Dr. Greg Autry is Space Czar at the University of Central Florida. Autry was NASA’s White House Liaison and served on NASA’s Agency Review Team and has twice been nominated to serve as the agency’s CFO. He is the author of Red Moon Rising: How America Will Beat China on the Final Frontier, Death by China, and A New Entrepreneurial Dynamic. Autry holds an MBA and PhD from UC Irvine. Learn more

Dr. Erika Hamden is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Arizona, Director of the University of Arizona Space Institute, and a Commissioner on the State of Arizona Space Commission. She specializes in building telescopes and developing technology to make telescopes better. Dr. Hamden graduated from Harvard College in 2006, earned a PhD from Columbia University in 2014, and spent 4 years as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology. Prof. Hamden is a TED Fellow, a AAAS IF/Then Ambassador, and has won numerous awards from NASA for her work in ultraviolet astronomy. She is an author, with her first book, "Weird Universe", published in 2025. She hosts a TV show on AZPM and is a social media science influencer. Learn more

Dr. Howe is President of Howe Industries LLC, where he and his team develop novel technologies for power and space propulsion. He has received over $10M in research grants over the last decade to develop nuclear thermal rockets, advanced thermoelectric generators, small modular reactors, space robots, and thermonuclear plasma rockets. By developing these technologies, Troy hopes to push humanity to the next level and enable exploration and expansion into new regions of Earth and space. Learn more

Normalcy in the Extraordinary anchors Colleen McLeod Garner’s work as a speaker, author, and space industry professional at Paragon Space Development Corporation, where she focuses on the commercialization of space and human-centered business strategy. She holds an MBA and an Executive Master’s in Space Leadership and is pursuing a PhD in Human Factors in Space. Colleen is a founding member of the Space Sensory Lab and an Arizona Space Marshal. Learn more

Brett Mecum is an accomplished space policy professional with extensive experience across all government levels. He serves as a Commissioner on the newly created Arizona Space Commission, working to make Arizona a great commercial space state. As President of Cadmus Public Affairs, Brett has successfully influenced legislative agendas in multiple states. With advanced degrees in space leadership and law from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and Ole Miss School of Law, his career reflects a passion for fostering partnerships and advancing space-related initiatives for commercial and economic growth. Learn more

Jeremiah Pate is a scientist and entrepreneur with an enduring interest in utilizing space to ensure a more sustainable and healthy future for our planet. He began his career at the Planetary Science Institute using the HiRISE instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Pate later conducted biophysics research at the University of Arizona and University of Pennsylvania on the molecular origins of Parkinson’s disease. For his work on Parkinson’s he was honored with the Dudley R. Herschbach award and represented the United States at the 2017 Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm. He founded the technology startup Lunasonde in 2018 to pioneer subsurface imaging technology and now serves as an advisor to companies with a regional focus on the Southwest. His subsurface imaging technology has flown on two satellite missions and been featured on History Channel and Forbes magazine. For the latter he was selected as a Forbes 30 under 30 innovator in the category of manufacturing and industry. In 2023, he was selected as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper in recognition for his sustainability and water conservation work with Lunasonde. In 2025, he was elected a member of the Explorers Club for his contributions to the fields of geology and speleology. Asteroid 34104 Jeremiahpate is named in honor of his research. Learn more

Jonathan Stratton is Director of Space Ops and a retired U.S. Air Force officer with 22 years of service, he leads efforts to position Arizona as a national defense space ecosystem partner. Through initiatives like the Nuclear Propulsion MATRIX—a $500M statewide program—Jonathan champions innovation and collaboration to advance America’s leadership in space technology. His vision ensures Arizona plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of national security and space exploration. Learn more