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Board Group: Foundation Board

photo of George Whitesides

George Whitesides

Written by rlauvlhm-ca on .

George has spent his career solving problems. Over the past 20 years, he helped lead NASA to new heights, created hundreds of quality jobs in the Antelope Valley, and supported front-line responders and public health through his work on the wildfire crisis.

George began his career in the space sector, where he served as executive director of the National Space Society from 2004 to 2008. He served as Chairman of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Working Group for the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, on the board of Astronomers Without Borders and the Space Generation Foundation, as well as the Advisory Committee of the Secure World Foundation. He also co-founded Yuri’s Night, an annual celebration of human spaceflight, alongside his wife Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides.

George worked on President Obama’s transition team in 2008, and then served as Chief of Staff for NASA for the Obama administration. George led reform of NASA to enable current U.S. space leadership, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the agency’s highest honor. He then became first CEO of Virgin Galactic, the human spaceflight company founded by Richard Branson. He grew the company over a decade from a small team to the global aerospace firm it is today, creating 700 jobs in the Antelope Valley and flying the first woman to space on a commercial space vehicle.

Now, he’s serving his first term in Congress, representing the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and San Fernando Valley in Washington. As Vice Ranking Member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, he oversees NASA’s annual budget and uses his position to push back against federal attacks on science.

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Ms. Rebecca Torzone Kustom

Written by rlauvlhm-ca on .

Rebecca Torzone Kustom is sector vice president and general manager of the Combat Systems and Mission Readiness division for Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems sector, a leading global provider of defense solutions to enable decision-making and defeat advanced threats, while supporting military operations and readiness. 

Torzone Kustom has more than 20 years of experience within the aerospace and defense industry, working a broad set of programs across multiple domains and locations. Most recently, she served as the chief growth officer of Defense Systems, where she led the strategy, business development and customer engagement activities across the sector’s global customer and industry partner communities. Prior to that role, Torzone Kustom led the Missile Products business, an industry leader in the development and production of tactical rocket motors for a variety of air, space, sea, and land-based systems, and served as the vice president of engineering and sciences for the Airborne Sensors and Networks division.

Torzone Kustom earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a master’s degree in computer science from Colorado Technical University, and a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a graduate of Northrop Grumman’s Systems Engineering Associate program and has also completed the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Executive Strategy program.

photo of Jeffrey H. Samz

Mr. Jeffrey H. Samz, Vice Chair

Written by rlauvlhm-ca on .

Jeff Samz joined the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation Board in October 2015.  His hospital administration career spans 28 years, including 12 in Huntsville. Previously, he was employed at Vanderbilt Health, Duke Health, and Mission Health.

Samz is active in community service and sits on the board of the Alabama Hospital Association, serves as the secretary-treasurer of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and is a former member of the United Way board of directors.

Samz graduated from the University of North Carolina and earned his MBA from Wake Forest University.

photo of Ryan Brukardt

Mr. Ryan A. Brukardt

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Ryan Brukardt is a nine-time camp Space Camp® graduate and both of his teenage girls have attended Space Camp®. He has been on the board since November 2017.

Ryan leads much of McKinsey’s global work in the Aerospace, Defense, and Space industry. With more than 20 years of military and consulting experience, he specializes in corporate strategy, managing major business and operational transformations, working-capital improvements, building clients’ capabilities, and M&A advisory.

Before joining McKinsey, Ryan was a Partner at Booz & Company. Prior to starting his consulting career, he was a space- and missile-operations officer in the U.S. Air Force. He retired in 2019 from his last assignment as a Reservist advising senior leaders on nuclear-policy matters at U.S. Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon.