Career Quest

Exploring Your Future!

The following is a list of the speakers from past Career Quest programs.

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009 - Engineering

• James D. "Jim" Cambron is presently the Chief Scientist and Manager of the Tech & Acquisition Support Operations Division for Sparta, Inc. Cambron is a graduate of Vigor High School in Prichard, AL. He obtained a BS in Geology at the University of South Alabama, an MBA from Western Kentucky University, an ME in Industrial Engineering from the University of Virginia, and an MS in Material Acquisition Management from Florida Institute of Technology. He is a retired Colonel for the U.S. Army. His retirement came after 31 years of service, 27 of which were active duty. His work history includes serving as Product Director, Tactical Engagement Systems, and Project Manager for Training Devices in Orlando, Fla.; Project Manager for Small Arms and Ammunition, Armaments Research and Development at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey; Project Manager, Ballistic Missile Targets for Missile Defense Agency and he presently serves as the Acquisition and Strategic Planning Advisor, Project Manager for Precision Fires, Rockets and Missiles at Redstone Arsenal.
• Brenda Armstrong is employed as a Strategy & Technology Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. She entered the Air Force in 1988, after earning a commission through the Air Force ROTC at Auburn University. Armstrong graduated from Auburn with a BS in Mathematics, and later earned a Master's degree in Space Systems Management and Military Science. Having served 20 years in the Air Force, Armstrong is a career space professional. She has experience in rocket launch, satellite operations - including managing the satellite bus and payload modules; and in developing space doctrine, strategy and vision for the Air Force. In her current position, Armstrong's focus is on Army Space business opportunities.
• George H. Prueger is the Chief Engineer for Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's Alabama Operations. Prueger obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering at Tulane University in 1986, and then completed a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was responsible for the hydrodynamic design of flow elements for the liquid hydrogen turbo pump on the Delta IV Rocket. As manager of the Rotating Machinery Analysis department, Prueger led a team that was responsible for reducing analysis cycle times and increasing analysis content, which introduced advanced analysis capability much earlier into the design process. He and team members have a patent on the design of low-cost, high-performance turbo machinery inducers. In 2004, he led the team that studied anomalies with the Space Shuttle Main Engine and helped return the shuttles to flight.
• Dr. William "Bill" A. Seidler is a Senior Technical Fellow of The Boeing Company with over 35 years of experience in nuclear weapons effects and homeland security. Bill received his Bachelor of Science in Physics, summa cum laude, from the Ohio University in 1967, his Master of Science and Doctorate in Nuclear Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1969 and 1972. He is an IEEE Fellow "for contribution to research in electromagnetic pulse effects" and has over 47 papers in referred journals and 72 reports to his credit. Dr. Seidler is the Survivability Advisor for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) and one of the country's leading experts in nuclear weapons effects, mitigation, test and evaluation. Dr. Seidler recently served as the Chief Scientist for the Secure Borders Initiative Network (SBInet) and developed the strategy for securing the borders of our country using reliable capabilities and advanced sensors. He is developing strategies and technical approaches for securing borders and maritime awareness. He serves as a senior advisor to the Department of Energy Stockpile Stewardship Radiation Effects Program at Sandia National Laboratories. Dr. Seidler has chaired numerous national and international technical conferences and committees and received numerous awards for technical achievement. He is a member of the American Physical Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and several honor fraternities including Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Pi Sigma, and the Society of Sigma Chi. Seidler received best paper awards at the 1979 and 1982 IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conferences (NSREC) and at the 1990 and 1999 Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology (HEART) Conferences.

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 - Engineering

• Dr. Scott Miller is a Sr. Scientist with Qualis Corporation. He holds a BA in Chemistry from Mississippi College, and a Ph.D in Physical Chemistry from Louisiana State University. Dr. Miller has worked in several areas of the field, including environmental and analytical chemistry. Most recently, he has performed research in the chemistry of extreme environments - including explosives and the space environment.
• Bill Curtis is a senior product engineer with DRS Test & Energy Management's Research & Development Group. Curtis is a graduate of Drake Technical College's Applied Technology in Industrial Electronics program. He went on to earn his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering Technology at Alabama A&M while he worked a full-time job. Curtis has worked on battery monitoring systems for Navy submarines, commander and driver display systems for Army and Marine Corp tanks, and he currently leads engineering efforts on DRS' company-funded research and development activities in power and embedded diagnostic arenas of military products.
• Gena Gibbs Dalton is a graduate of East Limestone High School. She graduated from the University of Alabama-Huntsville with a BS in Biology and is currently studying for her master's degree in Business Administration. She is presently employed by the Qualis Corporation as a chemist, and works with NASA's Environmental Control and Life Support Team at Marshall Space Flight Center. Dalton performs routine chemical analysis on water samples for the Regenerative Water Recovery System currently onboard the International Space Station. This system reclaims and purifies urine and hygiene wastewaters for astronauts to consume. Dalton also provides support testing and build-up of research and developmental hardware.
• Rob Black is currently doing reverse engineering as a subcontractor for NASA. Black left the family farm in Honea Path, S.C., and obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University. Upon graduation from Clemson, Black began work as a design engineer for Hartness International, which manufactures robotic packaging equipment. It was at Hartness where he was exposed to 3D CAD modeling. The 3D CAD modeling led Black to a position with Parametric Technologies Corporation (PCT), where as an applications engineer he was exposed to diverse design/manufacturing environments. After working 9 years with Geomagic, which made the software that processes 3D scanned data into a model that can be manufactured, Black accepted an opportunity to work with NASA on the upcoming Constellation program. Black is currently working with Pro/Engineer, a CAD system manufactured by PCT, using 3D scanned images to help manufacture the products necessary to implement NASA's space missions.

