New Go For Launch! Event Manager

Go For Launch! Space Coast

Mission Complete!

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Presenting Team

Team may be subject to change due to schedules. 

Michelle Lucas spent 10+ years working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. First as part of the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Safety Review Panel (PSRP) and then in the Mission Operations Directorate as a Flight Controller in ISS Mission Control and as an Astronaut Instructor in the ISS Daily Operations Group. Additionally, she worked with each of the International Partners (European Space Agency – ESA, Japanese Space Agency – JAXA, and the Russian Space Agency) in the field of Daily Operations, Flight Controller, and Instructor Training. Michelle was part of the Core NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) team for 9 missions where astronauts would carry out analog space missions underwater in the Aquarius habitat. Along the way, Michelle found she has a passion for launching the next generation’s dreams and ambitions. Her passion for inspiring students led to extensive work with other organizations in STEM outreach so she founded the non-profit Higher Orbits to use space to excite and inspire students about STEM, Leadership, Teamwork, and Communication. Michelle is proud to be a Space Camp Alum, AIAA Associate Fellow, and member of the Space Camp Hall of Fame. She believes that collaboration in space and STEM is the key to the stars! Space Inspires!

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Selected by NASA in June 1998, he reported for training in August 1998. Following Astronaut Candidate Training, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Space Station Branch representing the Astronaut Office on training issues. He was then assigned to the Space Shuttle Branch as a liaison between the Johnson Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center and also served as Deputy of the Space Shuttle Branch. Foreman also served as Chief of External Programs at Glenn Research Center, Ohio, from June 2010 to May 2011. Upon returning to the Astronaut Office, Foreman was assigned to the Exploration Branch, working on the Commercial Crew Development Program. During his final three years at NASA, he served as the Safety Branch Chief in the Astronaut Office. A veteran of two space flights, Foreman flew on STS-123 in March 2008, and STS-129 in November 2009, and has logged more than 637 hours in space, including 32 hours and 19 minutes of EVA in five spacewalks. As a retired Astronaut, Mike is working as the CFO and VP for Business Development at Venturi Outcomes, LLC, a consulting firm in Houston.

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Richard Pruss, a Florida native, is a regional practice manager specializing in aerospace and manufacturing facilities. He brings 17 years of in-depth knowledge of planning, design, modernization, facilities services and construction administration. This includes directing projects valued up to $1 billion in construction related to all types of large, medium and small launch vehicles, payload processing facilities, test stands, ground support equipment, process piping and utilities, and other classified programs related to space defense and manufacturing. In addition, he has worked on nearly every launch pad in the United States. He graduated from Florida Institute of Technology with a BS in Civil Engineering. Richard has spent his career mentoring young adults, speaking at engagements and supporting STEM programs nationwide.

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John currently serves as the Chief Transformation Officer for Jacobs, which is the prime contractor for NASA’s Consolidated Operations, Management, Engineering, and Test Contract, or COMET, at the Kennedy Space Center. Under COMET, Jacobs helps NASA to manage Kennedy’s launch infrastructure and process flight hardware. COMET services include: integrated scheduling; engineering; ground system development; flight vehicle/spacecraft processing; and launch, landing, and recovery operations for NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), Space Launch System, and Orion Programs. In late 2022, the Jacobs team helped NASA to launch and recover the successful Artemis I test flight. 

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Andrea has an extensive background in working with federal programs as well as cybersecurity inspections and compliance. She has spoken at the national level as a subject matter expert on advanced cyber threats including data security, cyber supply chain risk management, and social engineering. Andrea has previously conducted on-site cyber hygiene inspections for the DoD, is a CMMC-AB Registered Practitioner (RP), has completed (ISC)² CC training, and earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) focused in Management and

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Taylor Stallings-Pinnick represents Space Tango as the Director of Strategic Relations. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) Taylor finds pride in leading diverse teams of creative personnel to produce successful on-orbit investigations and processes. She works with individuals to maximize collective achievements and uses her in-depth knowledge of ISS resupply flight processing to drive efficiency while adhering to strict timelines. Taylor also leverages the connections fostered through her previous role at Space Tango as a Project Manager.

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John Hughes is a distinguished electrical engineer and esteemed veteran of the United States Marines. With over four decades of remarkable achievements, Hughes has made an indelible mark in his field. In 1978, he proudly graduated from Purdue University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. This paved the way for his expertise in servo control analysis, where he has excelled throughout his illustrious career. In his remarkable 45-year career, Hughes has expertly built mathematical models

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Other Team Members To Be Announced

Presented in Partnership with…

Supported by Sponsors:

Pluto Pioneers

Mars Pathfinders

Lunar Rovers

Earth Orbit Club

Intergalactic Voyagers

Event Location Details

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center - Florida

Space Commerce Way

Merritt Island, FL 32953

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