Developing Responsive and Agile Space Systems - Space-Library

Contributors
Creating An Agile, All-Space Architecture
Thomas C. Adang, Systems Director, Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS), joined Aerospace in 2000
after a 27-year military career with broad experience in aircraft and space vehicle development and operations.
Since joining Aerospace, he has supported the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (including a two-year federal appointment), and DOD. Adang has a Ph.D. in atmospheric
sciences/remote sensing from the University of Arizona (thomas.c.adang@aero.org).
James G. Gee, Principal Director, Development Planning and Projects, leads support to the Air Force’s Space
and Missile Systems Center Developmental Planning Directorate that includes concept development, technology
integration, utility and alternative analyses, and development of future systems such as 3 rd Generation IR,
reusable boosters, conventional strike missile, and ORS. He joined Aerospace in 1980. He provides corporate
memory for Cold War-era survivability efforts and has particular expertise in weapons effects, hardening, active
countermeasures, and attack reporting. Gee is the creator of the “satellite at the sensor” concept for satellite
attack reporting and anomaly resolution. He has a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Santa
Barbara (james.g.gee@aero.org).
Agile Space Launch
Steven C. Weis, Project Engineer, Space Innovation Directorate, provides space vehicle to launch vehicle integration
support to multiple Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center Space Development and Test Wing
and Operationally Responsive Space Office missions. Prior to joining Aerospace in 1999, he served as the Air
Force chief launch vehicle engineer for the Pegasus XL, Minotaur I, and Taurus small launch vehicles. Weis has
an M.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder (steven.c.weis@aero.org).
Lisa A. Berenberg, Systems Director, Satellites Acquisition and Integration, is responsible for providing technical
leadership, systems engineering, and mission assurance for R&D missions within the Air Force Space
and Missile Systems Center Space Development and Test Wing. She joined Aerospace in 1997 and has since
supported ten space vehicle missions. She has coauthored several articles on the development and use of the
EELV Secondary Payload Adapter designed for the Atlas V and Delta IV. Berenberg has a B.S. in aerospace
engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the University of New Mexico
(lisa.a.berenberg@aero.org).
Developing a Responsive Ground System Enterprise
Rico J. Espindola, Project Engineer, Space Innovation Directorate, serves as the mission operations representative
within the ORS Office, providing satellite operations experience and technical support. He assists
the ORS Office in accomplishing tasks to develop end-to-end ORS enablers required to meet the nation’s
strategic need for highly responsive space capabilities. Espindola has a B.S. in physics from New Mexico Tech
(ricardo.j.espindola@aero.org).
Gayla F. Walden, Systems Director, Flight Operations and Ground Systems Engineering, is responsible for
providing technical leadership, systems engineering and mission assurance for ground system development, and
readiness and flight software analysis and monitoring within the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
She joined Aerospace in 1987 and has since supported a wide variety of system engineering activities including
the Airborne Laser Program. Walden has a B.A. in computer science from the University of Texas, Austin, and
an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California (gayla.f.walden@aero.org).
50 • Crosslink Summer 2009