Speakers
Robert Chambers
Space Futurist and Director of Disruptive Concepts
Rob Chambers is a space futurist at Lockheed Martin who serves as the Director of Disruptive Concepts for the space enterprise. In this role, he works with the amazing men and women across the company’s entire commercial, civil, and security space portfolio to identify, champion, and bring to market the technologies, mission solutions, and business models which will fundamentally disrupt how we explore, utilize, and protect our planet, the Moon, and our solar system at large. His team’s goal is to identify the things that our customers aren’t asking for yet – because they don’t realize they’re possible – and bringing those to bear on today’s challenges. Rob has been with Lockheed Martin since 1993 and has worked on a variety of spaceflight programs including Earth remote sensing satellites, the Space Shuttle, Orion, human lunar landers, nuclear power and propulsion, deep space habitation, and generation-after-next technologies like quantum and AI. Rob has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. Throughout his career, Rob has led the development of guidance and controls subsystems, avionics, and flight software.
Alexandra Kemp (Keynote Speaker)
Advanced Human Factors Systems Engineer
Dr. Alexandra (Alex) Kemp is an advanced human factors systems engineer at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies and an adjunct professor of space human factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide. Her work focuses on human-centered design, flight deck systems, pilot evaluations, flight tests, and the intersection of human performance, safety, and emerging space technologies. Dr. Kemp’s professional experience spans industry, government, and academic research. During her career, she has worked with NASA, Honeywell, and Lockheed Martin, contributing to aerospace systems engineering, human factors research, and applied technology development. She is a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Student Program scholar, conducting international research on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for defibrillator delivery and remote medical logistics. Her research portfolio includes flight deck human factors, energy management in general aviation, bioastronautics, space nutrition, and emergency medicine applications of UAVs. Her current and future research interests include biomedical prevention and mitigation technologies for human space exploration and spinoff technologies for Earth. Dr. Kemp holds a B.F.A. in Mass Media Communications from Valdosta State University, an M.S. in Aeronautics and Space Studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Ph.D. in Technology with an emphasis in Aerospace Human Factors from Purdue University. Dr. Kemp aspires to become a commercial astronaut and is driven by a passion for bridging research, industry, and exploration to address complex challenges in human spaceflight. In addition to her professional work, Dr. Kemp is actively engaged in STEM outreach and public education. She serves as a NASA Solar System Ambassador, supporting K–6 education in astronomy and planetary science. She is also a classically trained opera singer and currently sings with a professional symphony choir.
Carley Sawyer
Manufacturing Engineer Rolls-Royce
Carley Sawyer is a 6 year Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer for Rolls-Royce pc. Carley graduated from Gannon University with a Mechanical Engineering Degree and moved to Indianapolis for the Graduate Development Program within Manufacturing Engineering. Throughout this time Carley moved from different businesses across North America to develop breath within manufacturing. After rolling of the Graduate Development Program, Carley became Component Owner for critical aerospace rotating components. After 3 years, Carley moved to the Manufacturing Engineering Improvement Team where she rotated around different businesses to solve complex problems involving Quality, Cost and Delivery. In the past year, Carley has moved to the Improvement Team Lead position where she coaches and mentors other team members while building systems to improve team efficiency. Carley is motivated by career development while maintaining a strong work life balance that includes hobbies such as baking and golfing!
