Experience

B612

• United States
• Space Research and Technology
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Asteroid Institute Mission Director

  • Jan 2016 - Present

  I am responsible for developing asteroid observing strategies that will advance the efforts of the Asteroid Institute in Planetary Defense, the protection of the Earth from future asteroid impacts. I am pursuing potential space missions that can detect potentially hazardous asteroids decades before they may impact and thereby provide sufficient time for mitigation efforts that will move the asteroid away from the impact path.

• Sentinel Mission Director

  • Jan 2011 - Jan 2016

  I was the Mission Director for the Sentinel mission, an infrared space telescope studied by the B612 Foundation. Funding for the mission study was raised by philanthropic donations. I was responsible for leading the concept development and design studies for the mission as well as communicating the mission's potential to the philanthropic and space science communities as well as with NASA.



Reitsema Enterprises, Inc.

• Principal

  • Mar 2008 - Present

  I apply my experience in Planetary Science and Astronomy flight projects in consulting on space science mission development and operations. I have participated in Deep Space and Earth orbiting telescope missions including roles as co-investigator on the GIOTTO, Spitzer, Kepler and New Horizons (Pluto and beyond) missions, and have been flight instrument project manager for the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite. I also provide consulting in teambuilding and mission management, and in business development activities including contract development and public relations campaigns.



Ball Aerospace

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director of Program Development

  • Jan 1982 - May 2008

  Responsible for a group of scientists, engineers and managers who performed R&D, studies and proposal preparation to develop new space science missions for NASA and civil customers. Products of these activities include NASA's Spitzer, Deep Impact and Kepler missions and imaging instruments for the New Horizons Pluto mission, the Global Precipitation Mission and Landsat 8. Responsible for a group of scientists, engineers and managers who performed R&D, studies and proposal preparation to develop new space science missions for NASA and civil customers. Products of these activities include NASA's Spitzer, Deep Impact and Kepler missions and imaging instruments for the New Horizons Pluto mission, the Global Precipitation Mission and Landsat 8.