propose Natural Disaster Solutions for Aviation in a NASA Competition This Week

2024 JUDGING PANEL

2024 Co-Chair

Steven Holz
NASA’s Langley Research Center Judge, Sponsor

2024 Co-Chair

Marcus JohnsonNASA’s Ames Research Center Judge

Starr GinnNASA’s Armstrong Flight Research CenterJudge

Phil KenulTriVector ServicesASTM Committee F38 Judge

Dr. Shanna McClainNASA HeadquartersJudge

Dr. Natasha NeogiNASA’s Langley Research CenterJudge

Travis PotterFEMA
Region 4Judge

Charles SheeheNASA’s GlennResearch CenterJudge

Jay StalnackerXPRIZE WildfireJudge

Craig NickolNASA’s Langley Research CenterOnline Reviewer

Mina CappuccioNASA’s Ames Research CenterSponsor

Koushik DattaNASA’s Ames Research CenterSponsor

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Greg Emerson

American Airlines

Greg Emerson is Vice President of Base Maintenance, where he oversees American’s global Base Maintenance operation, including the Tulsa Aircraft Overhaul organization, the Component Repair and Overhaul business unit, the American Engine Repair and Overhaul team and Maintenance Repair and Overhaul suppliers.Previously, he served as a partner at SeaTec, an aviation consulting firm, where his focus was on operational strategy, continuous improvement and large-scale systems implementations.

Greg began his aviation career as an aviation maintenance technician (AMT) in the U.S. Navy. After completing his service in the Navy, he joined Delta Airlines in 1990 to begin his civil career as an AMT. Greg took on increasing levels of responsibility in his 17 years at Delta, ultimately serving as the General Manager of Atlanta Base Maintenance. In addition to his time at Delta, Greg held senior leadership roles in business aviation, rotorcraft operations and in maintenance, repair and operation management.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautics, a Bachelor of Science in aerospace and occupational safety, and a Bachelor of Science in aviation business administration from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University. Greg also holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington. Greg serves on the board of directors of the Aviation Technician Education Council, a trade association that promotes and supports aviation maintenance technician education.

John Bombaro

NASA Langley Research Center

John Bombaro is the Research Services Directorate Chief of Maintenance at NASA Langley Research Center, where he has worked for the past eight years—five years as an aircraft maintenance technician and nearly three years leading maintenance operations. In his current role, he oversees a team of highly qualified technicians responsible for maintaining, modifying, and integrating research projects on NASA’s fleet of research aircraft. John takes pride in supporting missions that advance aviation and scientific discovery while ensuring the highest standards of safety and reliability.

John holds a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University in Business Management and maintains an FAA Airframe and Powerplant license. His aviation career spans roughly 20 years, much of it spent at a local, family-owned FBO, Part 145 repair station, and Part 141 flight school. There he gained extensive experience servicing general aviation aircraft and business jets, as well as designing and implementing aircraft structural modifications and experimental flight research systems for DOD contracts. 

John is a native of Seaford, Virginia, a small town on the Peninsula where he still lives today with his wife, two children, and his dog. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his family and being out on the water fishing from his boat.

Cesar Mendoza

Federal Aviation Administration

Cesar Mendoza is a dynamic aviation executive with extensive experience spanning engineering, quality management, regulatory oversight, and organizational transformation. His career includes key leadership roles with major aerospace manufacturers and airlines, where he drove improvements in safety, reliability, and operational performance across complex technical environments. Known for his high-energy leadership style and commitment to operational excellence, Cesar consistently advances customer satisfaction, strengthens brand performance, and delivers measurable business results. He currently serves within the Federal Aviation Administration’s Program Management Office, overseeing the performance and compliance of Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) holders.

Cesar holds a Juris Doctorate from Purdue University with a specialization in Aviation Law, a Masters of Aeronautical Science in Aviation/Aerospace Systems Safety and Aviation/Aerospace Technical Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Aircraft Engineering. His professional credentials include an FAA Airframe & Powerplant license, a DAC Class 1 Technician License, Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification, and ASQ Certified Quality Lead Auditor. He is also an active member of several professional organizations, including the Society of Aviation Technicians, the American Society for Quality, and he is a founding member of Panama’s Aeronautical Engineers Society.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Cesar values a strong family foundation. He and his wife, Evelyn—who also works in the aviation industry—share a deep passion for aviation and continuous improvement. Their daughter, Sara, is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology. Outside of work, Cesar shares his passion for aviation maintenance with high school and college students, often speaking at conferences, schools, and industry events.

Jim Baumiller

Southwest Airlines

Jim Baumiller is the Manager of Tech Ops Training, where he oversees all training programs, compliance initiatives, development and standards for Southwest’s AMTs, Inspectors, and 33 Support Departments. A lifelong advocate for aviation safety, Jim has spent the past 39 years mentoring and developing the next generation of aviation technical and engineering professionals, preparing them for both emerging opportunities and the evolving challenges of the industry.

