Jack Czerwinksi
Founder and president of Reston Strategy Group “RSG,” a successful government affairs and strategic business consulting firm located in Northern Virginia. Czerwinski has extensive experience with the Congressional appropriations process and focuses on the aerospace, defense, and technology sectors. Before moving to the private sector, Czerwinski served as Appropriations Legislative Assistant to Virginia Congressman Frank R. Wolf (VA-10), who served as Chairman of the House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee with oversight and funding jurisdiction over NASA, DOJ, the FBI and other federal agencies.
Rich Choppa
President of DellaCioppa Inc., an Aerospace and Defense Consulting firm, providing expertise in leadership, program management and operations, business development and sales, talent management, strategic and organizational planning. Choppa retired after 17 years as an executive at Boeing, most recently as Program Director for Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Sustainment Programs and former Senior Director of Global Sales and Marketing for the company’s Missile & Weapons Systems division. He served 21 years in the U.S. Army, starting as a private and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served as a forward observer, fire support officer and commander in Ranger and Airborne units with multiple worldwide deployments.
Anthony "Tony" Antonelli
Astronaut Tony Antonelli (Captain, US Navy, Ret.) is a retired Astronaut, Naval Aviator and Test Pilot. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1989 and a Master of Science in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2002.
Mr. Antonelli served as a fleet Naval Aviator and Landing Signal Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz with the Blue Diamonds, Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-146, flying F/A-18C Hornets in support of Operation Southern Watch. He has accumulated over 4,700 flight hours in over 40 different kinds of aircraft and has completed 273 carrier arrested landings. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School (Navy Exchange Pilot).
Mr. Antonelli joined NASA in 2000 as a pilot astronaut candidate. A veteran of two space flights, Antonelli logged 24 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes and 35 seconds in space. Antonelli served in various technical assignments in support of the Astronaut Office; including leadership roles for the Space Launch System, Commercial Crew, Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM), and Space Shuttle Propulsion.
On March 15, 2009, Antonelli launched on STS-119 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery as the pilot. The crew delivered and assembled the sixth Starboard Integrated Truss Segment (S6) and the fourth set of solar arrays and batteries for the International Space Station.
On May 14, 2010, Antonelli launched on STS-132 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis as the pilot. The mission delivered an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian built Mini Research Module (MRM-1) to the Station.
Antonelli retired from NASA in July 2015 and worked for six years at Lockheed Martin in various Executive roles including; Chief Technologist for Civil Space, Director of Advanced Programs for Commercial/Civil Space and Artemis II Mission Director for the Orion Program Office.
Dr. Neil Thurgood
Dr. Neil Thurgood is recognized as a global leader for developing business strategies, training and personnel development, leadership development and strategy execution to achieve performance objectives. A successful Senior leader in solving critical problems in the defense and acquisition segments, including the integration of related activities and programs across the United States and international business segments to achieve desired outcomes.
Neil served over 37 years in the Army retiring as a Lieutenant General, culminating as the Director to Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technology Office (RCCTO), a $4B+ series of programs designed to accelerate advance technologies into the Department of Defense using innovative processes, unique organizations, legislative strategies and focused authorities. These efforts included Hypersonics, High Energy Lasers, missile programs, aviation programs and hybrid technologies on rapid procurement pathways, including efforts with foreign Allied and Partner Nations. As result he reduced acquisition cycles times bringing increased output to the Army and Joint Force.
Neil has led organizations at all levels of increasing responsibilities and across numerous domains supporting customer desired outcomes. Neil was responsible for strategy development, budget forecast and execution, international relationships, foreign military sales, as well as supporting Direct Commercial strategies and developing positive cash flow for the Army and Depart of Department.
Neil holds a undergraduate degree from the University of Utah, a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the Air War College, a Master of Systems Management from the Naval Post Graduate School and a Doctorate of Business from University of Sarasota. Neil has also completed additional training with completed executive course work at the Harvard Business School Program of Advanced Management, The Wharton Business School for Leadership, Tuck Business School at Dartmouth, and Georgetown University Institute for Government Affairs.
