Andrew P. Armacost officially began his tenure as the University of North Dakota’s 13th President on June 1, 2020.

He previously served as Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, retiring in the rank of Brigadier General in 2019.

As UND’s President, Armacost has led the campus to national recognition, including the 2021 Larry Abernathy Award from the International Town Gown Association and the 2022 ACE/Fidelity Investments Transformation Award from the American Council on Education. In 2021, UND was the first university in the nation to be designated as a member of the U.S. Space Force’s University Partnership Program and was recently designated a "Carnegie R1" institution, which places it among the top research universities in the nation.

Armacost currently serves on the boards of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation, the Falcon Foundation, the Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation, the UND Aerospace Foundation, and the UND Center for Innovation Foundation. He currently chairs the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Board of Directors for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. He also serves on the advisory board for the VOICE of collegiate Esports. 

In his academic career, Armacost has been a champion of shared governance, academic freedom, inclusion, student growth, and applied learning and research. He is an award-winning educator and researcher in the field of Operations Research, with international recognition from the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences and the Military Operations Research Society. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the AF Commendation Medal, and the AF Achievement Medal.

A native of Glendale, Wisconsin, Armacost earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and his master’s and PhD in Operations Research from MIT.

A retired U.S. Air Force (USAF) Brigadier General, Feltman served as the

Deputy Chief Strategy and Resources Officer for the U.S. Space Force,

where he oversaw its $30B budget development, space systems

requirements, strategy creation, and international partnerships for the

service’s 16,000 members and global operations. In addition, he served

on the senior staff at United States Space Command where he led

operations and exercises for the newly formed organization, served as

Vice Commander overseeing 18 nation-wide units, 17,000 personnel, and

150 aircraft, and was a two-time commander in charge of multiple space

missions including GPS, weather, and missile warning.

Damon was also an accomplished Federal Civil Servant, and most

recently was the Chief, Transport Cell, at the Space Force’s Space

Development Agency. Here, he was answerable for the technical

strategy, advanced technology maturation, and human capital for the

$8B, 450-satellite Transport program. In addition, he was the Deputy

Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements for the Air Force

Reserve, creating the $6B annual budget for its 70,000 military members

and 37 air, space, cyber, and intelligence missions. He was also

responsible for system requirements for multiple space, ground, and

data network systems, and advanced concepts for the Air Force.

In addition to his consulting work, Damon serves as the Chief Operating

Officer (fractional capacity) of the Space Force Association, a 501c3 nonprofit

and recognized national military association supporting the U.S.

Space Force. In addition, he serves as Board Chair for the Association of

Commercial Space Professionals and is a mentor to Vanderbilt

University’s Space Edge Accelerator program.

Damon holds multiple advanced degrees in space leadership, strategic

studies, and business management, along with executive training from

Harvard and National Defense University. His expertise in strategic growth,

global partnerships, and operational excellence continues to shape the

future of space enterprise, empowering organizations to leverage spacederived

data and capabilities to seize new market opportunities and

maintain a competitive advantage

Colonel Neal Roach is the Director of Engineering for both Space Force PEO Space Combat Power (SCP) and Space Force PAE Battle Management Command, Control, Communications and Space Intelligence (BMC3I), Space System Command, Los Angeles AFB, CA. His team directly supports the SCP and BMC3I portfolios with foundational systems engineering for acquiring and sustaining the two diverse portfolios of over 60 programs and a $12B+ budget. They utilize modeling and simulation, and state-of-the-art digital tools and processes, to meet national requirements by optimizing space control, resilience, and improving command and control for space. Additionally, the team employs embedded intelligence resources to anticipate evolving threats, then identify and advance key technologies to negate those threats. 

Col Roach earned his commission as a Distinguished Graduate from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Air Force ROTC program, and entered active duty at Vandenberg AFB, CA, in February 2001. Col Roach has served in a variety of Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile crew positions including Chief of Training, Senior Instructor Crew, Training Section Chief, and Instructor. He is a career space professional with experience with ACAT-1 programs in both Global Positioning System and Space-Based Infrared System mission areas. Col Roach has also served as Program Element Monitor, Executive Officer, Materiel Leader, and Section Commander. He has deployed twice in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and led the Host Nation Coordination Cell for the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. He transferred to the United States Space Force in 2021. 

