Born on January 16th, 2004 in Dakar (Senegal), I am the third child (oldest boy) from a family of 8. When I was younger, I was always the one that was never understood as I had higher intellectual skills compared to other kids that were my age. I had a hard time socializing which made me distant from kids in my age group. During my free time, I enjoy playing chess, sudoku, mind simulation games...

Growing up, I always been a brilliant student. I started developing a passion for robotics. With the growth of Artificial intelligence, I am confident that robots will take over the world at some point. In middle school, I discovered the world of aeronautics and the many career paths that it offers. From that time on, I decided to explore and learn more about robotics in aeronautics.

Simone Holmes is a Network Engineer working to improve the customer experience by  delivering and maintaining the company’s network reliability. She is a native Houstonian that  knew early on she wanted to pursue a career in engineering and was first introduced to it in  high school. After graduating high school her determination and drive of pursuing a career in  Engineering brought her to Texas Southern University (TSU). During her academic studies at  TSU, Simone displayed academic success by maintaining a cumulative GPA of a 3.2 all while  serving campus leadership roles. In her leadership roles, she held office as the chapter  President (2015-2016) and Treasurer (2014-2015) for the National Society of Black Engineers  (NSBE). After a successful summer internship with Comcast, Simone was offered an intent to  hire upon graduation, as a Network Engineer located in Denver, CO. After three years of  exceeding performance goals, Simone was promoted and moved back home to Houston where  she currently resides. Simone holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in  Computer Engineering Technology and is working towards a dual Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering/Space Architecture at the University of Houston. 

Joe has 45 years of experience in the Aerospace Engineering field. He started his career at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (Goddard) in Greenbelt, MD in 1975 after receiving a B.S. degree in Mathematics from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. He has spent his entire professional career exclusively in support of NASA. His 45 years of support include support of high-profile NASA missions such as the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS).

Joe worked for several NASA Goddard contracting companies before starting his own business, Vantage Systems, Inc. in 1992. Joe has served as Vantage Systems’ President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. Joe is also President and CEO of Vantage Systems’ affiliate company Vantage Partners, LLC. Vantage Partners was named the Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year at NASA’s Glenn Research Center for FY2014 and FY2018.

Under Joe’s leadership Vantage Systems has expanded from a one-person software consulting firm to a highly skilled, highly diverse, and well-respected aerospace engineering services provider capable of taking on most any aerospace engineering challenge. He has instilled his commitment to “total customer satisfaction” as a Vantage Systems company-wide philosophy. 

Joe has won numerous awards and commendations for service to NASA and its missions, including a total of twenty-five awards on nine different NASA missions.

Joe was also named Aerospace Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014 and 2016 by the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

A graduate of Morgan State University, Kerron Duncan is the Director of the Architecture and Engineering organization within the Enterprise Services Sector at Northrop Grumman.  Mr. Duncan leads an organization of Enterprise Architects, Systems Engineers and Data Analytics experts focused on solving complex problems for our customers, accelerating the insertion and adoption of disruptive technologies into our enterprise solutions at the speed of relevance.   Kerron is also the Baltimore chapter co-chair of the African-American Task Group (AATG), an Employee Resource Group at Northrop Grumman. 

Dr. Kevin G. Bowcutt is a Principal Senior Technical Fellow & Chief Scientist of Hypersonics for Boeing with 38 years of experience. He is an AIAA Fellow, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He holds BS, MS and PhD degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. Dr. Bowcutt is an internationally recognized expert in hypersonic aerodynamics, propulsion integration, and vehicle design and optimization. Notable accomplishments include developing the viscous-optimized hypersonic waverider; flight testing scramjets by launching them from a light gas gun; technically supporting the NASA X-43A scramjet flight test program; originating and optimizing the design of the X-51A scramjet-powered demo vehicle; helping the Space Shuttle Columbia accident investigation by simulating wing aero-thermal-structural failure; and leading Boeing’s contributions to the HIFiRE international hypersonic flight experiment program. In the spring semester of 2007 Dr. Bowcutt was a visiting professor at Princeton University’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department where he taught a course in hypersonic airplane design. Dr. Bowcutt leads Boeing’s advanced design efforts for hypersonic missiles, airplanes and space-planes.

Linda is a retired Technical Fellow and system safety engineer of Boeing Defense Space and Security (BDS) in Renton, WA. Her last position was BDS Chemical Risk Assessment leader, identifying opportunities to reduce BDS program risk from chemical obsolescence and bans resulting from environmental, safety and health regulations. Her previous careers at Boeing included corrosion prevention and control, facility hazardous waste management, and system safety for a variety of Boeing defense and space products.  She was recognized for pioneering practices for integrating design for the environment into product design.

Linda is sought as a speaker and facilitator to schools and colleges in her community, and across the United States.  She has been a volunteer in the Issaquah Public School District where her son is a graduate, on numerous activities from music to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She is currently an industry representative to the school district’s STEM advisory committee.  She also volunteers in STEM events sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).  She is a member of the SWE Senate and the International System Safety Society’s Director of Member Services.

A native of Washington, DC, Linda received a BS in chemical engineering from Howard University, and a MS in systems architecture and engineering from the University of Southern California. Linda’s hobbies include performing as an amateur clarinetist with bands and orchestras in the Seattle metropolitan area, gardening, and photography. She currently resides in Newcastle, WA with her family.

Linda’s career accomplishments have been recognized by the National Society of Black Engineers as Celestial Torch Outstanding Woman in Aerospace. Other recognitions include the Society of Women Engineers, as a Fellow, Woman Engineer You Should Know, and Distinguished Service Award; the Puget Sound Engineering Council as Industry Engineer of the Year; Black Engineer of the Year Awards as Modern Day Technology Leader. She was also featured in the Boeing 2014 Environment Report, and their campaign #WomenMakeUsBetter for the 2017 International Women’s Day.

Marion Lee Johnson attended Talladega College; Talladega, Alabama majoring in mathematics. After graduating from Talladega College, she began her career as an Associate Engineer at The Boeing Company, Huntsville, Alabama in 1967. Boeing was a leader in building the Apollo Saturn V rocket.

Marion Lee Johnson was assigned to the Launch Systems Branch at Boeing, and worked on the NASA project for the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA), under the direction of the legendary Wernher von Braun and Arthur Rudolph.

While working on the Boeing/NASA team in 1967, Marion Lee Johnson was responsible for preparing data inputs for simulation of vehicle piece impact trajectories. Marion received significant commendations in March of 1969 for an incredible perfect score of 20 successful missions, in 20 attempts. Boeing also recognized Marion for her dedication, technical competence, and high standards of achievements in contributing to America’s successful First Manned Lunar Landing Mission on July 20, 1969, where Neil Armstrong said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Marion’s name is enshrined in the Apollo/Saturn V Roll of Honor. A copy of this historic roll is in the Library of Congress, as well as the Smithsonian Institution, both in Washington, D.C. (also see, http://abc7ny.com/1815282/)

Following her two-year mission with Boeing/NASA, Marion was employed at Pfizer, Inc., and retired as a Project Leader after 26 years of service. She later worked at the Branford Hall Career Institute, formerly known as the Chubb Institute, as a Computer Networking and Security Instructor, where she received the “Award of Excellence” for dedicated service and outstanding accomplishments. Marion has received numerous awards. In June 2017, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has named June 2nd as “Marion Johnson Day” in Union County, New Jersey. Additionally, she received the Key to the City of Plainfield, New Jersey by the Mayor, and June 8th. was named as “Marion Johnson Day” in the City of Plainfield. During that year, she received the “Hidden Figures Award” for her accomplishments in the Apollo 11 Space Program, and was the recipient of the 1010 WINS News, New York “Visionary Award for 2017.” Additionally, The Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. honored Marion with the P. Merle Wade Trailblazer Award in December 2017. In February 2018, Marion was the keynote speaker at the Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where she talked about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in the global economy. In April 2018, Marion was the keynote speaker at the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she was honored as one of the “First Ladies” for her contributions to science and contributing to the First Manned Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Mission in July 1969. In May 2018, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners of Georgia proclaimed Friday, May 4th “Marion Lee Johnson Day” in Chatham County, Georgia. During that month, the Mayor of the City of Savannah, Georgia, named May 6 as “Marion Lee Johnson Day” in Savannah, GA for her contributions in the field of math, engineering, technology and in America as a whole. In February 2020, Marion was honored at the Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, while being  the key note lecturer for “Destination Moon,” in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo II first manned lunar landing mission.