John Hammond
John Hammond is Chief Business Development Officer for Karman Space & Defense. Mr. Hammond’s career encompasses over 35 years of aerospace manufacturing experience, grounded by a solid engineering background. He is responsible for leading strategic business activities, including working on prime customer supply chain issues and providing creative solutions on mission-critical programs. He has extensive experience as a strong advocate on key programs in Washington DC, as well as, with local representatives and national media. Additionally, recent experience includes the beginning stages of additive manufacturing and solid rocket motor manufacturing capabilities.
Prior to Karman Space & Defense’s acquisition of AMRO in 2020, Mr. Hamond previously served as AMRO’s President for five years. Additionally, he held a leadership role as Vice President of Marketing & Sales for 32 years.
Mr. Hammond obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California State University of Fullerton in 1984.
Mike Willis
Mike Willis is the Chief Financial Officer of Karman Space & Defense. Mr. Willis holds 15+ years of progressive experience in finance and operations management. He is responsible for overseeing the organization’s financials activities, which includes maintaining a strong control environment and the development of streamlined financial reporting and forecasts to support future growth.
Mr. Willis possesses domestic and international finance experience in Aerospace, Automotive and Energy segments. Prior to joining Karman, Mr. Willis was most recently with Precision Castparts Corp as the Director of Finance within the Forgings Division, responsible for 14 businesses across five countries.
Mr. Willis is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and obtained his Masters of Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University. Additionally, he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Finance from the University of Oregon.
Tina Gurrola
Tina Gurrola is the Vice President of Human Resources for Karman Space & Defense. Ms. Gurrola holds 25+ years of extensive Human Resources and Talent Acquisition experience. She is responsible for areas of HR, Recruitment, People Management, Compensation, Training & Development, Strategic Planning, and Coaching and Discipline.
Ms. Gurrola has worked in a variety of industries which include, Entertainment, Construction, Education, and Aerospace. She previously served as the National Director of Human Resources & Talent Acquisition for Residential Design Services from August 2016 to August 2021. Before joining RDS, she managed the HR and Recruitment Team at B&H Education, as the National Director of HR and Talent Acquisition. Ms. Gurrola began her career as an entry level Recruiter for Staples Office Supply in 2001, where she advanced quickly to Senior Recruiter for the Western United States.
Ms. Gurrola obtained her bachelor’s degree in English from California State University of Long Beach in 1995 and is currently finishing her certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
Aaron Freiheit
Aaron Freiheit is Vice President of Information Technology for Karman Space & Defense (Karman). In this role, Mr. Freiheit leads the Information Technology teams across Karman’s divisions, to ensure that company and customer data is protected, and that Karman employees have the technology tools and services to serve Karman’s customers. Mr. Freiheit has over 10 years of experience in his current responsibilities and 20 years of experience with Systima, a division of Karman Space & Defense.
Prior to Karman Space & Defense’s acquisition of Systima in 2021, Mr. Freiheit served a diverse range of engineering and operational leadership roles including Senior Mechanical Engineer, Engineering Program Manager, Director of Operations, and Vice President of Systems and Operations.
Mr. Freiheit obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington in 1997. Additionally, he received a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Washington in 2006.
Stephanie Sawhill
Stephanie Sawhill is the Chief Business Development Officer at Karman Space & Defense. Ms. Sawhill has over 18 years of aerospace industry experience. She is responsible for business development and product growth strategies. Ms. Sawhill has extensive expertise in propulsion and insensitive munition technologies, advanced materials and development of energetic devices. She currently holds positions on the AIAA Propulsion & Energy and Energetic Components and Systems Technical Committees.
Previously, Ms. Sawhill held various leading positions including, Engineering IPT Lead, Program Manager and Sr. Research Chemist and leads Research and Development. In addition, Ms. Sawhill is the co-author of three patents, as well as papers in AIAA, IEEE, Ceramics International and other publications.
Ms. Sawhill is a graduate from Western Washington University and obtained a Master of Science degree in Chemistry in 2003 and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Physics in 2001.