Dr. Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo is the Director of the Space Development Agency. Before his selection as the Director, Dr. Sandhoo served as the Deputy Director, where he supported the daily management of the organization and the execution of the development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, delivering essential space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter in support of terrestrial missions. 

Prior to joining SDA, Dr. Sandhoo served as Vice President and Chief Architect at Quantum Space and as Director for Emerging Technologies at Northrop Grumman. His previous government experience includes serving as Deputy Director at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency (known as IARPA) and holding the Heinlein Chair in Astronautics at the U.S. Naval Academy. Earlier in his career, he led the Spacecraft Engineering Division at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and served as Acting Director of the Naval Center of Space Technology, where he provided executive direction and technical leadership in conducting research, development, and deployment of space systems with advanced technologies. He was also a flight controller at NASA's Johnson Space Center and was a research and development engineer at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory. 

A veteran of more than 36 years of military service in the active and reserve components of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, Dr. Sandhoo last served as the National Reconnaissance Office liaison to the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine and as a senior scientist at the Defense Innovation Unit. 

Dr. Sandhoo holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in Space Systems, a D.Sc. in Aeronautics, Astronautics, and Propulsion from George Washington University, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He is a 2016-2017 Fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI. 

Said is an Aerospace Engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST), where he supports commercial space transportation safety and serves as the Space Nuclear Systems Safety Lead. His work includes safety analysis, policy development, and interagency coordination related to commercial launch and reentry operations and space nuclear systems. He also serves as the U.S. Department of Transportation representative to the Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Board (INSRB) and as a member of the Interagency Review Group (IRG). He works with federal agencies and industry partners on emerging safety, regulatory, and policy issues affecting the commercial space sector.

Said is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Aerospace Sciences with a concentration in Space Studies at the University of North Dakota. His doctoral research focuses on space traffic management, including governance and safety challenges associated with cislunar and other high-consequence space missions. His professional and academic interests center on advancing safe, sustainable, and internationally coordinated space operations as commercial activity expands beyond low Earth orbit.

Paul Hermann is a Principal Systems Engineer at Infinity Systems Engineering with 30 years of experience developing and operating Position, Navigation, and Timing systems for the Air Force and Space Force. Paul has supported seven generations of Global Positioning System satellites and contributed to major operational milestones, including the Y2K transition, the first on-orbit flight processor reprogramming, and the first operational broadcasts of new civil and military GPS signals.

Paul’s systems engineering experience spans architecture, requirements development, concept of operations, integration, and test across multiple Department of War space systems.

Before joining Infinity, Paul served as an Air Force Space Operations Officer, including an assignment at Grand Forks AFB as one of the last ICBM Crew Commanders before the 321st Missile Group was deactivated. Paul holds a B.S. in Materials Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Paul’s wife and daughter are graduates of the University of North Dakota and he currently resides in Grand Forks.

Dr. Askelson is the Associate Vice President for Research—National Security at the University of North Dakota (UND). In this role, he leads strategic research portfolio development, coordinates development of interdisciplinary research teams, develops internal and external and partnerships, and provides day-to-day leadership of the National Security Grand Challenge. 

Prior to this appointment, he served as the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems (RIAS), where he helped grow RIAS and autonomous systems research across the UND campus. He also served as the Associate Dean of Research for the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and as Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at UND. 

Dr. Askelson has over 15 years of experience working with autonomous systems and over 25 years of research and applications experience with radar, including advanced applications involving radar polarimetry and phased array technologies. His areas of expertise include national security, autonomous systems, testing and validation, and radar. His research foci include regional innovation (NSF Engines), fielding of autonomous systems (DOT SMART program), Detect And Avoid (DAA) systems, and counter-UAS/autonomy. Dr. Askelson has led multiple large-scale efforts, including an NSF regional innovation engine planning grant and multimillion-dollar efforts focused on using both ground-based phased-array radars and cooperative data for DAA. 

Dr. Askelson focuses on producing research solutions that translate into practice and enjoys building multidisciplinary, collaborative, and complementary teams to produce impactful solutions. 

Markus is an Assistant Professor in the Physics Department at UND where he spends his time pointing lasers at crystals. Which lasers and at what kind of crystals changes from time to time, but the theme remains the same.

