am an environmental microbiologist who examines how microbial life persists within extreme subsurface environments such as permafrost (permanently frozen ground) and oceanic crust/marine sediments. Because of the sheer amount of these subsurface environments on Earth, these microorganisms make up the most abundant lifeforms on our planet – yet they remain poorly understood.  To carry out my research, I employ a combination of genomic sequencing with culturing, microbial metabolic activity and viability measurements both in the field and in the laboratory. While less than 1% of known microorganisms can be cultivated in the lab and are known to us solely through molecular analyses, this approach results in a more holistic understanding of environmental microbiology than genomic analyses alone. Understanding subsurface life assists in the search for extraterrestrial life in our solar system where the subsurface may be the most habitable of our likely targets.

Tessa Fisher is a PhD candidate, astrobiologist, SFF author, and advocate for LGBT visibility in the sciences. Her research is primarily focused on using network theory to hopefully develop better biosignatures and technosignatures for exoplanets, based on their atmospheric composition. This approach, versatile and resilient in the face of high uncertainty, also offers the possibility of a universal biosignature, independent of the biochemistry involved.

I am a Research Scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, specializing in life in extreme environments and their preservation within the mineral and rock record. I am also a research affiliate in Mineral Sciences at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum.

MGySgt Stalker is a graduate of the MAGTF Basic and Intelligence Chief’s Course (Honor Graduate); Army Air Assault School, SNCO Advanced and Career Course (Distinguished Graduate), Joint Senior Enlisted Leader PME I and II and the National Defense University’s KEYSTONE. He has a BA in Intelligence Analysis, an MS in Cybersecurity and a graduate certificate in Leadership from Harvard-Kennedy School of Government. He is currently pursuing an MA in Military History.

Brig. Gen.(s) Devin R. Pepper is the Deputy Director of the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate (DJ5), United States Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. In this position, he is responsible for developing military strategies, issuing strategic guidance, planning military campaigns and contingency operations, and formulating policy in support of Combatant Commander’s responsibilities outlined in the Unified Command Plan.

Robert W. Thomas Jr. is the Associate Director, Capability and Resource Integration Directorate, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He is responsible for establishing the command’s requirements and advocating for the assigned missions of strategic deterrence, global strike, space operations, information operations, integrated missile defense, combating weapons of mass destruction and global command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Brig. Gen. Gagnon is the Director of Intelligence, United States Space Command, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. In this capacity, he serves as the senior intelligence advisor to the Commander of USSPACECOM and directs all intelligence operations. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Director of Intelligence, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley- Eustis, Virginia.

Maj. Gen. William G. Holt II is the Director Operations, Training and Force Development (J3/7), Headquarters United States Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. USSPACECOM is one of 11 Unified Commands under the Department of Defense and is responsible for deterring conflict, defending U.S. and allied freedom of action in the space area of operations, delivering combat-relevant space capability to the joint/combined force, and developing space forces to advance U.S. and allied interests in, through and from the space domain.

Brig. Gen. Thomas L. James serves as the Commander for Joint Task Force-Space Defense at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

Darren Whiteley was born in Middlesbrough and joined the RAF in Feb 98, commencing Air Battlespace Manager training in Oct 98 and completing his first tour at RAF Buchan. From here he was selected for the STANEVAL team and an associated ‘war’ role with No 1 Air Control Centre (1ACC) saw him deploy to Europe and the Middle East. A second C2 tour at RAF Buchan followed before a posting to 1 ACC in Dec 04. During his time on the Unit, 1ACC completed a NATO OPEVAL and he deployed as the initial Unit commander on Op HERRICK (Afghanistan).