cFS Events

Dr. Mark A. Eddings

Senior Vice President of LMI’s Space Market

Mark Eddings serves as senior vice president of LMI’s space market, overseeing all aspects of the market’s growth, strategy, execution, and delivery. With extensive expertise in the national security space industry, Mark fosters continued market expansion while bolstering LMI’s rapid innovation in support of customer requirements.

Prior to joining LMI, Mark served as the technical director for the Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP) in the role of the primary technical advisor to the director of SSDP, where he was directly involved in shaping national space policy, requirements, and budget recommendations regarding military and commercial space security. Prior to this position, he led a team in the development of the United States Space Force (USSF) space control force designs. These force designs received formal validation from the Joint Staff Requirements Council and were presented in table-top exercises, wargames, and other forums to leaders throughout the government, including Congress and the Vice President. The force designs created by Mark and his team have resulted in over $10 billion of new capabilities and resiliency improvements to national security space systems since 2014.

Upon earning a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in bioengineering from the University of Utah Mark furthered his education and experience in biotech working for the Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging at UCLA. Following his time at UCLA, Mark transitioned to government service in Los Angeles, managing studies and research and develop programs in space control and protected satellite communications. He continued his efforts as an Air Force fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he researched advanced manufacturing and carbon-based technologies for airborne and space-based platforms.

Prior to his fellowship, Mark worked in academia and industry, publishing over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings and receiving three patents related to technologies he developed at the University of Utah and UCLA. The pharmaceutical industry uses these patents and resulting technologies to create tracers for positron emission tomography screening for various cancers and to screen monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic treatments for COVID-19 and other diseases.

Dave Gallagher

Director
NASA JPL

Dave Gallagher was selected by Caltech to become the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s 11th director, effective June 2, 2025. He was formerly Associate Director for Strategic Integration.

Previously, Gallagher was the Director and Deputy Director for Astronomy, Physics, and Space Technology and before that he was manager of JPL’s Advanced Optical Systems Program Office. He also managed the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Starlight project, the Pressure Modulator Infrared Radiometer instrument and Drop Physics Module reflight. In addition, he served as the integration and test manager for the Wide-Field/Planetary Camera 2 instrument, which corrected the spherical aberration for the Hubble Space Telescope.

Gallagher received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1982. After working for IBM for several years, he started and ran a software consulting firm until he joined JPL in 1989.

Segrid Harris

Director of Engineering & Technology
NASA Goddard

Segrid Harris serves as the Director of Engineering & Technology at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Prior to this, Segrid served as the Senior Scientific Technical Manager (SSTM) for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Munition Directorate. As SSTM, she led strategic R&D programs in the physical and engineering sciences spanning across the competencies of the Munitions Directorate. Additionally, as Deputy Director, Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, she directed a staff of more than 800 military, civilian and contractors developing air-launched conventional munitions technology. The Munitions Directorate leads the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting conventional air-launched weapon technologies for the U.S. Air Force. The activities of the Munitions Directorate include research on missile seekers, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), image processing, munitions integration, warheads, fuzing, energetics and technology assessment methodology.

Segrid entered Civil Service in May 1984 through the Federal Junior Fellowship program at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and has over 30 years of engineering, logistics, and supply chain experience in research and development, acquisition and sustainment. She has held leadership positions throughout the Department of Air Force in multiple geographic locations.

Prior to her role as the Senior Scientific Technical Manager (SSTM) for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Munition Directorate, Segrid was Chief, Ordnance Division, Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. She led a team of 250 scientists, engineers, technicians and logisticians in the development, integration, and transition of air-to-air and air-to-surface ordnance technologies (energetic/explosive materials, fuze/initiation devices and warheads/damage mechanisms) for air-launched munitions.

Dr. Joe Hill-Kittle

Senior Executive for Center Development
NASA Goddard

Dr. Joanne (Joe) Hill-Kittle is NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Senior Executive for Center Development. She has been serving in this role since 2024. Prior to this she served as Deputy in the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate as part of the Center senior leadership perspective exchange. She was appointed as the Deputy Director for Engineering and Technology Directorate (ETD) in 2021-2024 and as the Deputy Director of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate from 2019-2021.