Markus started his career in his home country of Germany where he received his BSc and MSc in Physics and Materials Science from the Philipps-University Marburg. He learned a lot about semiconductor materials for diode lasers and thought lasers were pretty boring. He then went on to get a PhD in Applied Physics at Paderborn University, where he wanted to learn about quantum science, which unfortunately involved more lasers. During his time as a postdoc at the University of Oregon and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, he worked both on photon sources for telecommunication – which involves pointing lasers at crystals – and (as a side project) measuring optical properties of snow and ice, which also in a way requires pointing lasers at crystals.

Markus joined UND in January 2024, where he is continuing his research. He is a member of the Science Team for the NASA ICESat-2 mission, and currently building a facility for satellite laser communication. He is also part of the NSF ASPEN-Net collaboration, working towards certifiably unbreakable encryption using quantum light.

Jacob Stanley is a graduate student in the Space Studies department at UND. His research focuses on the operations of the UND ROADS satellite mission, including daily operations, program management, and doppler tracking experiments. Jacob got his bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of North Dakota with a minor in space studies, and he is continuing his education in the graduate program. He has previously completed an internship with the Space Dynamics Laboratory, which focused on satellite mission concept development, project management, and systems engineering.

Rex Walheim was born in Redwood City, California. He attended the
University of California, Berkeley, where he got his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1984. He received his Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Houston in 1989.
Walheim was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in May 1984. He worked at various jobs in Air Force Space Command, including as a Missile Warning Operations Crew Commander at Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota. In 1992 he attended the Flight Test Engineer course at USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California. Following his graduation, he was assigned to the F-16 Combined Test Force at Edwards. In January 1996, Walheim became an instructor at the Air Force Test Pilot School, where he served until he was selected for astronaut training. Walheim’s first spaceflight was on STS-110 in 2002, which brought up the S0 truss segment to the International Space Station. In 2008, he was the lead spacewalker on STS-122 which brought up the Columbus European Laboratory Module. Walheim was also a Mission Specialist on the crew of STS-135 in 2011, a station cargo delivery mission, which was the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program. Across his three spaceflights, he has logged over 36 days in space,
including more than 36 hours in five spacewalks. Subsequent to his flights, Walheim served as Chief of the Exploration branch of the Astronaut Office, where he worked as the astronaut representative to the Orion Program. In 2015, he became the Assistant Director for Operations for the Flight Operations Directorate. He then served as the Deputy Director of Safety and Mission Assurance at the Johnson Space Center. Rex Walheim retired from NASA in July 2020. After retiring from NASA, Walheim joined Axiom Space where he was the Chief Safety Officer. In 2024, he joined Blue Origin, where he currently works as the Crew Integration Advisor.

Dr. Shawna Pandya is the first named female commercial Canadian astronaut, and will be flying to space with the Virgin Galactic Delta class of spacecraft with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) as early as 2026. She is also a physician, aquanaut, skydiver, pilot-in-training, VP Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies, Director of IIAS’ Space Medicine Group, Executive Director of the IIAS Flight Opportunities Program, and Chief of Space Medicine at the Advanced Spacelife Research Institute. Dr. Pandya was on the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero-gravity in 2015. She earned her aquanaut designation on the 2019 NEPTUNE (Nautical Experiments in Physiology, Technology and Underwater Exploration) mission, and completed a second aquanaut mission, NEP2NE, in May 2023, for a total of 11 days, 10 nights underwater. She served as Payload Crew and co-PI of the 2023 IIAS-01 suborbital research flight, as well as a PI and/or co-I for Ax-2, Polaris Dawn and Blue Origin payloads. Her publications include a paper on medical guidelines for commercial suborbital spaceflight, and book chapters on space technologies that have benefitted terrestrial medicine, psychological resilience in long-duration spaceflight, reproduction and sexuality in long-duration spaceflight, and the future of space medicine. Her work is permanently exhibited at the Ontario Science Center alongside Dr. Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman in space. In 2022, Dr. Pandya was named to the Explorers' Club's “50 Explorers Changing the World.” In 2024, she was recognized for her contributions by the Women’s Space Awards in the Medicine and Health category, and named a Karman Pioneer. Also in 2024, she was further inducted as a full member of the International Astronautical Federation’s Human Spaceflight Committee. Her work has been profiled by Nature Careers and the Royal Canadian Mint.