Jim joined Southwest in 2018 after a distinguished threedecade career at other airlines, retiring that same year as Director of Engineering. His background spans Propulsion, Systems, and Structures Engineering, as well as Component and Engine Overhaul Shop Management. Earlier in his career, he served as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer at General Motors, where he helped introduce new generations of CAD/CAM and advanced manufacturing and automation technologies.

He holds a B.S. in Industrial Systems & Manufacturing Engineering and FAA Airframe & Powerplant licenses. Jim resides in the Dallas area with his wife, Andrea.

Scott Colling

Southwest Airlines

Scott Colling currently serves as Director, Tech Ops Training Programs. Scott supports Training Compliance, Delivery, and Training Development & Standards. Tech Ops Training supports both the Technical Training Programs for our AMT’s and Inspectors, in additional to our Business and Ops Support Departments. Scott is also responsible for developing Southwest’s AMT D225 Program, designed to attract, train, and retain future AMT’s.

Scott joined Southwest Airlines Ground Operations in 1991 and has held multiple positions within the Company- AMT, MX Controller, Manager MX Control, Director MX Operations, and supported the Western, Central, and Eastern Regions as a Production Director.

Scott obtained his Pilots Certification in 1988, and Airframe & Power Plant Certifications in 1991. Scott and his wife Christine reside in the Dallas area.

Dan Martin

USDA – ARS

Dr. Dan Martin is a Research Agricultural Engineer with the USDA-ARS Aerial Application Technology Research Unit and has over 30 years of training and experience in aerial spray application technologies for precision agriculture. He has held various leadership positions in professional societies and is recognized as a leading authority in manned and unmanned aerial application systems for precision agriculture and pest management.

Cordelia Hiers-Brady

NASA Headquarters

Cordelia Hiers-Brady serves as the Agriculture Program Coordinator at NASA, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting the Earth actions Agriculture Program. In this capacity, she is instrumental in managing and developing innovative and sustainable projects that address pressing food and agriculture challenges in the U.S. and globally.

With over a decade of experience in the field, Cordelia has effectively collaborated with funders, researchers, and farmers through dynamic public-private partnerships aimed at advancing scientific knowledge and enhancing agricultural practices. Her expertise lies in leveraging communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills to generate engaging content, cultivate multifaceted partnerships, and oversee the day-to-day management of the agriculture team’s programs and events.

Cordelia holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Business and Economics from Murray State University, equipping her with a strong foundation in both the practical and economic aspects of agricultural science. Her passion lies in connecting the agriculture community with the latest technologies and data available from NASA and other key sources, facilitating a robust exchange of ideas and innovative solutions among stakeholders.

Shawn Engelland

NASA Ames Research Center

Shawn Engelland serves as a senior technical advisor to NASA’s Air Traffic Management eXploration (ATMx) Project.

Prior to this assignment, Mr. Engelland managed NASA’s Airspace Technology Demonstrations (ATD) Project which included the ATD-2 Integrated Arrival/Departure/Surface (IADS) field demonstration. The IADS single-airport demo in in Charlotte, NC validated surface departure metering and overhead stream insertion capabilities that the FAA will deploy to 27 airports via Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) implementation. The multi-airport demo in North TX extended IADS to improve the efficiency of surface operations as departures from multiple airports compete for constrained terminal airspace resources.

Mr. Engelland’s involvement in air traffic management research began in 1995 when he was tasked with developing and managing the NASA/FAA North Texas Research Station (NTX) in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. The NTX team has developed a unique air traffic management research facility that facilitates collaboration with FAA, flight operator and airport operator research partners. NTX has become a focal point for integration, evaluation and transition of NASA-developed air traffic management technologies.

Prior to his NTX assignment, Mr. Engelland served in the Flight Dynamics and Controls Branch at NASA Ames Research Center. His research focused on advanced flight controls concepts for High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) and Advanced Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) aircraft. Mr. Engelland earned MS and BS degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas and began his career at NASA Ames in 1986 as a participant in NASA’s post-baccalaureate program.

George Burba

LI-COR Science & Strategy Fellow

Dr. Burba is LI-COR Science & Strategy Fellow, a Global Fellow at Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, a Graduate Adjunct Professor at the University of Nebraska, and a Co-Founder of CarbonDew Community of Practice.

He is a bio-atmospheric scientist and book author, with 11 books on the curricula at 50+ universities, and in libraries across the world including Oxford, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, Cambridge, Cornell, Duke, MIT, Caltech, Dartmouth, Imp College London, Karlsruhe, Max Planck, and over 450 scientific, technical, and conference publications cited in IPCC and FAO Reports, Nature, Science, etc. He holds 14 patents in the US and internationally in 40+ countries on successfully commercialized technology, devices, and methods.

