LCASE 2007 Speaker Biographies
(in alphabetic order)

Al Byers
Al Byers is the Assistant Executive Director of Government Partnerships and e-Learning for the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the world’s largest professional organization of science teachers. In this role Mr. Byers leads an exemplary team of individuals at NSTA that ensure the timely production of the e-Learning products for professional development that include: SciGuides, SciPacks, Science Objects, Web Seminars, Symposia and online short courses. Mr. Byers is also the engineer and architect of NSTA’s e-professional development portal called The NSTA Learning Center. These e-learning resources and online tools are packaged with other NSTA products to provide teachers across the nation with access to on-demand, high quality professional development content to enhance their effectiveness in the classroom.

Prior to joining NSTA in May of 2000, Mr. Byers worked on the staff of Oklahoma State University as an instructor and Aerospace Education Specialist for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and assisted Goddard and the Space Telescope Science Institute in the design, development, and implementation of NASA education support curriculum. Mr. Byers began his career as a physical science educator, holds teaching certificates in secondary science, physics, mathematics and middle school, taught at the Virginia Governor’s School for the Gifted, and received recognition as one of Chesterfield County’s, Virginia’s Teachers of the Year.

Kenneth J. Cook
Ken Cook is President, CEO, and chairman of Ken Cook Co., a leading technical communications business with a staff of more than 100 professionals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company produces technical manual and training programs for companies such as Volvo, Raytheon Aircraft, Caterpillar, and Ingersoll-Rand, and developed and markets the AEM-sponsored Rough Terrain Forklift Operator Safety Training Program. Cook has served on the AEM Product Safety Seminar Planning Committee for more than six years. He is a fellow and past president of the Society for Technical Communications, and has more than 38 years experience in the technical communications field as a writer, editor, executive, and consultant. He has served for more than four years as  president and board member of the National Coalition for Aviation Education.

Karen Elzey

Karen R. Elzey is executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW), an affiliate that promotes high educational standards and effective workforce training systems that are aligned with each other and with the today’s business demands.

Elzey serves on the boards and advisory committees of the National ICT Literacy Policy Council, Community Partnerships for Adult Learning and the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

Before coming to the U.S. Chamber in 2002, Elzey worked as the business and education partnership coordinator for Greater Lafayette Progress Inc., an economic development organization. Her other work experience includes serving as a marketing and communications assistant for the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and teaching English as a Second Language in Poland.

Brian Finnegan

Brian Finnegan has been an FAA Airframe and Powerplant mechanic for 20 years and has been President of PAMA since March 2000. He represents PAMA and the individual AMT on several government and industry committees, including the General Aviation Coalition, the Aeronautical Rulemaking Committee and on the FAA’s AMT Awards Committee.

Previously, Mr. Finnegan was the Manager of Air Safety Investigation for Textron Lycoming and a field Air Safety Investigator with Cessna Aircraft Co., also a Textron company. He served as a Field Service Engineer for McDonnell Aircraft Co. on the F/A-18 fighter aircraft with the U.S. Marine Corp and the U.S. Navy and with the Spanish Air Force in support of the EF-18 fighter aircraft.

He earned his A&P Certificate and a B.S. in Aviation Maintenance Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, working as an assistant instructor in both the Turbine Engine and Sheet Metal labs. A recreational pilot, Mr. Finnegan learned aviation at the grass roots working the ramp in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and as an apprentice A&P in Massachusetts.

Debbie Gallaway

Debbie currently manages the NASA Explorer Institutes Program (NEI), an initiative she developed and launched at NASA Headquarters three years ago.  NEI is designed to enhance the ability of organizations like science centers, museums, and community youth groups, to inspire the next generation by providing them with access to NASA staff, research, technology, information and facilities.  She also serves as a member of the National Coalition for Aviation Education and represents the US on FAI’s Aviation and Space Education Commission.

Prior to her current assignment, Debbie has held numerous educational positions including Acting Director of Informal Education for NASA’s Office of Education, Assistant Director for Programs for the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, Senior Program Manager for NASA’s national-level teacher enhancement and faculty preparation programs, and Educational Liaison for two White House initiatives.  She also has managed several programs at the U.S. Department of Education and was a classroom teacher.  Throughout her tenure with the US Government, Debbie has received numerous awards for her contributions to aerospace education.

Debbie has been an avid pilot since 1977 and currently flies a 1946 Globe Swift.

Paula Lewis

Paula Lewis was appointed Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regions and Center Operations in July 2006.  In this capacity she provides leadership and guidance for operations at the nine FAA regional headquarters and Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.  In Washington headquarters, Ms. Lewis provides management oversight direction for Information Technology, Resource Management, Planning and FOIA Management, Aviation Logistics, and the Washington Flight Program (Hanger 6.)

