Space Visions Symposium # 3

About Dr. Susan Jewell, MD

She is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of MMAARS / MMAARS, UK (Mars Moon Astronautics Academy & Research Sciences), Co-founder and Chief Innovation & Medical Officer of VASTX (Virtual Astronaut Simulator for Therapeutics and eXploration), Co-founder of AvatarMEDIC, and Research Director of MMAARS-NAUTILUS OPS, the first underwater Analog Aquanaut Training Program.

Dr. Jewell’s work bridges exponential technologies, AI, behavioural and human factors, space medicine, and operational research. Her research focuses on developing AI-enabled Precision Space Medicine platforms that integrate digital twins, wearable physiological monitoring, biospecimen analytics, and computational modeling to optimize human health and performance in isolated, confined, and extreme operational environments. She leads several international translational research programs, including VASTX™, an AI-enabled physiologically based pharmacokinetic digital twin platform for personalized medication management in space; MAGSBHO™, an AI-assisted behavioral health and operational decision-support system for hybrid human–AI teams; and the Analog Astronaut OMICS Library Project (AAOLP), a longitudinal biobank supporting precision medicine research across analog missions.

Her multidisciplinary research spans desert, underwater, high-altitude, and other analog environments designed to advance technologies for future commercial and governmental human spaceflight. Her work has been presented at leading international aerospace conferences and is focused on translating terrestrial healthcare innovations into operational capabilities for lunar, Martian, and deep-space exploration.

Dr. Jewell is passionate about expanding access to space research through education, international collaboration, and emerging technologies that improve human health on Earth while enabling humanity’s future beyond it. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sipjewell

About Vince Socci

His engineering career spans more than 35 years developing hardware, software, and systems in various fault-tolerant embedded controls applications. He led teams in senior roles at Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Parker Hannifin, National Instruments, and other organizations. He developed products for autonomous systems, UAVs, space vehicle propulsion and communications, fuel control systems, power and energy systems, navigation systems, avionics, medical and therapeutic devices, flight control systems, diagnostic/prognostic systems, radar, electrical system, health and fault managers, X-ray scanners, engine and motor controls, automotive and aerospace control systems, and military ground electric vehicles. He holds BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering, an MBA in technology management specializing in IP management, an MA in leadership and counseling and is currently a PhD candidate. He is a certified Project Management Professional and serves on PMI and SAE standards and technical committees.

Socci brought leadership experience to IEEE, MGA, EAC, and IEEE-USA boards of directors and various committees. He delivered strategic planning for Regions 1 and 3. He is founding chair of two AESS chapters. Socci has been an active member of IEEE AESS for over 25 years. He currently serves AESS as chapter chair and on the Board of Governors as Vice President of Membership. He led AESS conferences (space defense), standards (UAV), technical panels (UAV), and workshops (drone pilot licensing). He is an AESS DL and has written AESS-related papers and tutorials.

He provided membership value to the IEEE members by creating technical activities, tutorial programs, organizational units, PACE and professional skills programs, and networking programs as well as joint programs with other professional organizations.

He revitalized IEEE organization units by focusing on two objectives: increase volunteer involvement and increase technical and educational activities.
As an industry leader, he developed and led organizations at all levels from startup to Fortune-50 companies. He built teams and created succession plans. He dealt with resource issues and mitigated major personnel issues. He created companies, divisions and teams and mentored employees through their careers from entry level to senior management.

He has the integrity to serve in critical roles that demand unbiased and selfless perspectives. He fought for the right decisions, even if those decisions were unpopular. As stewards of IEEE, we should represent the full body of IEEE in our efforts, not just those where we have a personal interest. By bringing his IEEE organizational leadership experience and management expertise to the IEEE AESS BoG, Socci will help IEEE grow and be more effective across our membership and our constituents. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vsocci/

About Kari Curtin

Kari Curtin is a senior Aerospace Engineering student at Florida Institute of Technology with a passion for the space and defense industry. She serves as President of the Women in Aerospace Engineering and Run Clubs and spent the summer as an Integration and Test Intern at L3Harris Technologies’ Malabar facility, where she gained hands-on experience supporting engineering and manufacturing operations. After graduating, Kari plans to pursue a master’s degree in Systems Engineering while continuing a career in the aerospace and defense industry.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kari-curtin/

About Robert Long

He is a proven leader with more than 25 years of experience overseeing large organizations across the aerospace spectrum from launch operations and mobility to logistics and spaceport operations. Long has spent his career improving and enhancing the transportation to, from, and in space, managing complex aerospace programs, leveraging innovative technologies to improve both government and private sector outcomes, and developing new business models and operating concepts to create value for the commercial aerospace industry.

Long has nearly two decades of experience crafting defense industrial, aerospace,  and fiscal policy and strategies, which included key roles advising the Defense Department’s Chief Technology Officer and senior Defense Department space leaders. He has a long track record of building partnerships across and within government & industry toward mutually beneficial outcomes.

Long most recently served as the Commander for Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range, Vandenberg Space Force Base. In this role he managed $8.4 billion in assets, a $280 million annual budget, installations spanning more than 118,000 acres, and oversaw 11,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel.

Long received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and has master’s degree from the College of Naval Command and Staff, the School for Advanced Air and Space Studies and the Eisenhower School. He retired as a colonel from the United States Space Force in July 2023.

About Matthew Smith

He holds a Master of Science in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech.

His work centers on the design, analysis, and integration of complex space systems, including space-based sensing architectures, mission analysis, and aerospace simulation. Throughout his academic and professional career, Matthew has contributed to NASA-related projects, led multidisciplinary engineering teams, and received first-place honors in the AIAA Space System Design Competition.

His interests include spacecraft design, space domain awareness, lunar exploration, and the development of innovative technologies that advance future space missions.