Dr. Burba has taught over 500 courses, seminars, webinars, and invited lectures, including those at numerous universities, AmeriFlux, Argonne, AsiaFlux, BASC, Battelle, EPA, ICOS, InGOS, IITM, NEON, OzFlux, WMO, X-the Moonshot Ffactory, etc., and served on advisory boards, review panels, steering, grant, search and organizing committees, etc. at over 40 organizations and groups including IPCC, AmeriFlux, Arctic Foundation, Carbon Space, COST, DOE, DWFI, Elsevier, EU Commission, ICOS, InGOS, NCSE, NEON, FFAR, Israel Ministry of Science, Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, WMO, etc.

CJ Bixby

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center

Cynthia J. (CJ) Bixby is the chief engineer at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. She provides independent technical guidance and oversight to Armstrong flight projects and programs to ensure conformance with center and agency standards, policies and processes.

In addition, as chair of the Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review Board, she determines and provides the appropriate level of independent technical review for each project prior to flight.

Bixby served as the deputy director for the Research and Engineering Directorate at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center from February 2019 to September 2020. Previously she served as the chief of the Systems Engineering and Integration Branch. Prior to becoming chief of the SE&I Branch she was chief of the Flight Systems Branch.

Bixby began her career at Lockheed Martin where she participated in integrating aircraft systems in preparation for flight and planned and executed both developmental and experimental flight tests on several aircraft. She first came to NASA Armstrong as a contractor in 2002, working as a flight systems engineer on C-17 REFLECS and ACCESS 5. She began her federal career at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in 2006, participating in systems engineering efforts on Orion Pad Abort, Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Air Space, and Adaptable Compliant Trailing Edge.

Bixby holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She is the recipient of a NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.

Brad Doorn

NASA Headquarters

With over 35 years of experience in applying Earth observations to societal issues, Dr. Bradley D. Doorn leads a NASA team of agriculture applied research experts that coordinate a national community of funded researchers, collaborations with decision makers and partnerships with NASA research, satellite missions and education. Prior to this Bradley oversaw both the water and agriculture applied research portfolios.

Previously, Bradley was the division director of the International Production Assessment Division in the Office of Global Analysis, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). During his tenure as director, Bradley also managed the USDA Remote Sensing Program, which was responsible for global agriculture monitoring and the USDA Satellite Imagery Archive.

Bradley served on active duty for nearly 10 years as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Officer, including Company Commander of the 175th Topographic Company in direct support of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, NC facilities. At the rank of major, he entered the Retired Reserve in 2010.

Bradley spent five years in private industry as a manager and computer programmer for remote sensing, GIS and mapping projects. He is a long-time member and officer (including president) of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and is currently on the Executive Council of the National Integrated Drought Information System — among many other committees and professional duties over the years.

Bradley received his doctorate and master’s degrees from The Ohio State University in Geodetic Science and Surveying and a bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Currently, he is a part-time instructor for Penn State University’s Dutton e-Education Institute, where he teaches a graduate course on the principles of using remote sensing in geographic information systems.

Jay Stalnacker

XPRIZE Wildfire

Jay Stalnacker has 25 years of experience providing government and private industry with health, safety, disaster, and emergency management leadership.

His experience in emergency and disaster management includes recently serving as Operations Branch Director for the Pacific Northwest Federal Type 1 Incident Management Team (PNW2). PNW2 is one of the only eight federal teams that respond across the world for complex disaster management. Mr. Stalnacker also provides crisis leadership support to C-suite level corporate executives.

Mr. Stalnacker previously served in non-military government special operations as chief officer. Additionally, he was member of the elite Federal Smokejumper Program, and have served as a commissioned SWAT police officer, mountain search and rescue specialist, fire investigator, nationally certified EMT and HAZMAT/Weapons of Mass Destruction operations first responder. Mr. Stalnacker has also served as incident commander and operations chief on numerous large-scale emergency and disaster incidents across the nation including the 2004 Four Mile Wildfire, 2014 Boulder, Colorado 1000 year-flood disaster, 2017 State of Oregon Eclipse Emergency Response Event and more recently the 2018 Hurricane Michael natural disaster. He has also served as a Colorado State Senate appointed investigative subject matter expert for the tragic North Fork Wildfire fatality investigation.

Mr. Stalnacker received two Silver Star medals, one Bronze Star medal and one Medal of Commendation for life saving actions and has been recognized for distinguished service by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Department of Agriculture and the State of Colorado and Oregon Emergency Management Offices.

Mr. Stalnacker holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Colorado State University. He is a certified health and safety trainer in numerous professional disciplines and considered a subject matter expert for disaster incident management and investigation. Mr. Stalnacker has been married to his wife, Kim, for 25 years (High School Sweethearts) and their daughter Aspen is a freshman at Colorado University-Boulder. Mr. Stalnacker is also founded the non-profit Warriors on the River (WORFISH.org) and currently serves as Director.