Prior to this assignment, Ms. Lewis served as Director of Operations Planning and Performance Analysis.  She was instrumental in establishing measurable goals and targets in areas such as on-time, delays, system capacity and efficiency as well as system availability. Other positions included Director and Deputy Director, Office of System Capacity, Manager, Information Technology Planning Division, Management Standards and Statistics Division and Organizational Analysis Branch.  Prior to coming to the FAA, she served as senior program analyst for the Chief of Naval Operations and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command at the Department of Navy.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Winthrop College and a Master’s Degree in Industrial Organizational Science from George Mason University.

Carlos Manduley

Dr. J. Carlos Manduley joined the FAA headquarters in 2001 as the first full-time, dedicated National Manager, Hispanic Employment Program (Senior Equal Employment Specialist) in the National Headquarters Office of Civil Rights (ACR).

Carlos is a professional staff member in the Equal Employment Model Consulting Group at ACR. He came to the FAA with an extensive experience from State and local governments, most recently the Montgomery County Government in Rockville, MD, where he worked for 15 years as the Diversity and Work/Life Program Manager.

Dr. Manduley has enjoyed a career filled with numerous achievements in a variety of professional positions. He holds a Ph.D. in Intercultural/International Education and Multicultural Management from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Education and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Pittsburgh, PA.

Jim McMurtray

Jim McMurtray is the Executive Director of the National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions. (NASSMC).  NASSMC is a network of 42 state coalitions joining business, education, and policy leadership in working for improved results in science technology engineering, and mathematics education. He joined NASSMC after serving for 20 years as a contractor to NASA's Education Division during which time he presented lectures and workshops on space science (Voyager, Hubble, Galileo, COBE and other astronomy missions) and on other aerospace related topics throughout the United States and in Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

McMurtray served as an instructor in NASA's Space Flight Participant Program in 1985, conducting seminars in space science and NASA future programs for the 114 candidates of the original Teacher in Space Project. As a representative of NASA, he was involved in the planning and execution of the first NASA/NASSMC Linking Leaders Workshop in 1996.

In April 2004, McMurtray presented testimony to the President's Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy, (Moon, Mars and Beyond) citing the urgent need to address the STEM education crisis with bold action and the full resources of the science community. A former planetarium director and teacher of astronomy, he has been actively involved in reform efforts in science education for over four decades. He is the author of Barbarian Science(1999), a look at science literacy in America, and the creator of Starlight (1981), a nationally distributed planetarium show on the physics of stars. He writes and speaks extensively throughout the country on systems thinking and structural reform in science, technology, and mathematics education. He does not always follow his own advice, but he has enormous respect for it.

Jennifer M. McNelly

Ms. McNelly was named as the Administrator for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Office of Regional Innovation and Transformation in June 2007. In that role, she contributes to implementing a national workforce system that provides America’s workers with the support they need to compete in a global economy. Ms. McNelly oversees ETA’s regional offices, working collaboratively with the national program offices to ensure an integrated workforce investment approach that promotes the critical role talent development plays in creating effective regional economic development strategies. Under her leadership, regional offices promote collaboration beyond traditional strategies for worker preparation by bringing together state, local and federal entities; academic institutions; investment groups; foundations; and business to address the challenges associated with building a globally competitive and prepared workforce.

Ms. McNelly joined ETA as the Director of the Business Relations Group in 2004. In this capacity, she managed the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative. The initiative takes a groundbreaking approach to closing skills gaps by developing solutions to workforce challenges and creating partnerships among business, academic institutions, and the workforce community. Prior to joining the Department of Labor, Ms. McNelly served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, LLC, an international consulting firm specializing in assisting Fortune 500 corporations to build strategic partnerships with government agencies in support of workforce development.

Alex Min

Alex is a recent MBA graduate from the MIT Sloan School of Management, focusing on entrepreneurship and marketing. Prior to MIT, Alex spent five years in sales and business development with a global semiconductor distributor.

Prior to this experience, Alex served in the US Marine Corps as a naval aviator. After graduating at the top of his flight school class, he served as an attack helicopter pilot and staff officer, primarily flying the AH-1W "Super Cobra." Alex received his SB in Art and Design from MIT. Alex holds commercial pilot certificates with instrument ratings for single engine land fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

William “Rol” Murrow

Rol Murrow is the Executive Director of the Wolf Aviation Fund, which provides grants and information supporting and promoting general aviation. He has worked in acoustical engineering, film and video production, theatre operations, and aviation museum construction and management. He is the founder of the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps and a founder and Chairman of the Air Care Alliance, promoting groups providing public service transporting patients and flying disaster relief and other public service missions.

