LCASE 2005 Speaker Biographies
(in alphabetic order)

Vance Ablott is Executive Director of the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education, where he is responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the coalition and setting a vision for future growth and success. He spent nine years leading the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, and five years as the vice president and general manager of the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation. Prior to that, he spent 20 years with the Walt Disney Company in a variety of business and management positions. Trained as a scientist, Ablott’s motivational drive is the improvement of science and math education.

Bernice Garnett Alston is the Deputy Chief Education Officer at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she represents NASA on the federal School Environment Policy and Strategies Committee of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality. She is a member of the Federal Interagency Committee on Education and the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Math/Science Initiative. Dr. Alston joined NASA from the Maryland Local Education Fund in Baltimore, where she directed a whole-school reform initiative that involved more than 75 schools throughout the state. She has been a teacher, principal, university professor, assistant superintendent, and a key player in systemic school reform.

Shelia Bauer is National Aviation Education Program Manager at the Federal Aviation Administration. She is a pilot and educator who joined the agency in 1990, when she joined the FAA as the New England Region’s Aviation Education Program Manager. At the FAA, she has instituted a multitude of program and spearheaded the development of numerous national partnership agreements, including the Organization of Black Airline Pilots, Civil Air Patrol, and the Experimental Aircraft Association. She has provided guidance and expertise in developing national programs such as the FAA "ACE" (Aviation Career Education) summer camps and "Careerports at Airports" resource centers. She is a former elementary school teacher and fixed-base operator executive, rising up the ranks to become president of Revere Aviation in Massachusetts. She has been awarded many regional and national awards for her efforts to promote aviation.

Ken Cook is president, CEO, and chairman of Ken Cook Co., a leading technical communication business with a staff of 90 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 is the current president and board member of the National Coalition for Aviation Education.

John Dailey is the Director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. General Dailey is retired from the Marine Corps, where he served for 36 years. He is a pilot with more than 6,500 hours in numerous aircraft and helicopters. During two tours in Vietnam, he flew 450 combat missions. Prior to taking the helm at the National Air and Space Museum, General Dailey was the associate deputy administrator at NASA, where he led that agency’s restructuring activities. He has numerous decorations for his service in the Marine Corps and at NASA, and is National Commander of the Marine Corps Aviation Association, a member of the Early and Pioneer Naval Aviators Association, as well as a number of other national and international organizations and boards.

Tony Fowler is the Interagency Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Education, in which capacity he provides leadership for the Federal Interagency Committee on Education, an interagency committee whose legislative mandate is to work toward effective coordination of federal programs, policies, and administrative practices affecting education. He leads the Department of Education’s efforts for the Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Week, held in the spring of each year. He wrote, edited, and published four in a series of resource books, as well as five editions of a teacher’s guide to the Department of Education.

Debbie Gallaway is a program manager at NASA headquarters, where she recently developed and launched the NASA Explorer Institutes Program, which is designed to enhance the ability of organizations such as science centers, museums, and community youth groups to inspire young people by providing them with access to NASA staff, research, technology, information, and facilities. She has held numerous education positions, including 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 education liaison for two White House initiatives. An avid pilot and former classroom teacher, she has managed several programs at the U.S. Department of Education.

Ventris Gibson is Assistant Administrator for Human Resources Management at the Federal Aviation Administration. In this capacity, she advises and assists the Administrator in directing, coordinating, communicating, and ensuring the quality of FAA human resources plans, programs, and initiatives. She is a former U.S. Navy air traffic controller and joined the FAA from the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she served as the deputy assistant secretary for human resources management, and formerly as the department’s deputy assistant secretary for resolution management. She was the VA’s highest-ranking woman veteran. Her career spans more than 23 years in both human resources executive and professional positions, and she is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations.

David Hosley is Dean, School of Corporate Training and Professional Development Extended Campus, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, which provides courses, seminars, workshops, forums and consulting services to culturally diverse students through 130 teaching centers in the U.S. and Europe. Dr. Hosley has more than 30 years experience in all facets of management, education, and training. He has served as director of the USA Leadership Development Program for the United Space Alliance and as Manager, Technical Training for Lockheed Martin Space Operations at the Kennedy Space Center. He has directed research projects as Senior Scientist at the University of Central Florida and served as director of the Airway Science Division at Florida Memorial College.