Charles Sheehe

NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Chuck Sheehe has worked as a computer engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research Center Since 2000.

Chuck’s expertise/contributions are in the area of space flight communications system and advanced communication systems for Air Traffic Management. Chuck has a BS in Applied Physics. Chuck has worked with the U. S. Army, Raytheon, Comsat Laboratories and Lockheed Martin in communications. Chuck has authored several papers on several subjects in communications.

Travis Potter

FEMA Region 4

Travis Potter is the FEMA Region 04 UAS and Remote Sensing Coordinator. He has been with FEMA for 17 years. During this time, he has deployed to over 40 disasters and has worked as an IT Specialist, IT Project Manager, IT Branch Services Director, Communications Unit Leader, and Logistics Chief supporting FEMA’s Regional and National Incident Management Assistance Teams. He also served as the FEMA Region 04 Deputy Disaster Emergency Communications Coordinator and as the ESF2 Coordinator during regional disaster response efforts.

Travis is a UAS enthusiast and is the face of the FEMA Region 04 UAS Strategy. In this role, he is the facilitator for the FEMA Region 04 Statewide UAS Working Groups, a member of the FAA UAS Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Peer Review Panel, and a SME for the FEMA National Training and Education Division’s efforts to develop and provide UAS training courses for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial partners nationwide. Travis was also the 2021 recipient of the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International Xcellence Award in Mission and a 2023 FEMA Region 04 Regional Administrator’s Innovation Award winner.

Amy McCluskey

National Institute of Aerospace, Program Coordinator

Amy McCluskey joins the NIA as a Program Coordinator, supporting the education and outreach team’s university level competitions. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on media studies & journalism and a minor in English from Virginia Wesleyan University. She has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of journalism, marketing, public relations and outreach. She worked at NASA Langley for 9 years, serving as a public relations lead for education and space exploration and as the outreach and communications manager for the agency’s Game Changing Development Program. She has received numerous awards and commendations for her work in print and in public affairs. In her free time, she does community theater and improv,

Dr. Shanna McClain

NASA Headquarters

Dr. Shanna McClain is the Disasters Program Manager for NASA’s Earth Science Applied Sciences Program. She and her team promote the use of Earth observations to support decisions made across the disaster cycle. McClain endeavors to define new and innovative opportunities for applying Earth science information through the development of partnerships and projects in fragile and crisis-affected communities in order to build a more risk-informed global society. McClain joined NASA after working with the Environmental Law Institute since 2009 to support policy and programming on environmental migration and displacement and conflict and peace.

She previously held consultancies with the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit focused on the integration of environmental considerations in sudden-onset and protracted humanitarian crises, including developing guidelines for how to prepare for and respond to technological, industrial, and nuclear disasters. McClain holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Resources and Policy from Southern Illinois University. Her doctoral research examined the challenges of integrating three policy priorities – climate change adaptation, response to disasters, and resilience – into multilevel governance frameworks of international river basins.

Peggy Cornell

NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Peggy Cornell is the Deputy Project Manager for NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology Project. Throughout her career of hands-on experience with jet engines, test engineering expertise in the effort to power space missions reliably, and leadership roles in aeronautics, she has demonstrated exceptional and sustained contributions to aeronautics and space.

Peggy has over 28 years of experience at NASA as a technician, engineer, and project manager. She’s worked with multi-disciplinary, multi-project, multi-Center teams at the program, project and subproject levels. She started her career as a Mechanical Engineering Technician supporting various aeronautics testing facilities. After earning her BS in Physics, she spent a decade as a Technical Lead and engineer testing Stirling power convertors and researching multilayer insulation for radioisotope power systems. She then went on to earn her MS in Mechanical Engineering and moved to the Aeronautics Mission Office where she has been an integral part of leadership teams supporting commercial supersonics, electrified aircraft, electric vertical takeoff/landing vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems, and other groundbreaking areas.

In parallel to her early NASA service, Peggy served her country in the USAFR as a Jet Engine Mechanic. She has always been very passionate about aviation/aeronautics and is an active volunteer for STEM, promoting activities and providing mentorship to young engineers and engineering students.

Ms. Cornell has made notable advancements to aeronautics and space research through her leadership and technical contributions. These attributes have earned her the lifetime distinction award of Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and in 2021, she was elected (and holds current status as) a Regional Director in AIAA.

Matthew Boucher

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center

Matthew Boucher is a Navigation, Guidance, and Control engineer at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. He is currently serving as Co-Principal Investigator for the Subsonic Single Aft Engine (SUSAN) Electrofan project, which seeks to reduce aircraft emissions by 50%. His focus is on the use of distributed hybrid electric propulsion for flight control, and the joint impact of power, propulsion, and flight control on configuration design and performance. In addition, he oversees development of vehicle management, simulation, and ground control systems for the subscale SUSAN research vehicle.

