Founders
David Warden
- JD, PhD Engineering
- Exxon – California Offshore & Alaska N.S.
- Baker Botts LLP – Partner
- Rice University – Adjunct Faculty
- Fifteen years commercial aerospace
David Warden
Dr. Warden had an early interest in aerospace and earned B.S. and M.S. degrees focused on mechanical, electrical and systems engineering from Purdue University before taking a detour to the energy sector. His career at Exxon took him to offshore California engineering assignments and to the North Slope of Alaska, where he was involved in drilling and production assignments to bring the Prudhoe Bay field on production, research projects on the Arctic icepack, and as part of the technical team to draft the Prudhoe Bay Unit Agreement among some 20 oil company owners and the government and regulatory agencies.
After seven years, David left Exxon to pursue a legal career, graduating from the University of Virginia Law School, advancing to partner in the global law firm of Baker Botts LLP, and later starting his own law firm. David’s legal endeavors focused on business and technical litigation, he is certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed before the Patent & Trademark Office and the U.S. Supreme Court.
David later revived his interest in aerospace by working in various commercial space startups, becoming an instrument-rated pilot, and by earning his PhD in mechanical engineering from Rice University, with research focused on spacecraft radiation shielding in cis-lunar space. His commercial space endeavors have included both technical and economic analysis of refurbishing the Russian Almaz spacecraft for flight, due diligence on purchasing and financing the Sea Launch rocket company, and in formulating business plans for utilization of the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket engine (VASIMR). More recently, Dr. Warden has performed technical due diligence on a variety of commercial fusion reactor companies and has become active in the Fusion Industry Association. He has taught at Rice University for 18 years, in both the engineering and economic schools.
Dr. Warden is a published author in peer-reviewed journals regarding spacecraft radiation shielding, and one non-technical book: “Miracle in Motion: Leading a Purposeful Life.”
Leroy Chiao
- PhD Engineering
- Research Engineer – Lawrence Livermore
- Former NASA Astronaut and Commander ISS
- Rice University – Adjunct Faculty
- Fifteen years commercial aerospace
Leroy Chiao
Dr. Chiao was interested in technology and fascinated by flight and spaceflight from a young age, so it was natural that he studied engineering, earning degrees in chemical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and at Santa Barbara, and becoming an instrument-rated pilot. After graduation, he worked as a research scientist on aerospace composite materials at the Hexcel Corporation and then at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Selected by NASA in 1990, Leroy served as a NASA astronaut for 15 years, flying on three Space Shuttle missions during which he conducted scientific research and spacewalks in support of the construction of the International Space Station (ISS). On his fourth flight, he flew as the copilot of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft flying to the ISS where he served as the commander and NASA science officer during Expedition-10.
After leaving NASA, Dr. Chiao became a motivational speaker and worked in technology and commercial spaceflight startup companies, including executive positions involved in the technical refurbishment of the Russian Almaz spacecraft, spearheading NASA commercial space grant opportunities, and performing technical due diligence on utilization of the Sea Launch floating rocket launch facility. He held an academic appointment at the Louisiana State University and continues his appointments at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine.
Over the years, he has served on White House and National Academy of Sciences committees helping to formulate space policy, in addition to being a member of the Human Exploration and Operations committee of the NASA Advisory Council.
Peter Jones
- Pure Physics, Honors – Leeds University
- CEO Vector Geophysical
- VP Schlumberger Multiclient
- 40 years geophysics/seismic
Peter Jones
Mr. Jones is a results oriented, C-level officer with a sales executive history and a proven track record during 40 years of international experience in the oil service industry. He has a proven ability to increase revenue, profits and market share in both large and small organizations.
With an honors degree in Pure Physics from Leeds University in England, he joined Seismograph Services Ltd. (SSL) land seismic operations and has lived and worked in 14 different countries. At Geco-Prakla he gained Land Operation management and Seismic Multi-Client sales experience. As President of Paradigm for Latin America, Peter set up legal entities and opened data processing offices in Caracas and Quito and a sales office in Rio to add to the existing Buenos Aires office. He also formed a joint venture in Mexico that became one of the company's highest profit-making centers. In 2010, as CEO of Vector Seismic Data Processing he grew annual revenues by a factor of 12 with minimal increases in staff numbers and overhead costs, and then played a prominent role in selling the company to Schlumberger.
As Vice President of Onshore Multiclient at Schlumberger, Peter managed the company in a downturn market exceeding all technical, financial and personnel goals. He also served as a board member of the IAGC (International Association of Geophysical Contractors).
Dan Warden
- BSME
- Engineer Project Management Consultant
- Manager BP Solar & Biofuels
- Manager Major Projects, BP
Dan Warden
Mr. Warden earned a mechanical engineering degree from Texas A&M university and his career has spanned over 40 years in engineering and Major Capital Project Leadership. Those efforts took him across the globe including the USA, Russia, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Yemen, Norway, Brazil and Trinidad.
Financing was derived both internally and by external project-financed methodologies requiring a keen eye toward delivering the intended business. All projects were commercially driven without the requirement for subsidies or other government assistance to get them across the line.
His experience in Project Leadership included major projects across industry sectors including oil/gas resource development, renewables, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pipelines and gas-to-liquids. These efforts included concept development for new businesses and first-of-a-kind design and deployment of equipment, all requiring substantial integration. He is well-versed in project processes and Integrated Management Systems.
Dan gained experience in geology and geophysics during his 40-year career at BP and during the last few years has added expertise in lunar geology associated with Helium-3 lunar recovery mechanisms and processing.
Supporting all efforts is a strong basis in strategy, economic analysis, risk assessment, and negotiation, including graduation from MIT Project Academy and Center for Creative Leadership.
Board of Advisors
Charles Bolden
- NASA Administrator (2009 – 2017)
- U.S. Marine Corps Major General (Ret.)
- Former Test Pilot and Astronaut
Jim Bridenstine
- NASA Administrator (2018 – 2021)
- U.S. House of Representatives (2012 – 2018)
- U.S. Naval Aviator – E-2C, F/A-18 (Lt. Commander)
Ken Farley
- Professor Caltech - Chair Division of Planetary Sciences
- Chief Scientist JPL Mars Perseverance Rover Program
- Participating Scientist JPL Mars Curiosity Rover
Gerald Kulcinski
- Director – Fusion Technology Institute
- Fellow – American Nuclear Society
- Consultant – Lunar Mining
David Leebron
- President & CEO, Texas 2036
- President, Rice University (2004-2022)
- Dean, Columbia Law School
Barry Matsumori
- President and COO Skydweller Aero
- COO Impulse Space Propulsion
- Sr VP SpaceX, Sales
Mark Menezes
- CEO, U.S. Energy Association
- U.S. Deputy & Under Sec. of Energy (2017-2021)
- VP Berkshire Hathaway
- Partner Hunton & Williams
Sergei Putvinski
- VP Fusion Science, TAE Technologies, Inc.
- Senior Science Officer, ITER Project (France)
- Over 100 Scientific Publications, Over 12 Patents