He was an officer of the California Pilots Association and a leader in the battle to preserve general aviation access to the skies of southern California. He represented the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association there and then served as their Northeastern Regional Representative. He helped found the Connecticut Aviation & Space Education Council and in 2006 was inducted into the Crown Circle of aerospace educators. He is a Director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America. He is a 3000 hour glider and commercial airplane pilot and aircraft owner.

Judith A. Rice

Judy Rice, Careers in Aviation Executive Director, builds partnerships across the country to make differences in the lives of students and the aerospace industry. In addition, Ms Rice remains director to two national aerospace conferences: the National Conference on Aviation and Space Education and the Leadership Conference on Aviation and Space Education.

Her position with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) as Deputy Director Aerospace Education and with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) as the Executive Director Youth Education involved a wide variety of skills, to include: collaborations with various national aerospace education organizations; developing, writing, and editing curriculum; script writing and video production; implementation of curriculum programs in schools through-out the nation; professional development; large scale volunteer/member coordination efforts; coordinating the largest air show event in the nation for youth, KidVenture; and director to two national aerospace conferences.

Throughout her life, Judy has had a passion for aviation and space technology.  This interest and sixteen years in formal education eventually brought her into the field of aerospace education. She values the experience gained in special education because it gave her a broad knowledge of the learning process.  The National 4-H Aerospace Curriculum Project hired Rice to produce a series of publications that eventually involved 35 businesses and thousands of pre-college 4-H members.  During the 4-H project, Ms. Rice learned to fly and currently holds a private pilot, instrument rating, commercial, and is continuing toward her CFI.

She is the proud owner of a Grumman TR2 airplane.  Her goal is to share her passion for aviation and her extensive experience with youth and adults everywhere.

Rice's work has taken her to almost all 50 states representing aerospace education.  Ms. Rice is a member of many aviation organizations and has numerous awards and accomplishments in her portfolio. Most recently she earned the prestigious national Strickler Award for her significant achievements in aerospace education.

Guy Smith

Guy is president of the University Aviation Association (UAA), the voice of collegiate aviation education. Through the collective expertise of its members, this nonprofit organization plays a pivotal role in the advancement of degree-granting aviation programs that represent all segments of the aviation industry. UAA has more than 625 members, including 100 accredited colleges and universities poised to meet the ever-changing needs of the aviation industry and address the challenges of the 21st century.

Guy has a Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education from Montana State University, an MA in Human Development and Management from Salve Regina University, and a BSEE from Purdue University. He was a professor at Rocky Mountain College and Western Michigan University; and is currently Associate Program Manager for the Master of Science in Technical Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Worldwide) and Managing Director of Ypsilon Associates, consultants for research and airline training.

Guy was a Lead Engineer for the F/A-18 at McDonnell-Douglas and Manager of Human Factors at Northwest Airlines. He retired from the Navy in 1989; where he was Mission Commander on the S-3A “Viking”; Aircraft Handling Officer onboard USS Carl Vinson; Assistant Director of the ASWOC in Bermuda; and Instructor and Department Chair at OCS in Newport, RI.

Kendall Starkweather

Dr. Starkweather is Executive Director/CEO of the International Technology Education Association (ITEA) located in Reston, Virginia. ITEA is the only major association in North America existing solely for the purpose of promoting technological literacy in our schools. As Executive Director, Dr. Starkweather is involved in association activities designed to advance ITEA’s mission. He is publisher of the association’s journals, The Technology Teacher and Technology and Children, which contain curriculum and instructional materials dealing with all aspects of technology. He has led the association during the development of ITEA’s Standards for Technological Literacy and related curriculum work that has been translated into four languages to date.

Dr. Starkweather’s background includes high school teaching experience and nearly a decade of teacher education work at the University of Maryland.

He has spoken on technology education in most states and provinces in North America, and has spoken or consulted in Australia, Canada, England, Greece, the Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan.

His experience as an educator and association executive has allowed him to work with others in doing what he enjoys the most - helping teachers and students reach their potential through a better understanding of technological issues and developments.

Peter Wolfe

Peter Wolfe is the Executive Director of the Professional Aviation Board of Certification. Captain Wolfe retired as a line pilot and human factors specialist for Flight Operations at Southwest Airlines in 2002.

Peter is an active member of the Air Transport Association Human Factors Committee and served as its Chairman from Oct 98 – Oct 2000. He served for ten years with a regional airline as a line pilot/check airman and in various management positions including director of flight operations and vice president for personnel.

A retired USAF colonel, he flew the F-4 Phantom, EC / KC-135 and T-39 Sabreliner. In addition, he held a wide range of staff and command positions in various flying, safety, maintenance and training posts, including duty as the Assistant Director of Operations for the North American Air Defense Command. He is type rated on the Boeing 737, DC-9, FH-227 and Gulfstream-159 and has logged over 18,000 hours of flight time. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois in Public Administration.