Boucher is also a member of the X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator Flight Dynamics, Aeroservoelasticity, and Control Room Test Teams. In those roles, his responsibilities pertain to analysis, integration, ground test, and flight test.

Prior to his current assignments, Boucher was Controls & Dynamics Lead for the X-56 Multi-Utility Aeroelastic Demonstrator. He has an MS in Aeronautics & Astronautics from Purdue University and MS and BS degrees in Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a recipient of a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.

Susan Bayley

LIFTE H2

Susan Bayley is the Lead, Safety Systems and Processes for LIFTE H2, a hydrogen infrastructure company. LIFTE H2 is pioneering deployment of global hydrogen infrastructure solutions that create scale in this nascent industry. In her role, Bayley leads a team responsible for safety in product design, project execution, operations and maintenance, and business operations. LIFTE H2 is a member of the Center for Hydrogen Safety (CHS) and Bayley is LIFTE’s corporate representative to the CHS.

Bayley has over 25 years in applying safety principles to engineer designs in aviation, oil and gas, and Department of Defense projects. In the aviation sector, she oversaw safety evaluations of engine test facilities and developed best practices for the maintenance of high-energy systems. In the oil and gas industry, Bayley coordinated across an Engineer, Procurement, Construction (EPC) company to ensure processes were in place for the safe design of gas processing facilities. Bayley supported the Department of Defense in Risk, Safety and Operations roles to ensure the safe and timely destruction of the nation’s chemical weapons stockpile.

Bayley holds a Bachelor degree in chemical physics from Rice University – Houston, TX and a Master of Science degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She is a licensed professional engineering in the state of Wisconsin and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP). Bayley is also credentialed as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).

Dr. Marcus Johnson

NASA’s Ames Research Center

Dr. Marcus Johnson serves as Project Manager in the Aviation Systems Division at the NASA Ames Research Center where he has conducted research on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) since 2012. Dr. Johnson also serves as Adjunct Professor in the Aviation Department at Everglades University – Boca Raton Campus where he has been a member of the faculty since 2019.

Dr. Johnson completed his Ph.D. and undergraduate studies from the Mechanical and Aerospace Department at University of Florida. He started his career working as an avionics intern for the Space Shuttle Program and has worked on applications such as: adaptive flight control for an F-18, flight control development for commercial aircraft (747-8 / 787), developmental aircraft (Boeing Phantom Eye, Vulture), and remotely piloted aircraft (X-48C) and detect and avoid (DAA) technology development for UAS (NASA Ikhana).

Dr. Johnson leads the development of the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) Project which is an automated cloud-based system designed to manage small UAS (55lbs or less) flights at low-altitude airspace (~400 ft and below). Marcus also led the formulation of the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) National Campaign which is spearheading the era of aviation by leading the development and testing of novel electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft within a UTM-like environment to carrying passengers and cargo.

Dr. Johnson’s current research focuses on the automation of vertiport operations for UAM to accommodate high density eVTOL traffic in urban environments. He also serves as a subject matter expert on UAS integration and DAA for UAS in numerous industry and government forums, including ISO, ASTM, RTCA, Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS), UAS Science and Research Panel (SaRP). Dr. Johnson has spearheaded the development and expansion of UTM to support disaster response missions domestically and internationally, and DoD/DHS security operations.

Program Logos

Blue Skies teams may use the competition name and logo on anything which specifically and positively represents the competition, but the logos should not be altered in any manner. This includes any presentations or promotions you do before, during, and after the onsite portion of the competition.

NASA Logo/Media Usage Guidelines

Blue Skies Wordmark – Full Color
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Blue Skies Seal – Full Color
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Blue Skies Seal – White

Blue Skies Stacked – Full Color
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Blue Skies Seal (Alt) – Full Color
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Blue Skies Seal (Alt) – White

Blue Skies Stacked (Alt) – Full Color
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Blue Skies Stacked (Alt) – White

Blue Skies Landscape – Full Color
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Blue Skies Landscape – White

Genevieve Ebarle

National Institute of Aerospace
Program Coordinator

Genevieve Ebarle’s bio coming soon!

Stacy Dees

National Institute of Aerospace
Higher Education Programs Portfolio Manager

Stacy Dees is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) currently serving as NIA’s Higher Education Challenges Portfolio Manager, administering several engineering design competitions for NASA, including RASC-AL, the Gateways to Blue Skies Competition, and the Breakthrough, Innovative, Game-Changing Idea Challenge. She has 20 years of experience managing federal education programs, spending a significant amount of that time administering minority-focused education programs for NASA.