Dr. Rahul Goel is the Global Head of Space Health at Axiom Space with extensive experience in aerospace engineering, neuroscience, biomechanics, and human health in spaceflight environments. At Axiom Space, Dr. Goel contributes to advancing microgravity research, human health applications, and program management for spaceflight missions. His career includes roles at NASA JSC and NASA Ames, Stanford Medicine, and Baylor College of Medicine, where he applied machine learning, virtual reality, and neuroimaging techniques to tackle challenges in astronaut health, stress detection, and rehabilitation. His contributions to spaceflight analog research and innovative solutions in neuroscience and biomechanics underscore his commitment to advancing human exploration and health in extreme environments.

Dr. Keith Crisman was awarded a PhD from the Florida Institute of Technology’s Human Centered Design program with emphasis on rescue and safety systems pertaining to human spaceflight and variable gravity environments. 

There, he supported Florida Tech’s Human Spaceflight Laboratory as the Health and Safety Officer as well as Research Assistant. Keith performed thorough risk analysis and developed both Adaptive Spaceship Cockpit Simulator and Intravehicular Spacesuit operational procedures supporting successful IRB application for Humans-in-the-Loop Simulations. Further, he has collaborated on FAA Commercial Space Transportation research related to analytics of the normative Human Spaceflight environment as well as collaborations with Embry Riddle University during research on IVA Spacesuit Ergonomics for Spacesuit Cabin Integration Human Factors.

Dr. Crisman has completed research at the Mars Desert Research Station as the Health and Safety Officer of Crew 219 and Commanding Officer of Crew 239.  He plans to continue research in off-planet analogous simulators to include neutral buoyancy with an upcoming research dive at the Aquarius Reef underwater research facility (NASAs NEEMO).  Dr. Crisman recently completed a 24-hour dive at an underwater facility to perform outreach and research with graduate students as part of his AERO (Adventure, Exploration, Research, and Outreach) initiative.

He has an immense educational background starting with Automotive Technologies certification from Pike-Lincoln Technical Center, an AAT from Ozarks Technical Community College with emphasis in Psychology, a BSci in Psychology with Biology minor from the University of North Dakota, an MSci in Human Factors of Aeronautics from the Florida Institute of Technology and PhD in Human Centered Design from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Certifications include DAN DFA-PRO provider, PADI Rescue Diver, PADI Aquanaut Diver, and AAUS Scientific Diver along with various related certifications. His work throughout this path has resulted in a Contained Environment Airlock Pass-Through (CEB) and Geologic Sample Return Container (SMR) for a Pressurized, Manned Rover, Collaboration between NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and the University of North Dakota Space Studies Department, completed in 2012, a patent for a Ferrohydrodynamic Thermal Management System and Method, US20160116223 A1, Fourier Electric LLC, Orlando, FL, USA, patent filed 2014, and the creation of an emergency containment system for single person use in a microgravity environment found within his dissertation, Microgravity Emergency Medical Containment System – A Concept of Architecture, Prototyping, and Usability Research.

Semper Exploro – Per Scientiam ad Martis

Dr. Pablo de León has three decades devoted to space science and engineering, both in his native Argentina and in the United States.

He is currently a Professor of Space Studies as well as Department Chair. He specialized in the area of Human Spaceflight, Extravehicular Activities, Space Suit Design and surface Planetary Exploration and Habitability.

Dr. de León also acted as Principal Investigator and Science Investigator in several NASA-funded programs.

Prior to that, he worked with the Space Shuttle as payload manager and general designer of the Project PADE (G-761) science experiments package. These experiments flew on mission STS-108 to the International Space Station in December 2001.This project carried seven experiments during the 12 day space flight.

He was also the Integration and Payload Manager on the Pehuensat-1 educational satellite, launched from India in the PSLV-C7 rocket in 2007.

His prior experience was as chief designer and fabrications manager for several underwater-simulation, (EVA) analog, pressure suit systems, including the first privately-built launch and entry space suit, the DL/H-1.

Pablo has flown, as payload specialist, in the NASA KC-135 aircraft more than 80 weightless parabolas carrying four Zero-G fluid dynamics experiments.

Pablo has written several books about space projects and space history, founded a magazine of space exploration, and was editor in chief of the "Latin-American Journal of Space Science and Technology". Pablo has participated in more than 50 technical papers on space engineering and life support systems presented at international congresses. He belongs to a number of professional aerospace engineering societies and is a founding member of the Space Generation Advisory Council.