Joe’s responsibilities include overseeing the ideation and development of new mission concepts, Internal Research and Development (IRAD) investments in new technologies and data analysis techniques and the creation of strategic partnerships with academia, industry and government agencies. Joe ensures this portfolio is executed to maximize the return on investment for the Agency and the Nation enabling transformative missions and instruments that will answer the far-reaching science questions to ensure U.S. leadership in space.

Earlier in her career Joe served as the Neil Gehrel’s Swift Observatory instrument scientist leading the development of the X-ray telescope through successful launch and commissioning in 2004 before moving to Universities Space Research Association onsite at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center to develop new cutting-edge instrumentation for high energy astrophysics. She received her Degree and Doctorate in physics and astrophysics instrumentation, from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.

In 2023 Joe received the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award for exceptional leadership integrity, and a relentless commitment to public service.

Dr. Jonny Pellish

Executive Lead for Strategic Partnerships
NASA Goddard

Since June 2024, Dr. Pellish has served as the NASA GSFC Senior Engineer – Microelectronics and the Executive Lead for Strategic Partnerships, actively engaging with other federal agencies to make more informed decisions, cooperate in scientific research, and pursue partnerships that further national interests. Prior to his current role, Jonny was assigned to the White House National Space Council as the Director of Civil Space Policy. While there, he was responsible for advising the Council’s Executive Secretary, the Vice President, and the President on development and implementation of national policies and strategies for space.

Before the National Space Council, Dr. Pellish served as a fellow on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to negotiate and pass the CHIPS and Science Act – which authorized federal research agencies and funded domestic semiconductor development and manufacturing. A NASA engineer since 2008, Jonny spent most of his career focused on radiation effects in microelectronics for space and strategic systems, leading numerous projects and agency-wide programs.

Dr. Pellish received a B.S. in physics, M.S. in electrical engineering, and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University. Jonny has authored or co-authored over 80 refereed publications and delivered numerous presentations on aerospace microelectronics and space policy topics. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Dr. Julie A. Robinson

Deputy Director for Earth Science
NASA Headquarters

Dr. Julie A. Robinson is Deputy Director for Earth Science at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters in Washington, DC. In this role, she supports the director in overall management for the entire agency’s Earth Science portfolio, including, research and applications, data access, technology, mission development and operations. NASA’s Earth Science mission is to understand our changing planet including the development of the new Earth System Observatory—a set of five satellite missions to provide critical data on climate change, severe weather and other natural hazards, wildfires, and global food production.

Robinson spent much of her earlier career managing science in human spaceflight. From 2020-2022 she was Chief Scientist and Manager for Science & Technology Utilization in the Exploration Systems Mission Development Directorate at NASA Headquarters. In this role, she worked across mission directorates with Science, Space Technology, and Space Operations to develop the strategy and plans for research in human spaceflight and provided strategic advice at the highest levels of the agency. Her breadth of responsibility included ISS, commercial low-Earth orbit, the Artemis return to the moon, and future missions to Mars. In 2018 she served as Associate Director of NASA’s Human Research Program, coordinating development of a cross-platform research strategy for using ISS and Artemis to reduce the risks to the crew and prepare for human missions to Mars.

From 2007-2018, Robinson served as Chief Scientist of the International Space Station (ISS) Program at NASA Johnson Space Center and oversaw the laboratory from the assembly period to full utilization with hundreds of experiments and scientists active at any given time. She oversaw the expansion of ISS research to include Earth science and astrophysics instruments, the use of the ISS National Laboratory by other government agencies, industry, and nonprofit organizations, and international collaboration and effective use of ISS by scientists from four ISS international partner agencies and over 100 countries. She led development of the influential ISS Benefits for Humanity series to communicate about the interdisciplinary scientific results from ISS and their impacts on our daily lives.

Dr. Robinson has an interdisciplinary background in the physical and biological sciences. Her professional experience has included research activities in a variety of fields, including virology, analytical chemistry, genetics, statistics, animal behavior, field biology, Earth science and remote sensing. She earned a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.S. in Biology from Utah State University in 1989 and Ph.D. from the University of Nevada Reno in 1996. Prior to joining NASA in 2004, Robinson began her career with Lockheed Martin as a NASA-funded Earth Science Applications investigator. Her research focused on coral reefs, conservation biology and urban change while she also trained the first NASA-Mir and ISS astronauts to understand and communicate their observations of our changing planet as they conducted longer missions in orbit.

