With nearly two decades inside some of the most high-performing engineering and operational environments in deep tech, my passion lies in building the groundbreaking technologies and experiences that propel humanity forward – both in Space and on Earth. I specialize in operational efficiency; the simplification of complex human and engineering systems; and cross-functional strategic leadership at the intersection of new technology, business, and the creative.

I am the founder and CEO of an aerospace engineering and operations network called vdot, which specializes in deploying rare, expert talent to help space companies execute on hard problems fast. Prior to that, I served as Chief Operating Officer of Firefly Aerospace, worked in engineering leadership for Blue Origin’s Lunar Lander and Space Station programs, and was a senior engineer and technical program manager at SpaceX for the Starlink, Dragon, and Falcon 9 programs. I also moonlit as a host for the SpaceX launch webcasts, where I co-hosted the Falcon Heavy demo livestream, the first ever commercial launch of U.S. astronauts to space, as well as the Emmy Award winning SpaceX+NASA Demo-1 livestream.

Prior to joining the commercial space industry, I was a science writer, taught leadership courses at Harvard, worked on Mars robots and solar system public engagement at NASA/JPL, and developed novel spinal implant technologies at Medtronic. I spend my spare time mentoring space startups across the world in the Creative Destruction Lab accelerator; serving on the XPRIZE Space Exploration Brain Trust; mentoring young, Black engineers as part of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship; and serving on the advisory board of early stage aerospace and climate tech startups. 

I earned my bachelor's degree from Princeton University in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering with certificates in Engineering Biology and Robotics & Intelligent Systems. My master's degree is in Business & Government Policy from the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, where I wrote my thesis in partnership with NASA on getting the general public engaged in Space Exploration.