Dr. Del Canto Viterale currently serves as an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Space Studies in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota. Also, he is a Research Associate at the Institute of Science and Technology Studies at the University of Salamanca, Spain. His core area of knowledge is Social Science, and his area of specialization is the intersection between Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) and International Relations (IR), with a focus on International Space Studies. This includes topics such as Space Policy, Space Diplomacy, Space Cooperation, Space Security, and Space Governance. Dr. Del Canto Viterale has been working in academia for over 20 years in several countries.

Dr. Robert J. Kraus is the Dean of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, a world-renowned center for aerospace learning, nationally acclaimed for our achievements in collegiate aviation education, atmospheric sciences, space studies, and Earth system science and policy.

With 850 faculty and staff members serving 2,100 students from around the world, the Odegard School has earned an international reputation as one of the premiere Aviation and Aerospace colleges in the world. In addition to providing the highest quality education possible at a reasonable cost, the Odegard school has been very successful in garnering $18 million in externally funded contracts and research projects each year. With more than 130 airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems, and a myriad of projects studying the Earth up to and through the sky, into space, to Mars and beyond, the School is leading the charge into the future of aerospace.

Prior to joining UND, Dr. Kraus served as the Associate Dean, Flight and Operations at Kent State University following a 28-year career in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Colonel. His final Air Force assignment was in Paris, France, where he was the Head of the Operations and Coordination Division in the NATO Science and Technology Organization Collaboration Support Office. His prior assignments were at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, at the US Air Force Academy, and as an operational and experimental test pilot in airlift aircraft.

Dr. Kraus has more than 3,300 hours in 35 aircraft as an aircraft commander, instructor and evaluator pilot, experimental test pilot and Hurricane Hunter.

The Honorable Joseph S. Jewell, Ph.D., is the Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology (ASW S&T). As the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (USW(R&E)) on matters related to S&T, developmental prototyping, and experimentation he guides the Department’s science and technology strategy and investments, acting as a crucial link between fundamental scientific discovery and its strategic application in defense.

Dr. Jewell oversees and advocates for the entirety of the Department’s S&T enterprise, which includes its specialized workforce, laboratory infrastructure, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and University-Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs). His office also directs a diverse portfolio of critical S&T programs including hypersonics and biomanufacturing. Basic research, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, and the DoW Manufacturing Technology program, along with the nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs) also are within the S&T portfolio.

Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Jewell built a career at the intersection of academia and defense research. Most recently Dr. Jewell was the John Bogdanoff Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana where he served as Director of two hypersonic wind tunnels in the College of Engineering and the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI). Previously, Dr. Jewell was a research scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). In these roles, his work centered on hypersonic aerothermodynamics, analyzing flight test data, and operating uniquely capable hypersonic wind tunnels. Dr. Jewell has authored more than 150 published journal articles and conference papers in aerospace engineering and hypersonics and holds a U.S. Patent in hypersonic inlet design.

Driven by a passion to secure America's technological future, Dr. Jewell is committed to strengthening the nation's future by preparing students for vital science and engineering careers in the Department of War, national labs, and the defense industry. His research has directly advanced U.S. military capabilities, having led hypersonic test programs for the Army, Navy and Air Force. Dr. Jewell has been a member or chair of four NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO) hypersonics working groups and was selected as a member of the Defense Science Study Group (DSSG) in 2024.

Dr. Jewell holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and History from the California Institute of Technology, a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan in Aerospace Engineering, as well as a Master of Science by Research from the University of Oxford in Engineering Science, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Additionally, Dr. Jewell received his Doctor of Philosophy from the California Institute of Technology in Aeronautics. 

Dr. Jewell has received numerous awards including the NATO Panel Excellence Award, the National Institute of Aerospace Bo Walkley Best Research Publication Award, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Star Team Award (with R. Kimmel group, AFRL), the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Young Investigator Award and the NRC Research Associate Award. Dr. Jewell is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS), an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a registered Professional Engineer (PE, Michigan).

Dr. Jewell and his wife, Katie, have three young sons.

Winnie Lai is the Founder and CEO of Auriga Space, a defense and space company developing electromagnetic launch technology for hypersonic testing, missile defense, and space access. Before founding Auriga, she served as Vice President of Product & Business Development at SpinLaunch, helping bring novel space launch technology to market. Earlier in her career, she led technology companies through periods of growth, including two successful acquisitions. Winnie holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics with a Minor in Commerce from the University of British Columbia.