Previous roles have included Acting Director of NASA’s Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars Program, Program Manager for the NASA RASC-AL Special Edition: Moon to Mars Ice & Prospecting Challenge, BIG Idea Challenge, Gateways to Blue Skies Competition, SMD’s FLOATing DRAGON Balloon Challenge, several FAA university challenges, and Program Manager for the NASA MAES Undergraduate Scholarship Program with the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists.

In 2010, she came to NIA from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, where she served as the Director of External Affairs. Ms. Dees holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science Degree with honors in Industrial / Organizational Psychology from Christopher Newport University.

Shelley Spears

National Institute of Aerospace
Director, Education & Outreach

Shelley Spears is the Director of Education and Outreach at NIA. In this role, she leads program and business development, program management, and strategic initiatives and partnerships. NIA’s Education and Outreach department specializes in the development and execution of customized K-12 and university level initiatives with government, industry and academia at the national, region and state levels. She and her team are very proud and honored to administer NASA’s prestigious RASC-AL programs.

Shelley has 20 years of experience in high tech business and program management. Prior to joining NIA in 2009, she held senior management roles in with Nortel Networks, a global data networking and telecommunications corporation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and served as a regional representative for U.S. Senator Charles S. Robb (VA). Ms. Spears is a proud alumna of James Madison University.

Janice Kurbjun Miller

National Institute of Aerospace
Program Lead

Janice Miller serves as Program Lead and Communications Manager on the Higher Education Challenge team at the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), which manages Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage (RASC-AL), RASC-AL Special Edition, the Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-Changing (BIG) Idea Challenge, Gateways to Blue Skies, Human Lander Challenge, and others. She has additionally worked in a communications role alongside NASA leadership to write, edit, design, and consult on infographic design for Exploration Frontiers (2021) and Moon to Mars Strategy & Objectives Development (2023). She has more than a decade of program management, strategic business development, and outreach experience, most recently serving as Executive Director of Breck Film, parent organization of the Breckenridge Film Festival in Breckenridge, CO.

She is an award-winning reporter and editor who worked for more than five years with a number of news outlets. Janice owned and operated her own business supporting marketing, communications, events and strategic planning for small businesses and nonprofits. During this time, she freelanced, including several technical writing, grant and reporting assignments for the statewide Colorado Water Plan, Summit School District and Headwaters Magazine. Janice holds a dual Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies & Communications from the University of Virginia and has completed several business-related continuing education courses.

Mina Cappuccio

NASA’s Ames Research Center

Mina Cappuccio is currently the Deputy Project Manager for the University Innovation Project. She obtained her BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from University of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania State University, respectively, and has more than 35 years of engineering experience.

Prior to joining the University Innovation Project team, Miss Cappuccio held supervisory/management positions in the Engineering Directorate. Her journey in the Engineering Directorate started as the Systems Engineering Branch Chief. After managing several projects, she was asked to manage the Spaceflight Projects Office (SPO). The SPO oversaw CubeSat missions to demonstrate new technologies, CubeSat launcher technologies, and space biology payloads for ISS and CubeSat missions. Miss Cappuccio became the division chief of the Engineering Systems Division, which provides engineering support to many aeronautics and space projects, and technology development across NASA Ames Research Center and other NASA centers.

In addition to positions within the Engineering Directorate, Miss Cappuccio spent 12 years as a project manager for many space transportation and technology development projects including X-37 Wing Leading Edge Thermal Protection System and Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Science.

Miss Cappuccio started her career in Aeronautics as a researcher in propulsion-airframe integration for the High-Speed Research Program (HSRP) at NASA Ames Research Center and for military aircraft at Boeing.

Craig Nickol

NASA’s Langley Research Center

Mr. Craig Nickol began his career in 1994 as an aerospace engineer in the Advanced Design Branch at the Naval Air Systems Command. He led the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) conceptual design team starting in 1998 and served for four years as the Deputy Program Manager in the MMA program office resulting in the development and eventual production of the Navy’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft and the MQ-4C Triton UAV.

Mr. Nickol came to NASA Langley’s Systems Analysis Branch in 2003 as the leader of the Conceptual Design Shop tool development effort under the Vehicle Systems Program. Subsequently, he performed design studies for HALE UAVs, advanced subsonic commercial transports, and X-Plane demonstrator concepts, working with DARPA and industry on a variety of design and development efforts. He served as the X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator Project Manager from 2017-2022 and is currently serving as the Senior Technical Advisor for the Integrated Aviation Systems Program. Mr. Nickol received his undergraduate degree in Fluid and Thermal Engineering Science from Case Western Reserve University in 1992 and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1994. Mr. Nickol is an AIAA Associate Fellow.

Jeanne Yu

NASA’s Ames Research Center

Jeanne Yu is a senior technologist co-leading NASA’s Sky for All Vision. Sky for All is a community co-developed initiative developing both R&D and integration strategy for the mid-21^st century airspace system. Through this initiative, NASA collaborates across the federal government, industry and internationally to usher in new paradigms for sustainability, operator empowerment and resiliency, and learning-based adaptation. Development of cutting-edge capabilities of autonomy, AI/ML, digital engineering, and advanced systems of systems engineering will support the aviation industry in the design of a truly seamless global airspace system.