She has received numerous accolades for her scientific leadership and mentorship, including commencement speeches and distinguished lectures, an honorary Doctor of Science from Utah State University in 2021, the Samuel Abraham Goudsmit Medal from the University of Nevada in 2020, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2011.

Dr. Frank Rubio

NASA Astronaut

Dr. Frank Rubio was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. He reported for duty in August 2017. Prior to joining NASA, the Florida native graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1998 and earned a Doctorate of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 2010. Prior to attending medical school, he served as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and flew more than 1,100 hours, including more than 600 hours of combat and imminent danger time during deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Dr. Rubio is a board-certified family physician and flight surgeon. At the time of his selection, he was serving in the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, CO.

Dr. David Rutishauser

Processors Technical Discipline Lead
NASA Johnson

Dr. David Rutishauser is The Processors Technical Discipline Lead for Johnson Space Center’s Engineering Directorate.  He is currently on detail to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) supporting the leadership team in the formulation of the avionics portfolio.  Dr. Rutishauser also serves as the avionics lead for the Safe and Precise Landing- Integrated Capabilities Evolution project, is member of the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) space subcommittee, is a Command and Data Handling requirement owner supporting the European Space Agency Low-Earth Orbit Cargo Return Service program, serves as the Lead for the NASA Engineering Safety Center (NESC) Avionics Architecture Community of Practice, and serves as a program co-chair for the Space Computing Conference.  Prior to these roles he was the Assistant Deputy Chief Engineer for the Commercial Crew Program, Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Lead for the Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) project and worked in the Space Shuttle Flight Software Office supporting the program’s final 17 missions. Before coming to JSC, Dr. Rutishauser worked at NASA Langley Research Center in aircraft wake vortex spacing research and at Raytheon Missile Systems Company as a software/simulation and digital design engineer. Dr. Rutishauser holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Dayton, a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Arizona, and a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. His dissertation work was in the area of high-performance reconfigurable computing.

Dr. Bhanu Sood

Acting Chief Technologist
NASA Goddard

Dr. Bhanu Sood strategically manages NASA Goddard’s Internal Research and Development (IRAD) program that invests in advanced technologies for NASA’s future science and exploration missions. In this role, Dr. Sood develops and infuses innovative aerospace technologies through extensive partnerships across NASA Centers, commercial industry, and academia, working closely with Goddard’s three strategic focus areas, division technologists and Goddard’s technology community. He facilitates cross-Center collaboration through agency-wide investment mechanisms and actively champions technology transition pathways that connect early research to flight projects and commercial applications. During his NASA career, he has served in technical leadership roles supporting multiple missions including JWST, RST, PACE, JPSS and LANDSAT. Prior to joining NASA, Dr. Sood led partnerships with global electronics industry participants at the University of Maryland’s Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering, advancing microelectronics development across complex supply chains. His contributions have been recognized with NASA awards, and he holds multiple patents in the field. Dr. Sood holds a doctorate in electronics reliability, master’s degrees in materials science and advanced materials processing, and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Josh Wilson

Chief Executive Officer
LMI

Josh Wilson is the incoming Chief Executive Officer of LMI. He brings more than 15 years of experience in defense, consulting, and technology leadership, including 11 years at LMI, where he has played a central role in the company’s growth and transformation.

Prior to his appointment as incoming CEO, Wilson served as President of Markets, Growth & Technology, overseeing LMI’s customer portfolio, growth strategy, and research and development. In this role, he helped establish LMI’s digital and analytics capabilities and reorganized the technology function to accelerate innovation and deliver commercial-grade, mission-ready solutions across defense, civilian, and space markets. Previously, as Executive Vice President of Service Lines and Technology, Wilson managed LMI’s offering development lifecycle from concept to deployment and integrated LMI’s advisory, logistics, and digital and analytic solutions to design scalable customer offerings.

Before joining LMI, Wilson served as a U.S. Army officer, completing two overseas tours in Iraq focused on infrastructure reconstruction. Following his military service, he joined Deloitte’s public sector practice, where he specialized in analytics-driven business transformation and strategic planning.

Wilson serves on the Board of Advisors for the Armaments Research Company and for the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University’s School of Business. Josh graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering.