| Executive Team |
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
Dr. George E. Mueller, Chairman & Chief Vehicle Architect Dr. Mueller has served as a Director of the Company since 1995. He joined RPK in April 1995 as CEO and became Chairman and Chief Vehicle Architect in 2004, continuing a career in space, science, engineering and corporate leadership. From 1963 through 1969, Dr. Mueller led the program that put Americans on the Moon. As head of the Apollo Manned Space Flight Program for NASA during that period, he was responsible for the Gemini, Apollo and Saturn programs. He was the originator of Skylab, the world's first space station, and is acknowledged to be the "Father of the Space Shuttle." Dr. Mueller’s leadership made possible the achievement of the national goal set in 1961: the landing of men on the Moon and their safe return to Earth by the end of the decade. To accomplish this goal, he merged the diverse activities of academia, industry and NASA into a concerted effort, and to direct this effort, developed one of the most sophisticated and successful management systems ever devised. Dr. Mueller is the author of "An Integrated Program of Space Utilization and Exploration," which became the guiding document for NASA for the last several decades. At the successful completion of the second landing on the Moon by Apollo 12, Dr. Mueller returned to industry as Sr. Vice President of General Dynamics Corporation. As Group Executive of the Defense Division, he managed the transition of the company to the post-Apollo era. Subsequently, Dr. Mueller joined System Development Corporation (SDC), a pioneer in large computer-based systems and a major developer of software systems for the U.S. Air Force. As Chairman and President of SDC, he managed the conversion of the company from a not-for-profit to a competitive profit-seeking corporation. Dr. Mueller holds a B.S.E.E. degree from the University of Missouri-Rolla; an M.S.E.E. degree from Purdue University; and a Ph.D. degree in Physics from the Ohio State University. He is the recipient of six honorary degrees and many prestigious awards, including three NASA Distinguished Service Medals and the National Medal of Science for his many individual contributions to the design of the Apollo system. He has also received many industry awards, including the American Society for Engineering Management’s Engineering Manager of the Year 1998, the 2002 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement, and in 2003 he was elected one of Aviation Week’s Top 100 Stars of Aerospace to commemorate the 100th anniversary of flight. |
|
||||
| |
|||||
|
Mr. Randolph H. Brinkley, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Brinkley joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer in August 2004. Previously, he was part of a core team of individual limited partners and advisors at J. F. Lehman & Company that advised corporate clients on new deal generation and portfolio management. Mr. Brinkley formerly was President of Boeing Satellite Systems Inc. (BSS), the world's largest manufacturer of commercial communication satellites and before that was Senior Vice President of Programs for Hughes Space and Communications Company. Before joining Hughes Space and Communications Company (acquired by Boeing in October 2000) in 1999, Mr. Brinkley was the NASA Program Manager for the International Space Station (ISS) from 1994 until 1999. While at NASA, Mr. Brinkley was responsible for the integration of Russia’s participation in the ISS Program and the successful on-orbit assembly of the first elements of the ISS. Before his assignment as Program Manager for the ISS, Mr. Brinkley was Mission Director of the Hubble Space Telescope Repair Mission in 1994. From 1990 to 1992, Mr. Brinkley managed research and development activities for advanced aircraft systems and technologies at the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Mr. Brinkley served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 25 years before retiring as a Colonel. He saw combat before entering the U.S. Air Force pilot training program and becoming the Navy’s Flight Instructor of the Year and the Marine Corps’ Aviator of the Year. He has flown more than 4,000 hours in 42 types of aircraft, which include the F-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier. Mr. Brinkley received his B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina and an M.S. degree from Boston University. Subsequently, he undertook graduate work in national security and strategic studies as a Chief of Naval Operations Fellow at the Naval War College. He also graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), Amphibious Warfare School, NATO Defense College, and the Marine Corps Engineers School. Mr. Brinkley has received numerous national and international awards for his outstanding achievement in aeronautics, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals. |
 Randy Brinkley |
||||
|
Mr. Wilbur C. Trafton, President & Chief Operating Officer Mr. Trafton joined the Company as President and Chief Operating Officer in August 2004. Prior to joining RPK, Mr. Trafton was Vice President/General Manager of Boeing Expendable Launch Systems and President of Boeing Launch Services. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Board and President of Sea Launch Company, LLC. He was also President of International Launch Services. Mr. Trafton is a former Associate Administrator for Space Flight at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for planning, budgeting and execution of the Space Shuttle Program, the International Space Station Program, the Expendable Launch Vehicles Program, and the Deep Space Network. He was also responsible for four NASA centers: Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. In 1997 Mr. Trafton was selected for Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. He was also awarded two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals. Mr. Trafton retired from the United States Navy as a Captain after 26 years of service. He is a decorated combat veteran, having flown 85 combat missions from the aircraft carrier Shangri-la in the Vietnam War. He also served as Commanding Officer of the fast combat support ship Seattle in Desert Storm. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his duty in Desert Storm. He held a number of high level positions in the areas of operations, acquisition of weapons systems, and international affairs, including Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron 113, and Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier Forrestal. He has over 3000 flight hours and 700 carrier landings. A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, he received a Master’s Degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is also a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. |
 Will Trafton |
||||
|
Daniel C. Tam Chief Financial Officer Mr. Tam joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer in August 2004 and he is the Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining RPK, Mr. Tam was Vice President, Operations and Finance, for AOPTIX Technologies, Inc., which uses patented adaptive optics to deliver mobile, high-speed systems for secured communications, imaging, and directed energy applications, serving both government and commercial customers. Before joining AOPTIX in 2003, Mr. Tam was Strategic Account Manager with Network Appliance Inc. (NetApp), developing and managing corporate relationships between NetApp and selected government and aerospace accounts. From 1975 to 2002, Mr. Tam held various executive positions with TRW (now Northrop Grumman) and NASA in finance, operations, and program management capacities. In his over 20 year career at TRW, he had increasing responsibilities including Director of Planning and Operations, Director of Acquisition, Director of Finance and Director of Contracts and Subcontracts on commercial and government programs in space, electronics, defense, telecommunications, information and energy. At NASA, Mr. Tam was Deputy Program Manager of the International Space Station Program, where he was responsible for all business requirements and performance, and later served as Assistant to the NASA Administrator, leading the Agency effort to increase and accelerate the commercial uses and applications of high-leveraged and high-priced national assets. Mr. Tam holds a B.A. in Economics from UC Davis, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Davis, an M.A. in Economics (Theories and International Marketing) from UC Davis, and an M.B.A. in Finance and International Management from UCLA. Mr. Tam has numerous professional certificates and awards, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal. |
 Dan Tam |
||||
|
Jack Cannady Vice President, Administration, Contracts, & Program Control Mr. Cannady oversees all contractual matters and program control, including costs and schedule, and is responsible for administration and personnel at RPK's various operating sites. His career spans four decades of experience in aerospace finance, contracts, program control, cash management, human resources, and administration. Previously, Mr. Cannady was a Vice President and Corporate Officer of Whittaker Corporation responsible for company-wide business management, and also served as Corporate Chief of Staff. Prior to joining Whittaker, Mr. Cannady was Vice President of Finance and Administration and CFO for Amex Systems, and a member of its Board of Directors. Earlier, Mr. Cannady was Vice President, Finance & Administration, and CFO of Systems Development Corporation (SDC) and held various positions with General Dynamics including Controller of the Electro Dynamic Group; Manager of Finance, Scheduling and Administration of Space Launch Vehicles Programs; and Manager of Estimating at the Convair Division. |
 Jack Cannady |
||||
|
Edward Reich Corporate Controller Ed Reich is Corporate Controller for RPK. He has 15 years of experience in corporate accounting. Prior to coming to RPK in 1996, he helped start Kinetic Parts Manufacturing, a company specializing in brake rotors subsequently sold to TRW Automotive, and served as its Controller. He started his career in public accounting and worked with a variety of clients in distribution, manufacturing and retail. Mr. Reich has a B.S. in Accounting from San Diego State University and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of California. |
 Edward Reich |
||||
|
Debra Facktor Lepore Vice President, Business Development & Strategic Planning Debra Facktor Lepore is Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning for Rocketplane Kistler. In this position, she is responsible for identification and development of new business opportunities, as well as developing both short-term and long-term strategic planning. Ms. Lepore has been a key player in the RPK organization since joining the company in July 1997, previously serving as Director of Marketing and Manager of Payload Systems. She has a unique blend of technical, business, and international skills in entrepreneurial and established markets. Prior to joining Rocketplane Kistler, Debra Facktor Lepore served as Chief of Moscow Operations for ANSER’s Center for International Aerospace Cooperation in Moscow, Russia, and as project leader and senior engineer at ANSER in Arlington, Virginia. She conducted technical, business, financial and policy analyses for clients around the world, including NASA, U.S. Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and National Space Council, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, European Space Agency, National Space Development Agency of Japan, and numerous commercial entities. Projects included government and commercial space launch systems, alternative launch concepts for defense systems, propulsion, human spaceflight, and aerospace technology. Debra Facktor Lepore was the Lead Engineer for the Technical Panel of the Congressionally-mandated Space Launch Modernization Plan; participated in the Advanced Launch System program; and contributed to the ten-year Space Launch Technology Plan in response to a White House National Space Policy Directive and the Vice President’s “Final Report to the President on the U.S. Space Program.” Among other distinctions, Ms. Lepore is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA); an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA); an alumna of the International Space University (ISU); and a member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF). She is an active leader in the community and in major professional organizations, including Secretary of the IAA’s Commission on Space Policy, Economics and Law and elected Member-at-Large of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) Space Council Executive Steering Committee. She is the former chairperson of the American Astronautical Society Washington DC section and former Vice President of the Board of Washington Works. Debra Facktor Lepore earned a Bachelor of Science degree (magna cum laude) in aerospace engineering and a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering, both from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. |
 Debra Facktor Lepore |
||||
|
|||||
Executive Team