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009 - Engineering

• Dr. Georgia Richardson is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. She has a multi-disciplinary background with degrees in physics from the College of Charleston, and a Master's Degree and Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from UAHuntsville. Dr. Richardson was a graduate student with NASA/MSFC and then a post-doctorate with the National Research Council prior to her position with UAHuntsville, which began in 2004. Her research areas include computational fluid, plasma, and thermodynamics in addition to orbital mechanics. She is active with several student research projects that involve undergraduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines. These activities include student-designed and built payloads that are flown in space via high-altitude balloons. Dr. Richardson is involved in NASA and NSF funded projects and works closely with the Alabama Space Grant Consortium. She is also a member of the Sci-Quest Board of Directors.
• Leslie Milne is a Test & Evaluation Engineer with The Boeing Company. Milne is a native of the Detroit, Mich. area and a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University of Daytona Beach, Fla. She has a BS in Aerospace Engineering -Astronautics, with a minor in mathematics. At age 24, she has been with The Boeing Company for approximately 1 year. She serves as a test engineer on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program.
• Terry Abel is a technical liaison to the Marshall Space Flight Center supporting Lockheed Martin’s activities at NASA in preparation for the Ares I-X flight test in July 2009, as well as other ongoing Ares related activities. Abel has worked at MSFC for the past 18 years, supporting various rocket system and propulsion test programs. He was part of a large team that successfully test fired the RD-180 engine and Atlas III integrated propulsion system, enabling the engine’s addition on the Atlas family of rockets. Abel also successfully led a team that designed and drop-tested a full-scale proto-type capsule that contributed to Lockheed Martin’s win of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) program. Prior to working in Huntsville, Abel was a weapons integration and test engineer on the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas. He earned an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1983, and is regularly called upon to speak to local groups to share his perspective on rocket science and engineering.
• Katie Fanning is an Operations Controller working in the NASA Payload Operations Integration Center at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Fanning is a native of Lynchburg, TN and graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a degree in Mathematics in 2004. She recently completed her Master in Operations Research at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Fanning began working at SAIC after college in safety and reliability on programs such as the Exploration Systems Architecture Study, the program in which NASA chose Ares as the new launch vehicle. In 2006, she joined NASA and began work in the Mission Operations Lab as a Shuttle Operations Coordinator managing development and execution of NASA Shuttle payload operations. As an Operations Controller, Fanning is now involved in the planning and execution of all NASA International Space Station payload operations.
• John Smith is a Senior Program Analyst at SPARTA. As such, he is an engineer directly supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in areas of advanced technology. Smith obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from UAHuntsville, and a master's degree in Applied Optics from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN. Smith is currently a PhD Candidate in Optical Science and Engineering at UAHuntsville. He has worked in the optics industry for 10 years, both in the defense and commercial sectors. Smith began his career as a government employee with the Department of Defense's Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, IN. Prior to joining SPARTA, he was an optical designer for a small business, MEMS Optical, located here in Huntsville. MEMS primarily focused on manufacturing micro-optics for commercial applications. He has worked on many interesting optical technologies such as night vision, thermal imaging, laser systems, large telescopes, and diffractive optics.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - Health Care

• Beverly Burke graduated from the University of South Alabama in Mobile with a BS in Biology; Secondary Education. She worked in Human Resources for over 14 years, and has been the Professional/Administrative Recruiter at Huntsville Hospital for 4 years now. Burke primarily recruits for are Pharmacy, IT, Business, Accounting, Patient Accounting, and Registration.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - Biotechnology

• Dr. Neil E. Lamb is the Director of Educational Outreach for the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, a non-for-profit research institute in Huntsville. The grandson of a scientist, Neil developed a love for science at an early age, thanks in part to numerous science-related birthday and Christmas gifts and the encouragement of several excellent teachers. Dr. Lamb received his BS degree in Molecular Biology from Auburn University, and his Ph.D. in Human Genetics from Emory University.
  In 1999, Dr. Lamb became a faculty member of the Department of Human Genetics at Emory. He served as Director of Education, overseeing genetic educational opportunities with the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Theology, as well as directing outreach efforts for K-12 programs and the public.
  In August 2006, Dr. Lamb accepted the position of Educational Outreach Director for HudsonAlpha, serving not only as a "cheerleader for genetic education" but also developing and implementing a comprehensive outreach program aimed at educating school-age children, educators and the public.
  He is working closely with the State of Alabama Department of Education and has crafted a genetics and biotechnology model that is being used in 7th grade classrooms across the state. He is currently developing high school hands-on activities and internships that engage high school, undergrad and graduate students. At the same time, he is working to create summer biotechnology student camps and "hands-on" biotechnology sessions for teachers.
  Neil is married to Cynthia, a native of Huntsville. They have three children (Neil's "most fulfilling genetic achievement"), Preston, a fifth-grader, Olivia, a third-grader, and four year old Emma Grace.
• Dr. Emily K. Pauli is a native of Huntsville and a graduate of Lee High School. She obtained her bachelors degree from Auburn University, majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in math. She worked 7 years in biotechnology at privately held as well as publicly traded biotech firms in research and development, marketing, sales, and business development. Dr. Pauli returned to Auburn and obtained her doctor of pharmacy, concentrating her elective coursework in pharmacogenomic and pharmacokinetic research.
  Dr. Pauli joined HudsonAlpha in March of 2006. She is a senior scientist in Dr. Richard Myers' Lab and studies genetic patterns and expression levels in organic brain diseases and cancer.