Ms. Trudy F. Kortes serves as the Director of the Technology Demonstration Missions Program, managing more than $500M annually for the Agency to accomplish key technology advancements for future science and human exploration missions for the Agency and nation. Most recently, Trudy served as the Chief of the Human Exploration & Space Operations Division at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Trudy had oversight for over $200 million annually in key agency work in the testing of the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System universal stage adapter, Human Research Program elements such as exercise devices, International Space Station biological and physical sciences, and advanced communications systems such as cognitive and quantum communications. From 2015 to 2018, Trudy served as the Technology Demonstration Missions Program Executive and managed the growing portfolio of flight and ground demonstration projects. Under her leadership, the program successfully developed important technology flight demonstrations, including the Green Propellant Infusion Mission, Deep Space Atomic Clock, and the STMD technology investments onboard the Perseverance rover. She has over 28 years of experience at NASA holding various institutional and programmatic positions at the Johnson Space Center, Ames Research Center, Glenn Research Center, and NASA Headquarters. Ms. Kortes is a federally certified program and project manager and has extensive experience in key systems engineering roles. She resides in Westlake, Ohio with her husband and three children.

Ms. Jones is an experienced acquisition specialist in Federal government contracts with a focus on serving Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). She brings more than 28 years in government contracting as a Contract Official for both government and private industry as well being the Chief Executive Officer of Phenomenal Management Partners (PMP, LLC) Ms. Jones has spent the last 10 years advising the executive leadership for Minority Institutions and businesses on increasing revenue by pursuing more federal contracts vs grants with a primary focus on the commercialization of innovative technology.

Mr. Chirag Parikh was appointed by the President as the Executive Secretary of the National Space Council on August 2, 2021. As Executive Secretary, he is responsible for advising the Vice President, in her role as Chair of the National Space Council, on developing national policies and strategies across the civil, commercial, and national security sectors.

Professional Background: Retired from the United States Air Force after a distinguished 35-year career, most recently as Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Prior to that he served as Air Force Vice Chief of Staff and Chief Technology Officer, and Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization at the Department of…

Frank Kendall is the 26th Secretary of the Air Force responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the U.S. Air and Space Forces. In this capacity, he directs the Department of the Air Force’s annual budget exceeding $173 billion, provides Air and Space forces to combatant commanders for global military operations, and is accountable for the welfare of nearly 700,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian Airmen and Guardians and their families.

Kari A. Bingen is the director of the Aerospace Security Project and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)