My research interests lie in space propulsion and hypersonic aerodynamics, with a strong focus on the role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the next generation of aerospace systems. I am currently working on the heattransfer behavior of propellant tanks orbiting the Earth, as well as applying Reinforcement Learning to improve the control of nuclear reactors for space propulsion and to optimize novel fuelelement geometries for advanced reactor concepts. These efforts align closely with my broader goal of exploring how AI can revolutionize both the design and operational optimization of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) systems. I also serve as a member of the AIAA Technical Committee on Nuclear and Future Flight Propulsion, which allows me to contribute to the advancement of cuttingedge propulsion technologies at the national level. 

I bring 25 years of experience—most of it in industry—spanning two continents and three countries. One of my core goals is the success of my students, achieved not only through the knowledge they gain in our courses but also through their development as future leaders in space science and engineering. I firmly believe that such success depends on cultivating an interdisciplinary mindset and nurturing a genuine curiosity about the broader world. Advancing the state of the art requires innovation—creating solutions that push beyond existing boundaries. Innovation, however, is not accidental; it is fueled by passion, and discovering that passion is one of the essential responsibilities of your academic journey. 

Beyond research and teaching, I value engaging with the community and supporting those with fewer opportunities. This reflects my belief that we are all part of a larger whole, that no single individual possesses the entire truth, and that collaboration is essential in a world where progress depends on shared knowledge. This perspective deeply resonates with my engineering background and shapes the way I approach every challenge. 

Dr. Robert J. Kraus is the Dean of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, a world-renowned center for aerospace learning, nationally acclaimed for our achievements in collegiate aviation education, atmospheric sciences, space studies, and Earth system science and policy.

With 850 faculty and staff members serving 2,100 students from around the world, the Odegard School has earned an international reputation as one of the premiere Aviation and Aerospace colleges in the world. In addition to providing the highest quality education possible at a reasonable cost, the Odegard school has been very successful in garnering $18 million in externally funded contracts and research projects each year. With more than 130 airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems, and a myriad of projects studying the Earth up to and through the sky, into space, to Mars and beyond, the School is leading the charge into the future of aerospace.

Prior to joining UND, Dr. Kraus served as the Associate Dean, Flight and Operations at Kent State University following a 28-year career in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Colonel. His final Air Force assignment was in Paris, France, where he was the Head of the Operations and Coordination Division in the NATO Science and Technology Organization Collaboration Support Office. His prior assignments were at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, at the US Air Force Academy, and as an operational and experimental test pilot in airlift aircraft.

Dr. Kraus has more than 3,300 hours in 35 aircraft as an aircraft commander, instructor and evaluator pilot, experimental test pilot and Hurricane Hunter.

John “Vegas” Vargas is executive vice president, Growth, for Voyager Technologies, a Denver-based company delivering mission-critical solutions across defense, national security, space and commercial space exploration. 

In this role, Vargas drives strategic growth initiatives focused on expanding Voyager’s market share, revenue, and profitability, in the fast-paced and competitive space, defense and national security markets. 

Previously Vargas served as director of Mission Enablement, Microsoft Federal, leading Department of Defense-wide engagement, yielding joint and coalition enablement, characterized as the most advanced Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control solution. 

Prior to Microsoft, Vargas served as an officer and fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He was a 2003 graduate from the United States Air Force Weapons School (TOP GUN) and later served as a Weapons School Instructor and the Air Force’s Forward Air Controller (Airborne) subject matter expert. Vargas was a Command Pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours, including 1,130 combat hours over Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

As Fighter Squadron Commander, Vargas led his airmen through 20,000 combat hours in a two-year period, earning recognition as one of the premier squadrons in the Air Force. As Operations Group Commander he ensured the 24/7 air defense of Washington, D.C. garnering the top aerospace defense unit in the nation on two annual occasions. Vargas concluded his military career as the Director of Operations for the Air National Guard, providing support, policy, direction and $1.9B in resource allocation to 90 Wings / 885 Units across the National Guard Enterprise. 

Vargas served as a Legislative Fellow in the Office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) earning a certificate in Legislative Affairs from the Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, as well as performing a tour as the Deputy Director of Plans at U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade. He earned his bachelor’s degree in management from the United States Air Force Academy, an MBA from Trident University and a master’s in national resource strategy as a distinguished graduate from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University. 