Previously, Yu was the Director for Technology Integration and created the ecoDemonstrator Program for Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) Product Development. The ecoDemonstrator Program recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, having performed flight tests with over 200 technologies on nine ecoDemonstrator airplanes, including 737, 787, 777, 757 and an Embraer E170.

Prior, Yu was the Director for Environmental Performance developing environmental technologies for emissions, aircraft energy, noise, cabin environment, materials and processes. Earlier in her career, efforts include integration of technologies for the 787 Dreamliner Cabin environment and responsibilities as a manager for aircraft Environmental Control Systems.

Yu began her career as a thermal analyst at Sandia National Laboratories.

Yu received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Illinois and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in Thermosciences from Stanford University.

Jeanne’s post it: Lean Forward, Learn Continuously and Lead with Courageous Optimism.

Devin Pugh-Thomas

NASA’s Langley Research Center

Dr. Devin Pugh-Thomas is NASA Langley Research Center’s Integration Lead for the Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) Project. In collaboration with the CAS project management team, Dr. Pugh-Thomas provides technical and programmatic leadership to foster innovation in aeronautics. The CAS project invests in seemingly improbable ideas which have the potential to transform the aviation landscape to include safety, environmental impacts, and the global growth in air traffic.

Dr. Pugh-Thomas is an experienced NASA researcher and project manager. She began her career as a research scientist in the field of nanotechnology. Dr. Pugh-Thomas lead innovative research in quantum dots for remote sensing. She lead R&D in lidar component technologies including laser materials, detectors and advanced nonmechanical beam steering. Dr. Pugh-Thomas’ work has been supported by NASA’s Center Innovation Fund and Internal Research and Development Program. Dr. Pugh-Thomas was awarded a NASA Early Career Initiative (ECI) for her proposal, Electro-Optical Technology Development in Liquid Crystal Beam Steering (E-Optics). As E-Optics project manager, Dr. Pugh-Thomas lead a multidisciplinary team in conducting applied research on novel laser beam steering device architectures and materials for remote sensing. Prior to joining CAS, she served as deputy project manager for Langley’s GPX2 space flight project.

Dr. Pugh-Thomas holds a B.S. degree in Physics from Norfolk State University, M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, both from the University of Virginia. She was the recipient of a NASA Graduate Student Researcher (GSRP) Fellowship, National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship, and National Institute Aerospace (NIA) Fellowship. Dr. Pugh-Thomas has 10 technical publications and conference proceedings. Her affiliations include Optica, the Virginia Council on Women, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Mani Gavvalapalli

U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Mani Gavvalapalli is the Program Manager for Carbon Capture in the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management at the Department of Energy (DOE). In this role, Dr. Gavvalapalli is responsible for planning, management, and administration of Research, Development, and Demonstration activities focused on advancing technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the power and industrial sectors.

Prior to joining DOE in 2021, Dr. Gavvalapalli worked as a senior scientist at NASA Research and Education Support Services (NRESS) where she managed three NASA programs that focused on developing innovative aerospace concepts and advancing space technologies that could transform future space missions and enable sustainable presence of humans on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Dr. Gavvalapalli has also worked as a process technology development engineer at Intel Corporation where she was responsible for process development for semiconductor chip manufacturing. Dr. Gavvalapalli holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, an M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Hyderabad, India, and a B.S. (Hons.) in Chemistry from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, India.

Phil Kenul

TriVector Services / ASTM Committee F38

Phil Kenul is a Senior Vice President, TriVector Services and serves as Chair, ASTM Committee F38 on Unmanned Aircraft Systems developing UAS standards. RDML Kenul (ret) served as a NOAA Corps officer focused on marine and aviation operations. RDML Kenul flew aircraft in support of aeronautical charting and trained with the Navy to become a WP-3D Orion aircraft pilot. He served as an Aircraft Commander with NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters, as Director, NOAA Homeland Security Program Office, Commanding Officer, NOAA Aircraft Operations Center, and Director, NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations Centers responsible for NOAA’s fleet of ships and aircraft. He has been directly involved with unmanned systems since the early start of these emerging technologies in NOAA.

RDML Kenul holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the State University of New York at Cortland and a master’s degree in environmental and civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Memberships:

European UAS Standards Coordinating Group (EUSCG),

Steering Committee for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Standardization Collaborative (UASSC),

Co-Chair, ANSI Airworthiness Working Group,

Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) Stakeholder Consultation Body (SCB),

ICAO Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Panel (RPASP),

ICAO Advanced Air Mobility Study Group,

Transport Canada Drone Advisory Committee (CANADAC).