Astha Tiwari
777x Program Integration Manager
Astha Tiwari is a Program Integration Manager on Boeing's 777X Airplane Level Integration Team in Everett, WA. With over five years of experience at Boeing, she has developed a diverse skill set spanning systems integration, structural analysis, supply chain industrial engineering, production, and customer engineering, contributing to programs including the 777X, 787, 737, AH-64, CH-47, F-15, and MQ-25. Astha is a graduate of Boeing's prestigious Leadership Next (LX) program, which accelerates the development of emerging people leaders, and completed the Engineering Career Foundation Program (ECFP), where she deepened her technical expertise across multiple business units and product lifecycle stages. She is a proud Purdue University alumna, having completed her Bachelor's (2019) and Master's (2022) degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Kimberly Hicks
Executive Division Director
Kim Hicks is currently the Executive Division Director for Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers in Boeing's Phantom Works division where she is responsible for business growth through technology innovation across the division. In this role she is responsible for next generation aircraft development along with current and next generation aircraft survivability and multi-domain integration. She has previously served as the senior director for Australia and of development for the E-7 program as well as director of development for the KC-46 programs. She has also been the executive program manager in Boeing's Rapid Space Capability, in which she led execution of spacecraft development programs. Additionally Kim has served as the Director of Enterprise Model Based Engineering where she was the core functional leader for new product business capabilities and model-based engineering deployment, implementation and integration. Preceding that, she was the Phantom Works Advanced Capabilities Program Manager responsible for program capture, execution, future architecture and technology development. Kim began her career at Boeing as an intern on the F-22 program and returned to Boeing where assignments included AEW&C Wedgetail, F-22, Next Generation JSTARS, Advanced Projects, satellite development, New Mid-Market Aircraft, and Sea Launch. Kim received her Bachelor of Science in aeronautical and astronautical engineering as well as her Master of Science in engineering from Purdue University. She is an advocate for women in engineering through the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIA).
Sophia Zaccarine
Sophia Zaccarine, PhD, is a fault protection engineer for Blue Origin's MK1 lunar lander.
Dr. Zaccarine received her PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2024, M.S. and M.E. Degrees from CU Boulder in 2022, and her B.S. in Engineering Physics with a minor in Applied Mathematics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2019. She has completed internships with Blue Origin, Sierra Space, and NASA Goddard Spaceflight center. Her doctoral research involved vehicle functional design for self-sufficient deep-space human-rated habitats using mixed-methods qualitative and quantitative analysis of vehicle autonomy and self-sufficiency with an emphasis on environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) maintainability. Her work at NASA involved traveling to Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (the northernmost year-round civilian settlement in the world as part of the launch operations team to launch a pair of sounding rockets into the cusp aurora to observe atomic oxygen ionospheric outflow. This trip was documented in a NASA TV feature.
Dr Zaccarine enjoys playing soccer, trail running, reading, painting, making music and volunteering in her community, and has recently become very interested in beekeeping and candle making. She represented CU Boulder, one season as a team captain, as a midfielder for the nationally ranked club soccer program for three season (Sko Buffs!) and is an avid fan of women's soccer. Dr Zaccarine's dream to work in the commercial Spaceflight industry began as a child, looking at the Moon with her father. Her work in advocacy has been at the forefront of her mission since entering this career and she is always looking for ways to mentor and support younger engineers and scientists pursuing their dreams.
Kevin Parsons
Associate Professor of Engineering Practice
Kevin K. Parsons is an Associate Professor of Engineering Practice in Purdue’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Before returning to Purdue, he spent more than 25 years at Northrop Grumman, working across satellites, aircraft, and advanced technologies in leadership roles spanning systems engineering, program management, business development, innovation, and corporate strategy. While there, he also led the company’s partnership with Purdue, helping to fund research collaborations and student projects that bridged industry and academia. His passion lies in helping people and organizations realize their potential through holistic approaches to innovation, learning, and organizational transformation. Kevin has been married to his college sweetheart Suzanne for 29 years and has three children – Connor, Zachary and Sydney. Kevin enjoys singing, collecting ancient coins, photography, catching big air while snow skiing, exploring national parks, and mentoring students.
Kathleen Johnson
Chief Engineer
Kathleen (Katie) Johnson is the Chief Engineer of Boeing Commercial Airplane's Aerodynamic Performance and Noise, Vibration & Emissions Organization. Katie is in her 33rd year in industry and has designed and supported most Boeing commercial airplane products and a handful of military aircraft platforms, as well. Katie has also served as the Deputy Executive Focal to Purdue University for the past 5 years where she is focused on recruiting Purdue talent to Boeing! She is a 1993 graduate of Purdue's School of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering and also holds a Masters Degree in Engineering Management from Washington State University. Katie resides in Washington state. She is married and has 2 children in high school.
