New York Consortium for Space Technology

Mason Peck is on the Engineering faculty at Cornell University, where his research and teaching focus on Aerospace Engineering and Systems Engineering. From late 2011 through 2013, Dr. Peck was on leave serving as NASA’s Chief Technologist, one of the seven highest-ranking officials at the agency. He also has worked as a consultant in advanced technology and business development for spacecraft contractors including Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin.

In addition to his ongoing consulting work, Dr. Peck has over 10 years’ experience in the aerospace industry, primarily at Boeing Satellite Systems (the former Hughes Space and Communications), where his responsibilities included commercial and government spacecraft systems engineering as well as mission operations for several spacecraft. At Honeywell, he served as Principal Fellow, the most senior engineering position in the company, focusing on technology strategy, new business, and special programs. Dr. Peck has 19 patents in space technology that stem from this work.

At Cornell, Dr. Peck’s areas of academic expertise include next-generation space system architectures, mission design, and GNC. Recognized for his teaching and mentorship at Cornell, he created and directed the Space Systems Design Studio, in which many students and staff collaborate on several Air Force and NASA-funded flight programs. Dr. Peck’s work with small spacecraft (three launched since 2012) has included collaborations at JPL, Draper Lab, and Lockheed, as well as academic institutions. His lab’s KickSat, launched in April 2014, is the world’s first crowdfunded spacecraft. Dr. Peck’s space technology blog at Spacecraft Lab and recent television and radio interviews have given him the opportunity to share his enthusiasm for exploration with the public.

Greg Ray has a 30-year career spanning military service, entrepreneurship, and science and technology, bringing a unique perspective across the technical, operational, and strategic space arenas.

Dr. Ray’s experience includes Senior Director of Partnership Development at Cornell University, 22 years of service as a Naval Officer, Program Director in the DoD Space Test Program, and as senior leader at several nonprofits. He serves as part of the founding team and Director of the Board for the New York Consortium for Space Technology. Dr. Ray was a startup entrepreneur of an agriculture technology company that contributed to livelihood projects in refugee communities abroad.

Dr. Ray holds B.S. degrees in Biomedical Science and Entomology from Texas A&M University and an M.S. in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and he has completed advanced training in business, partnership development, and project management at Cornell and the Wharton School.

Based in Rochester, NY, Dr. Ray and his wife, Kari, enjoy traveling, cooking, and precious moments with their three grown daughters.

Niki Werkheiser serves as the Director for Technology Maturation in the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters, where she leads the advancement of mid-TRL technologies for future space missions. Prior to her current role, Ms. Werkheiser led the Agency’s In-Space Manufacturing efforts, including the development of novel, on-demand manufacturing, repair, and recycling capabilities which have been demonstrated on the International Space Station (ISS) and directly feed forward to NASA’s Exploration missions. Ms. Werkheiser has over 25 years of experience developing and flying new technologies in space and a proven approach for managing complex projects and programs. She is particularly passionate about creating novel competitive programs and partnerships across the government, industry, and academia. Ms. Werkheiser holds a Master of Science Degree from the University of Alabama at Huntsville with an emphasis in Gravitational and Space Biology, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Language and Studies.

John Neal serves as the Executive Director for Space Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where he leads the Chamber’s Space Industry Council.

Previously, John spent nearly 10 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a Special Agent where he conducted national security and criminal investigations while assigned to the Buffalo and Washington Field Offices.  John served on active duty in the Pacific and Middle East as an airborne reconnaissance direct support officer with the U.S. Navy, and worked in legislative affairs for both the FBI and the Navy.

Following the FBI, John joined the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security where he served as a Senior Professional Staff member on the Counterterrorism and Intelligence subcommittee, and the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies subcommittee advising the Chairman and Members on cyber, national security, and financial services matters. 

Outside of government, John has held business development and sales leadership roles with leading technology companies including PlanetLabs and NXP Semiconductors.  John received his BA in Government from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.