NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

In an era of unprecedented private sector progress toward commercial human space flight, Smith worked hard to foster an environment where safety always comes first and innovation can flourish. During her career at the FAA and DOT, Smith was instrumental in the growth and change that the U.S. commercial launch industry has experienced, facilitating both technological and infrastructure developments and initiating and fostering greater cooperation and partnerships between aviation and space functions in the agency. During her service at the FAA, key milestones were achieved that include the Mojave Air and Spaceport becoming the first inland Commercial Spaceport licensed by the agency, and the launch of the X-Prize winning, historic SpaceShip One, a launch licensed by the FAA. Smith also oversaw the development of rules for human space flight mandated by congressional passage of the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004.

Under Smith's leadership at the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, the FAA became the recognized global leader in private human space flight. Smith initiated and helped forge partnerships with the Air Force on common launch safety standards, and kept safety, regulatory matters and insurance issues constantly in the public forum. She worked closely with FAA lines of business to draw on aviation expertise where appropriate to space issues and to address the impact of space flight on the National Airspace System. Smith was named by Space News as one of the top ten people in the U.S. space sector.

Smith also held positions in the private sector at the National Association of Broadcasters, Westinghouse Broadcasting Corporation, and Sheridan Radio Network; and in government at the Department of Defense and the Federal Communications Commission; and the United States Congress with the Senate Commerce Committee. Smith is currently an aerospace consultant with Patti Grace Smith Consulting, LLC, working with Virgin Galactic (The Virgin Group), CSSI, Inc., the Tauri Group, United Launch Alliance (ULA), NDTI, and Ball Aerospace. She is on the board of the Space Foundation where she serves as a member of the nominating committee; American Astronautical Society (Executive Committee); the X Prize Advisory Committee Board; and the Conrad Foundation. She was recently appointed Chair of the Commercial Space Committee of the NASA Advisory Committee by NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden.

Smith is an expert in government licensing and regulatory processes; intergovernmental coordination and strategies; and assisting new space companies in navigating the government process to accomplish their strategic business plans and goals. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her accomplishments in communications and commercial space transportation. Smith is a regular speaker at space industry events.

Col. Boyle has: served as a private consultant to U.S. DOD, U.S. Air Force (USAF) and commercial customers; provided support to the Systems Engineering & Integration (SE&I) contract to the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Program Office; led several studies to assess the causes of cost growth on Major Acquisition Programs for Department of Defense Comptroller (OSDC); led development of a case study on the systems engineering processes used for the International Space Station (ISS); led several studies for USAF Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) on organization efficiencies, decision processes and systems engineering; developed safety process and procedures as the Director of Rocket Operations; and executed two different competitions for the X Prize Lunar Lander Challenge.

Col Boyle holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Norwich University, an MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, is a graduate of the Program Manager’s Course at Defense Acquisition University and also the USAF War College Air University.

During his Air Force career he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal - Six Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal - Two Oak Leaf Clusters.

Before founding Near Earth, Mr. Davidson was a Managing Director in the Telecom Group at Credit Suisse First Boston. Mr. Davidson’s 26-year investment banking career began in 1987 at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette where he was a co-founder and Managing Director of the firm’s Space Finance Group, Wall Street’s first dedicated coverage group for the commercial satellite industry. While a member of the Space Finance Group, Mr. Davidson was an integral participant in public and private debt and equity financings totaling over $15 billion.

Mr. Davidson is frequently asked to speak at satellite and space industry conferences on financial and investment matters. He also currently serves on the Board of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES).

Mr. Davidson received his Science Masters in Management (MBA) in 1987 from MIT’s Sloan School where he was awarded the Henry B. duPont III Scholarship for academic excellence. Before entering Sloan, Mr. Davidson worked as a Senior Research Engineer at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (Sunnyvale, CA) from 1979 to 1985 where he held a top secret clearance. Mr Davidson received a BS in Physics from MIT in 1979.

Dr. Harris served as Vice President and Chief Scientist of SPACEHAB, Inc., an innovative space commercialization company where he directed the company's space science business. There he was involved in business development and marketing of the company's space-based products and services. Dr. Harris' focus was the enhancement of medical devices for use in remote environments. Later, he served as Vice President of Business Development for Space Media, Inc., an informatics company, establishing an e-commerce initiative.

Currently, he is on the board for the Houston Angel Network, Medical Informatics, Technology and Applications Center, Houston Technology Center, BioHouston, the National Math and Science Initiative and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Board of Scientific Counselors. In addition, he was a senior consultant for the NASA Aerospace Safety Panel, a member of the NASA Biological and Physical Sciences Committee, the Council for the NIH National Institute for Deafness and Communications Disorders and the committee for the National Academies Institute of Medicine.

He holds several faculty appointments including Associate Professor in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch and Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Additionally, he is the author and co-author of numerous scientific publications. Dr. Harris is also the founder and president of the Harris Foundation, which supports math and science education and crime prevention programs for America's youth.

Dr. Harris earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Houston, a Master of Medical Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Houston and a Doctorate of Medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a National Research Council Fellowship in Endocrinology at the NASA Ames Research Center and trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base. He is also a licensed private pilot and certified scuba diver.

He is a member of the Board of Directors for RMD Networks, U.S. Physical Therapy (Nasdaq: USPH), Sterling Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBIB), The Endowment Fund, Salient Absolute Return Fund, MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund, Monebo Technologies and the Space Agency.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including honorary doctorates from Stony Brook University (SUNY), Morehouse School of Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and University of Hartford, NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Award of Merit, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and was the recipient of the 2000 Horatio Alger Award.

Before his corporate career, Lon was a partner in the law firm of Gurman, Kurtis, Blask & Freedman, where he specialized in space, satellite, media, and wireless matters. Lon holds three communication satellite patents. Lon is a member of the DoD Defense Business Board and the NASA Commercial Space Advisory Subcommittee. Lon is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Space Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors of the Planetary Society and the Board of Governors of the National Space Society. He was a founding board member of the Satellite Industry Association and was its co-chairperson from 1996-98. Lon was inducted into the Space Foundation Technology Hall of Fame in 2002.

Mr. Trafton is a former Associate Administrator for Space Flight at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for planning, budgeting and execution of the Space Shuttle Program, the International Space Station Program, the Expendable Launch Vehicles Program, and the Deep Space Network. He was also responsible for four NASA centers: Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. In 1997 Mr. Trafton was selected for Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. He was also awarded two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals. Prior to joining NASA, Mr. Trafton was President of Micro Research Industries, a software development company.

Mr. Trafton retired from the United States Navy as a Captain after 26 years of service. He is a decorated combat veteran, having flown 85 combat missions from the aircraft carrier Shangri-la in the Vietnam War. He also served as Commanding Officer of the fast combat support ship Seattle in Desert Storm. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his duty in Desert Storm. He held a number of high level positions in the areas of operations, acquisition of weapons systems, and international affairs, including Squadron Commanding Officer, and advisor to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has over 3000 flight hours and 700 carrier landings.

A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, he received a Master’s Degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is also a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.