Koushik Datta

NASA’s Ames Research Center

Koushik Datta is the University Innovation Project Manager for NASA Aeronautics. Koushik’s portfolio consists of University Leadership Initiative, University Student Research Challenge, and Gateways to Blue Skies competitions. His current passion is utilizing university talent to develop zero emissions aviation for the mid-century and to develop the workforce for the unique maintenance issues that will crop up with the new forms of air transportation. His project is working with 97 universities to develop a wide variety of innovative aeronautical concepts – 11 of these universities are Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 20 others are Minority Serving Institutions. Koushik received his Ph.D. in Operations Research from UC Berkeley and his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras.

Dr. Natasha Neogi

NASA’s Langley Research Center

Dr. Natasha Neogi is currently the Senior Technologist for Assured Intelligent Flight Systems at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She is the also the Subproject Manager of NASA’s System-Wide Safety Project’s Safety Demonstrator Series, and her primary research interests are in the verification and validation of software-intensive safety-critical infrastructure systems, as well as certification issues concerning airworthiness of non-conventionally piloted vehicles.

Previously, she was a staff scientist in the Office of the Chief Scientist, NASA Headquarters. She received her Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is an associate fellow of the AIAA and was the recipient of the AIAA Robert A. Mitcheltree and PEC Doug P. Ensor Young Engineer awards as well as NASA’s 2021 Outstanding Leadership Medal. She has numerous awards and publications in AIAA, IEEE and ACM conferences and journals.

Starr Ginn

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center

Starr Ginn has held various positions from 2012 to 2023 to help NASA Mature the Advanced Air Mobility Ecosystem with a focus on Urban Air Mobility. Since 2022, she has served as the Advanced Air Mobility Lead Strategist — responsible for maintaining a “strategic view” of the larger AAM ecosystem-wide movement to include advances in industry aircraft, airspace and infrastructure investment and capability.

From 2019-2022, Ms. Ginn led the planning, development, and execution of the Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign (AAM NC) series, which consisted of flight testing an experimental AAM Eco System of novel eVTOL and cargo vehicles, infrastructure, and airspace management technologies in the context of increasingly complex safety scenarios enabled by automation. From 2018-2019, she was a member of the UAM Collaboration and Assessment Team, selected by Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) as a subject matter expert (SME) to serve on a multi-center, ARMD UAM Collaboration and Assessment team for the development of a unified, multi-agency, air mobility strategy. She was assigned by UCAT as the Grand Challenge sub-team lead of NASA and FAA SMEs for further development of Grand Challenge (now National Campaign) flight and integrated airspace/test range concepts. From 2012-2019, she served as the AFRC ARMD Chief Engineer for four years and the Deputy Aeronautics Research Director for four years, tasked with developing strategic roadmaps for AFRC in collaboration with all the NASA research centers on electrified aircraft technologies, revolutionary vertical lift, flight technologies, convergent aeronautical solutions and autonomy. To include projects like, AirVolt, LEAPTech, X-57, HEIST and AQUIFER.

Ms. Ginn has 27 years of experience conducting one-of-a-kind flight tests. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Steven Holz

NASA’s Langley Research Center

Steven Holz became the Assistant Project Manager for the University Innovation (UI) Project in 2020. In this role, he supports NASA in educating the next generation of aeronautical innovators by providing opportunities for university-led teams to conduct research into transformative technology that supports NASA Aeronautics’ major research goals.

Holz began his career at NASA working on the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project as a Pathways Intern while finishing his graduate engineering coursework. After converting to a permanent civil service position, Holz worked conducting systems analysis as well as systems engineering for NASA projects including the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program’s (TACP) CAS X-Plane Study, the UAV Range Support for Hypersonic Flight Test Evaluation Study, Advanced Air Transport Technology Project’s (AATT) AATT’s SUGAR Truss-Braced Wing, the Aeronautics Evaluation and Test Capabilities (AETC) Program, and the Air Traffic Management eXploration (ATM-X) Project. In addition to his NASA Aeronautics work, Holz supports NASA’s work with small business through the SBIR program, and advocates for diversity and inclusion through leadership in NASA’s Employee Resource Groups.

He received his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Andrew Provenza

NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Andrew Provenza is the Deputy Project Manager of Technology for NASA’s University Innovation Project. He is responsible for co-managing the projects activities as well as harnessing the university ecosystem to develop new innovative concepts towards reducing the negative effects of aviation on our Planet. Fresh new ideas will be needed, as we look out beyond our National Net Zero Carbon Emissions Goals for 2050, to reduce emissions even further – towards True Zero.

Prior to this, Andrew was a Research Engineer here at NASA Glenn working on a variety of turbomachinery research projects. Highlights include real–time aeromechanics safety monitoring and analysis for NASA and commercial customer aircraft propulsive fan research in NASA Glenn wind tunnels, and magnetic bearing research and development for ground, aero, and space applications.