Tim Huddleston is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Aerospace Development Center, an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan center that promotes the development of space through a private-sector led approach, with appropriate government support via R&D and infrastructure investments. He previously served as the center director of the Aerospace Development Center of Alabama, and as the governor’s advisor for Aerospace Affairs and senior space policy advisor in Alabama. He has served three terms as the chairman of the National Coalition of Spaceport States and has received numerous award and honors, most notably a Governor’s Commendation for Meritorious Service to the state of Alabama. He has written numerous works on aerospace policy and development.

Raymond Johnson is Chairman of the National Aeronautic Association’s Education Committee and the U.S. delegate to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale and President of its Education Commission. He is the retired manager of the Chicago office of the Illinois State Aeronautics Agency, a career position he held for 34 years. Among his responsibilities was the state’s interest in volunteer aviation organizations and the enhancement of aviation education committees. He is an active pilot and a Certified Association Executive, and serves on the board of visitors of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a board member of the Soaring Society of America and chairman of the SSA-Civil Air Patrol Coordinating Committee.

Jamail Larkins was appointed earlier this year as the Ambassador for Aviation & Space Education for the Federal Aviation Administration – at the age of 21. As such, he promotes the career possibilities of aviation to America’s youth, and also promotes the benefits of the aviation and aerospace industry to the general public. At the age of 12, Jamail flew his first flight with the EAA Young Eagles program. At 14, he soloed a powered aircraft in Canada. On January 31, 2000, the day after his 16^th birthday, he soloed in the U.S. in a Cirrus SR20, becoming the first and youngest pilot to solo in this aircraft. He has more than 750 hours of total flight time in more than 36 types of aircraft, makes appearances at airshows, hosts radio shows at conventions, and writes columns for aviation publications. He was the National Spokesman of the EAA Vision of Eagles program, as well as the Careers in Aviation organization. He attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

David Mandell was appointed by President Bush to serve as Chief of Staff to Marion Blakey, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. He acts as the Administrator’s primary aide and advisor in the management and administration of the agency. He also serves as key legal and policy advisor. Previously, he served Blakey as Special Counsel to the Chairman at NTSB. Prior to NTSB, Mandell was an associate at the Philadelphia headquarters of the law firm Blank Rome, where he practiced complex commercial litigation.

Michelle Mason, CAE, is Vice President, Strategic Research at the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership. She is responsible for the oversight and management of the future-focused and strategic research activities. The primary goal of her department is to conduct rigorous research on critical issues affecting the association community. She has spearheaded the production of major environmental scan publications that identify trends and issues likely to impact associations. She has worked with leading thinkers such as Jim Collins, Frances Hesselbein, Warren Bennis, Tom Peters, and Karl Abrecht, and teaches business courses at Strayer University.

James McMurtray is the Executive Director of the National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions, and has been actively involved in reform efforts in science education over three decades. Prior to joining NASSMC, he served for nearly 20 years as a contractor to NASA’s Education Division, during which time he presented lectures and workshops on space science and other aerospace topics throughout the U.S. and in Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. He was an instructor in NASA’s Space Flight Participant Program and is the author of a book on science literacy in the U.S. A former planetarium director and teacher of astronomy, he is also the creator of a nationally distributed planetarium show.

Frank Mitchell has had a long and distinguished career in aviation. For more than 30 years Dr. Mitchell was responsible for developing and managing aviation education, training, and marketing programs for Cessna Aircraft Company and Raytheon Aircraft Company. He introduced and managed the successful Cessna Pilot Center program and served ten years as chairman of the Aviation Education Committee of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. At Cessna, he initially directed the development of the industry’s first comprehensive aviation education program, where he developed cooperative educational program with 41 other organizations. After retiring from Cessna, he taught collegiate aviation education courses at a number of universities, and is currently an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma. He has authored more than 30 article and papers on aviation topics and was editor of Twin & Turbine Magazine. Since 1991, he has completed a bi-annual survey of U.S. aviation magnet school. He has received many awards for his service to aviation.