Dr. Samuel Etim currently manage cross-functional systems engineering and analysis teams on On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS) and On-Board Inert Gas Generation System (OBIGGS) for over 10 development and IRAD programs.

Before joining CMS, Dr. Etim worked at Collins Aerospace/UTC Aerospace Systems of United Technologies in Rockford, IL as a Systems Integration Product Team (SIPT) Lead, Cost Account Manager(CAM), and Component Integration Product Team (CIPT) lead on Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), Boeing 787, Gripen NG, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), and F-22. He began his engineering career working at the Boeing Company/McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company, Electronics Data Systems, General Graphics, and at Continental Data Graphics, all in southern CA.

Dr. Etim holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree, with Specialization in Project Management, from NCU, AZ; a Master of Engineering Management (MEM) from UW-Madison; and Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering (BSEE) from PSU, CA. 

He is a member of SAE (S-18) Aircraft Systems Development & Safety Assessment Committee and  International Business Honor Society.

Sherif Ali is a senior leader at GE Aviation Systems. His current focus is in the area of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Autonomous Operation.

Before joining GE, Sherif served on the AFCS design teams at Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. In recognition of Sherif’s contributions he chaired RTCA Special Committee for Automatic Flight Guidance and Control System (SC-220). Sherif’s “Autopilot” design contributions touched most of the modern Aircrafts in service today.

Sherif Attained his Ph.D. in Aerospace  Engineering from Arizona State University. He is an Associate Fellow for AIAA. Sherif has 26 published papers and 3 patents. 

Troy P. Bernier is a Geoscientist who has worked extensively in West Africa, Europe, and the United States. Professionally licensed in the States of Florida, North Carolina and Louisiana, he has worked as a project scientist for Azimuth Energy, Dept of Commerce, Synterra, Hydrocarbon Imaging, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Geophysical, H2OResource, and as an educator with Florida Memorial University and Miami-Dade College.  Mr. Bernier served on the Miami-Dade 2018-19 SAS-C grant panel, where over $850,000 of grants went to nearly 40 Miami-Dade Summer camps.  

Mr. Bernier is a geoscience doctoral candidate at Florida Atlantic University and President of the Florida Association of Professional Geologists, the Florida section wing to the American Institute of Professional Geologists

Vanessa E. Wyche is deputy director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC), an organization of nearly 10,000 civil service and contractor employees in Houston and White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She assists with leadership of a broad range of human spaceflight activities, including NASA’s astronauts, Mission Control, development and operation of human spacecraft in low-Earth orbit and plans for human missions to the Moon and Mars.

Prior to her position as deputy director, Wyche served as the director of the Exploration Integration and Science Directorate at JSC where she provided executive guidance and direction of a multi-disciplined organization to enable human and robotic exploration of deep space.

Wyche previously served as acting deputy director of JSC from September 2017 to February 2018.

A native of South Carolina, Vanessa earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Master of Science in Bioengineering from Clemson University.

Before joining JSC in 1989, she worked for the Food and Drug Administration in Washington D.C. Throughout the span of her career with NASA, she has held several other distinguished leadership positions including: assistant director of JSC; flight manager of several missions of the retired Space Shuttle Program, executive officer in the Office of the NASA Administrator and led center-level technical and program organizations.

A strong supporter of Innovation and Inclusion (I&I) at JSC, Wyche has served as a member of JSC’s I&I Council and co-executive sponsor of “Emerge,” an employee resource group for early career employees. She advocates mentoring and is a passionate promoter of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Wyche serves on multiple boards, including chair of Space Center Houston, and advisory board member of Houston Exponential, SpaceCom and the NASA College Scholarship Foundation.

She has received numerous honors from NASA, notably, two Outstanding Leadership Medals, two Achievement Medals, and is a 2014 Women at NASA awardee. She has been recognized externally as a national “2016 Women Worth Watching” honoree by Profiles in Diversity Journal,

a 2017 “Inspiring Woman from South Carolina” by Coastal Carolina University, and was inducted into the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists at Clemson University in 2019.

Follow Wyche on Twitter at twitter.com/V_Wyche.