Dr. Robert J. Kraus is the Dean of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, a world-renowned center for aerospace learning, nationally acclaimed for our achievements in collegiate aviation education, atmospheric sciences, space studies, and Earth system science and policy.

With 850 faculty and staff members serving 2,100 students from around the world, the Odegard School has earned an international reputation as one of the premiere Aviation and Aerospace colleges in the world. In addition to providing the highest quality education possible at a reasonable cost, the Odegard school has been very successful in garnering $18 million in externally funded contracts and research projects each year. With more than 130 airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems, and a myriad of projects studying the Earth up to and through the sky, into space, to Mars and beyond, the School is leading the charge into the future of aerospace.

Prior to joining UND, Dr. Kraus served as the Associate Dean, Flight and Operations at Kent State University following a 28-year career in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Colonel. His final Air Force assignment was in Paris, France, where he was the Head of the Operations and Coordination Division in the NATO Science and Technology Organization Collaboration Support Office. His prior assignments were at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, at the US Air Force Academy, and as an operational and experimental test pilot in airlift aircraft.

Dr. Kraus has more than 3,300 hours in 35 aircraft as an aircraft commander, instructor and evaluator pilot, experimental test pilot and Hurricane Hunter.

Patrick M. “Mike” Shortsleeve is a distinguished national security and intelligence professional whose 35-year career bridges military service and defense industry leadership. His expertise spans intelligence operations, strategic planning, and unmanned systems integration across multiple theaters of operation. Mr. Shortsleeve began his career as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force, where he served for 28 years. His assignments took him across the globe, including the Pacific region, Europe, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as staff positions at NATO and the Pentagon.

Among his most significant military assignments, he commanded the Air Force’s sole intelligence squadron operating in Iraq, where he led critical intelligence operations in support of combat missions. In Afghanistan, he directed operations for the largest assembly of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities ever deployed in that theater, coordinating complex multi-platform intelligence operations. He also served as the Senior Intelligence Officer at NATO’s Air Command, where he provided strategic intelligence guidance for alliance air operations.

Throughout his military career, he demonstrated exceptional leadership in high-stakes operational environments, earning recognition for his ability to integrate intelligence capabilities with combat operations and strategic decision-making. Following his retirement as a Colonel from the Air Force in 2019, he joined General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a global leader in unmanned aerial systems. In this role, he applies his extensive intelligence and operational background to advance the company’s strategic position in the rapidly evolving unmanned systems market, bridging the gap between operational requirements and technological innovation.

As Vice President of Strategic Development, Mr. Shortsleeve leads a team of business professionals in developing and executing strategies that advance the company’s comprehensive portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems and associated technologies to U.S. Government customers. He oversees a diverse range of platforms and capabilities, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian, MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-20 Avenger, mission sensors and payloads, autonomy solutions, and next-generation UAS concepts, positioning General Atomics at the forefront of unmanned systems innovation and integration.

Mr. Shortsleeve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cartography and Photogrammetry from Texas State University and a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a distinguished graduate of Air University, where he earned a Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science, and served as a National Defense Fellow at Georgetown University.

Andrew P. Armacost officially began his tenure as the University of North Dakota’s 13th President on June 1, 2020.

He previously served as Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, retiring in the rank of Brigadier General in 2019.

As UND’s President, Armacost has led the campus to national recognition, including the 2021 Larry Abernathy Award from the International Town Gown Association and the 2022 ACE/Fidelity Investments Transformation Award from the American Council on Education. In 2021, UND was the first university in the nation to be designated as a member of the U.S. Space Force’s University Partnership Program and was recently designated a "Carnegie R1" institution, which places it among the top research universities in the nation.

Armacost currently serves on the boards of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation, the Falcon Foundation, the Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation, the UND Aerospace Foundation, and the UND Center for Innovation Foundation. He currently chairs the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Board of Directors for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. He also serves on the advisory board for the VOICE of collegiate Esports. 

In his academic career, Armacost has been a champion of shared governance, academic freedom, inclusion, student growth, and applied learning and research. He is an award-winning educator and researcher in the field of Operations Research, with international recognition from the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences and the Military Operations Research Society. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the AF Commendation Medal, and the AF Achievement Medal.

A native of Glendale, Wisconsin, Armacost earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and his master’s and PhD in Operations Research from MIT.