Willam R. "Rol" Murrow is Executive Director of the Wolf Aviation Fund, which provides grants and information supporting and promoting general aviation. He is a founder and officer of the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps and of the Air Care Alliance, promoting groups providing public service transporting patients and flying disaster relief and other public service missions. He represented the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in Southern California and as Northeastern Regional Representative, and helped found the Connecticut Aviation & Space Education Council. He has served as an officer of the California Pilots Association, and was a leader in the battle to preserve general aviation access to the skies of Southern California. He has worked in acoustical engineering, film and video production, theatre operations, and aviation museum construction and management. He is a glider and commercial pilot and aircraft owner.

Henry Ogrodzinski is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, which represents the state government aviation agencies. Prior to joining NASAO he was the first president and CEO of the United States Air and Trade Show in Dayton, Ohio. He has served as Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation’s vice president of marketing and communications and corporate officer, and for many years led the communications programs at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association in Washington, D.C. While at GAMA he also managed the activities of the industry-wide GAMA Public Affairs Committee. Prior to joining GAMA, he was director of policy and planning for the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he also served as EAA director of corporate communications. He began his career at the Delcro Electronics Division of General Motors, where he was responsible for all communications and training programs at the division’s Milwaukee facilities.

Judith Rice is Deputy Director for Aerospace Education at the Civil Air Patrol, where she combines her background in education and aviation to build partnerships across the country to make differences in the classroom. Prior to joining CAP, she served as executive director of youth education at the Experimental Aircraft Association, where, among other responsibilities, she coordinated the largest air show event in the nation for youth; developed, wrote, edited, and implemented curriculum programs in schools across the nation; and coordinated large scale volunteer and member efforts. She has also served as aerospace development specialist at Pitsco, Inc., and produced a series of publications for the National 4-H Aerospace Curriculum Project. She is a pilot and aircraft owner and has received many awards for her work in aerospace education.

Pat O’Connell Ross is the Team Leader for the Mathematics and Science Partnership Program at the U.S. Department of Education. In 15 years of federal service, she has also managed the Javits Gifted and Talented Students program, the Eisenhower Math and Science National programs, and the Fund for the Improvement of Education. Prior to joining the Education Department, she was an associate director at Project 2061 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; director of academic programs with the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University; and an education specialist with the Maine Department of Education for ten years.

Lee Siudzinski is Vice President of Education at the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Dr. Siudzinski has had a long career as an educator and administrator, including assistant superintendent for academic services in the Peoria (AZ) Unified School District, with more than 30,000 students. He has served as district administrator for the Kaukauna Area School District in Wisconsin, and assistant superintendent for business services in Wausau, Wisconsin. He has held positions as principal, district administrator, and director of elementary education, and has received numerous professional recognitions. He has presented at many education conferences and is active in numerous community leadership activities.

Mary Anne Thompson is President of the Aerospace Education Foundation, an affiliate of the Air Force Association. She has more than 40 years experience in the aerospace community, including key management responsibilities on major intelligence programs, business development and customer relations, and national leadership in the aerospace industry, as well as in aerospace education. She spent 20 years with TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Mission Systems) in a variety of technical and management positions. Prior to joining TRW she spent 20 years in education, serving as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and museum educator. She has served as the director of Curricular Programs at the National Air and Space Museum.

Congressman Mark Udall (CO) serves as ranking member of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Science Committee. Prior to running for Congress, Mark was Director of the Colorado Outward Bound School for ten years and is a dedicated educator and environmentalist. He's also a world class mountain climber, and has climbed Mt. Everest. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Science Committee, and the House Resources Committee, Mark has championed national security, environmental, energy, education, and health care issues. His committee assignments have given him a platform to address many issues important to Colorado's economy, including technology, transportation and homeland security. 

Wayne York is Flying Safety Coordinator with the New Mexico Aviation Division, where he conducts pilot safety seminars, directs the update and publishing of the New Mexico Aeronautical Chart, and makes frequent appearances at middle and high schools around the state presenting "Careers in Aviation" seminars. He served for 30 years in the Air Force, including two combat tours in Vietnam flying the F-4 Phantom. He is a commercial pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours.