Dr. Jerry Jon Sellers
President, Instructor
Dr. Jerry Jon Sellers, is the author of Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, a contributing author and editor of Applied Space Systems Engineering, and a contributing author of Human Spaceflight Analysis and Design. He has over 30 years of space systems experience including Guidance & On-board Navigation Officer in Space Shuttle Mission Control; Assistant Professor of Astronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy; and Chief of Astronautics for the Air Force European Office of Aerospace Research & Development. He is an Associate Fellow at AIAA and the former Chairman of the Space Systems Technical Committee. Jerry is a certified Scaled Agile Program Consultant and a corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics. He is also an adjunct professor at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Dr. Peter Van Wirt
VP and Instructor
Dr. Peter Van Wirt is a former Deputy Department Head for Labs and Research of the Department of Astronautics at the USAFA. He has been a visiting lecturer for the Technical University of Delft’s SpaceTech Master’s Degree in Space Systems Engineering, is a current a visiting lecturer for TU Graz in Space Systems Engineering and is an Adjunct Professor for the Space Systems Engineering Master’s program at the Stevens Institute of Technology. He also instructs at the National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs, CO. He has served as a systems engineer/program manager for a variety of USAF guidance/launch/space systems engineering developments. Peter has over 35 years of aerospace engineering experience and over 25 years teaching experience. He earned his engineering doctorate at Utah State University.
Dr. Bruce Chesley
Instructor
Dr. Bruce Chesley is an experienced space program manager and industry executive. He served as the Chief Strategist for a space system portfolio spanning human spaceflight, commercial satellites, and government space systems and he led the early development of a global broadband satellite constellation. He has also delivered advanced space systems and prototypes while serving in a variety of roles in program management, business development and engineering. His USAF assignments included Air Force Space Command, the National Reconnaissance Office, and USAFA where he was an Assistant Professor of Astronautics. He was elected to the International Academy of Astronautics in 2020 and serves as a Vice President on the Bureau of the International Astronautical Federation. He has published more than 20 technical papers and book chapters on satellite design and space systems engineering.
Dr. John Paffett
Instructor
Dr. John Paffett has over 30 years of space systems engineering and project management experience. He was the former Director of Telecommunications, Navigation and Launch services, for the small satellite manufacture Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), and Chief Executive Officer of the group’s US subsidiary (SST-US). He is currently managing director of KISPE, a specialist project engineering, system design and implementation company working in the space, telecommunications and electronics industries. John is also the founder of Applied Space Solutions Limited a company focused on the provision of space related analytics, applications and services, and a Member of the Board of Swedish Space Corporation.
Dr. Wiley Larson
Instructor
Dr. Wiley Larson is managing editor of McGraw-Hill’s Space Technology Series and editor and coauthor of Space Mission Analysis and Design, co-editor of Applied Space Systems Engineering and over 20 other reference books on space systems. He is the Director and Distinguished Service Professor for the Space Systems Engineering Master’s program at the Stevens Institute of Technology and was former director of SpaceTech’s Masters Program in Space Systems Engineering at Delft Technical University in The Netherlands. He has also served as Head of Engineering at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France, and has over 40 years experience in space launch, satellite integration and test, and space mission design. He has consulted with numerous government and industry organizations and taught thousands of people around the world. Wiley is an elected member of the International Academy of Astronautics. He is also an adjunct professor at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Dr. John Turner
Instructor
Dr. John Turner is the President of Imagine Space Technical and Management Services, a space program engineering consulting firm located in Broomfield, CO. He was previously the Director of Safety and Mission Assurance for the Dream Chaser Spaceplane, and the Manager for Risk Analysis and Management in NASA’s Space Shuttle and Constellation Programs. In over 30 years of service on NASA, Commercial and National Security programs, Dr. Turner has served in leaderships positions spanning program management, engineering development, and mission operations. He is also a retired USAF officer, having served 26 years and attained the rank of Lt Col. John also served on the Management Committee for the Reliability, Availability, Management Symposium, and as Editor for a special edition of the International Journal of Technology Management.
Terri Johnson
Instructor
Terri Johnson is the Department Chair of the Computer Networking and Cybersecurity Department at Pikes Peak Community College. She has an MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance as well as over 20 years of experience in Information Technology, specializing in building and securing computer networks. Terri started out working for two of the world’s largest tax and audit firms, after which she transitioned to serving several educational institutions as both IT faculty and IT staff support. Terri is the lead faculty of the NSA-DHS designated Center of Academic Excellence program at PPCC; a member of WiCyS and the Colorado Springs chapter of ISSA (Information Systems Security Association), PPCC Cyber Club Advisor, and Coach to PPCC’s nationally recognized Cyber Competition Team. Her industry certifications include Cisco’s CCNA Routing / Switching and CCNA Security and EC-Council’s CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker). Terri is currently working on her DBA in Cybersecurity Management at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Pam Magee
director of online learning
Pam Magee is the Director of Online Learning for TSTI, an adjunct professor for the Space Systems Engineering Master’s program at Stevens Institute of Technology and an assistant editor for McGraw-Hill’s Space Technology Series. She is an author and editor of the recently published Space Domain Awareness textbook and the Aerospace Science and Understanding Space texts. She earned a BS in Astronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tennessee She managed missile and aircraft system wind tunnel tests at Arnold Engineering Development Center, taught in the Department of Astronautics and the U.S. Air Force Academy, developed software in support the Space Weather Rapid Prototyping Center at the Peterson space Force Base, and developed and instructed space science material at the National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs, CO. Pam is a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Amanda Winters
facilitator
Amanda Winters has nearly 10 years of MBSE experience working with a variety of tools. She has helped develop and present dozens of MBSE training sessions to a wide variety of commercial, government and DoD customers. She has supported numerous model development efforts both within TSTI and as a consultant to other organizations. Amanda is a certified space professional who leads with emotional intelligence as a Scrum Master and Agile Architect, and has combined that expertise with MBSE to help conduct project accelerator workshops for the US Navy and other customers to “jump start” their MBSE transformation efforts. She has published papers on the vestibular effects of space travel for the International Astronautical Conference. Amanda is pursuing a Masters in Digital Project Management, and is certified in AI & Machine Learning. She is currently responsible for maintaining EssentialSAT, a desk top educational satellite system designed to facilitate education and training for all aspects of space systems engineering and operations. She is also certified by PMI for the PMP.
Shannon Kimball
facilitator
Shannon Kimball is a skilled professional with over two decades of experience in the wireless phone industry, having worked with Virgin Mobile, Verizon, and Spring. Throughout her career, she has held various technical support roles in finance, social media assistance, and hardware repairs. Currently, she specializes in supporting Apple device deployment programs for businesses and schools. In addition to her work with Apple, Shannon serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Infinite Outcomes Inc (IOI), where she plays a key role in supporting Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and other course development and marketing efforts for TSTI. She is also a Certified Scrum Master.
