About
About Our Team
At its core, Sovaris Aerospace is focused on translating knowledge into practical applications in the shortest time possible.
In its performance applications, Sovaris is focused on facilitating human performance in extreme operating environments on Earth and in space by using methods weighted in complex molecular analytics, coupled with physiologic and behavioral assessment. Our core team at Sovaris has spent the past three decades working with complexity in fields such as precision medicine, multiomics (genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, exposome, microbiome, etc.), nutrition & metabolism, biodigital twins, neuroscience, cognitive health, and human performance. These are used to guide the development of tailored countermeasures (solutions) and rapid prototyping for individuals, units, crews, and teams .
In biotechnology applications, Sovaris brings the ability to analyze molecular patterns in complex data sets (and biological systems), which is coupled with the ability to describe mechanism of action and assign biological meaning. This can lead to development of novel solutions across biotechnology, medicine, and human performance domains. This expertise crosses the boundaries from bench top discovery, to organic synthesis, to analytical chemistry, to experimental design, to pre-clinical research, to toxicology, to regulatory, to clinical research, and clinical decision support.
Our education and training efforts are aimed at providing knowledge and insight derived from practical experience to individuals, teams, crews, groups, and organizations.
Sovaris’ experience in molecular networks, systems biology, and human performance, along with its NASA collaborations, academic partnerships, and corporate partnerships, creates an ideal environment for innovation related to our objectives of countermeasure development in space biomedicine and translation of that know-how to Earth-bound medical applications.
In its performance applications, Sovaris is focused on facilitating human performance in extreme operating environments on Earth and in space by using methods weighted in complex molecular analytics, coupled with physiologic and behavioral assessment. Our core team at Sovaris has spent the past three decades working with complexity in fields such as precision medicine, multiomics (genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, exposome, microbiome, etc.), nutrition & metabolism, biodigital twins, neuroscience, cognitive health, and human performance. These are used to guide the development of tailored countermeasures (solutions) and rapid prototyping for individuals, units, crews, and teams .
In biotechnology applications, Sovaris brings the ability to analyze molecular patterns in complex data sets (and biological systems), which is coupled with the ability to describe mechanism of action and assign biological meaning. This can lead to development of novel solutions across biotechnology, medicine, and human performance domains. This expertise crosses the boundaries from bench top discovery, to organic synthesis, to analytical chemistry, to experimental design, to pre-clinical research, to toxicology, to regulatory, to clinical research, and clinical decision support.
Our education and training efforts are aimed at providing knowledge and insight derived from practical experience to individuals, teams, crews, groups, and organizations.
Sovaris’ experience in molecular networks, systems biology, and human performance, along with its NASA collaborations, academic partnerships, and corporate partnerships, creates an ideal environment for innovation related to our objectives of countermeasure development in space biomedicine and translation of that know-how to Earth-bound medical applications.
Who We Are
Meet our leadership team
Michael A. Schmidt, Ph.D.
CEO & Chief Scientific Officer
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Michael A. Schmidt, Ph.D. CEO & Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Michael A. Schmidt is considered among those leading the advancement of precision medicine in human spaceflight and translating those methods to high performance operations on Earth.
His work is focused on facilitating human performance in extreme operating environments by using methods weighted in complex molecular analytics, coupled with physiologic and behavioral assessment. These are used to guide the development of tailored countermeasures (solutions) for individuals and teams. This work also incorporates the tools of team cohesion.
Dr. Schmidt is the founder, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer of Sovaris Aerospace, based in Boulder, Colorado. His work covers a spectrum from NASA, the NFL, the NBA, US Olympic teams, SpaceX, Axiom Space, Corvette Racing, NASCAR, Special Forces, SWAT, the Mayo Clinic, and others. In his academic role, Dr. Schmidt is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
His mission is to help humans optimize performance in any operational environment whether it be spaceflight, military, athletic, corporate, or other. This applies to individuals, teams, and organizations.
Dr. Schmidt is currently the President of the Human Research Program for Civilian Spaceflight (HRP-C). He is a member of the Explore Mars program, establishing human mission parameters with NASA and others for the exploration of Mars. Dr. Schmidt is also a member of the NFL Players Association Scientific Advisory Board and he led the molecular profiling/countermeasures program for the Golden State Warriors when they set the NBA record for wins in a season (73-9).
As part of his work with the NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR), he is a member of the Human Analysis Working Group and the Multi-Omics/Systems Biology Analysis Working Group. The goal of the OSDR working groups is to enable reuse of multi-modal and multi-hierarchical fundamental space life science data to advance basic science, applied science, and operational outcomes for space exploration and knowledge discovery.
One of the unique features of his work is the focus to continually translate back and forth between discoveries gleaned from work with high performers on Earth (athletes, soldiers, etc.) and discoveries derived from human performance in spaceflight (astronauts). This allows for a refinement of precision medicine and training applications across any extreme or high performance environment.
Dr. Schmidt and his team at Sovaris Aerospace are currently building the Astronaut Digital Twin (ADT), which involves the integration of high dimensional data with machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, centered on the methods of Bayesian inference. A digital twin is a virtual model of a physical object (in this case an astronaut). It allows real-time interaction and communication between both the real twin and the digital twin to help with the modelling, monitoring, understanding, and optimization of the functions and behavior of the real twin, such as a human going into space. The ADT will also become translational to medicine on Earth, such as in the optimization of muscle performance in athletes (Athlete Digital Twin) or enhancement of cognitive performance.
Dr. Schmidt is the former President of the Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Branch of the Aerospace Medical Association and is currently a member of their Board of Governors. He is also President of the Space Precision Medicine Association and is a member of the Space Exploration and Integration Committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics.
Dr. Schmidt’s career includes 30 years of expertise in human metabolism, molecular networks, nutritional biochemistry, and clinical nutrition. His approach is strongly focused on laboratory analytics as a means to precisely describe metabolic networks and arrive at personalized interventions. This is all in the context of food and dietary applications that are tailored to the performance operating environment. As part of his work in functional genomics, Dr. Schmidt is a former member of the Curriculum Development Task Group for the Nutritional Genomics Certification program (in association with the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists), American College of Nutrition, American Nutrition Association. He is also a former member of the Scientific Advisory Council for this group. Over a 15 year period, Dr. Schmidt was a member of the Examination Writing and Review Committee for the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board, International & American Association of Clinical Nutritionists.
Dr. Schmidt is the recipient of the Research and Innovation Award from the Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Branch of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and he received the Marvingt Award from the Aerospace Medical Association for excellence in aerospace medicine. These awards were given for his work with the human genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and microbiome in spaceflight. This includes his work in translating these findings to precision medicine applications in space. Dr. Schmidt also recently received the President’s Medal for excellence in aerospace medicine leadership from the Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Branch of AsMA in 2024.
In his ongoing work with the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Schmidt has led and continues to lead a series of research investigations ranging from 1) ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro studying cardiovascular compensatory limits using echocardiography, 2) multiomics (genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, microbiome) in cancer, 3) systemic and cerebral perfusion in humans using NAD+ precursors, 4) stress and burnout countermeasures in high performance operations of medical personnel, 5) EEG monitoring and molecular countermeasures focused on protecting against brain injury/concussion in athletes engaged in contact sports, and others. Dr. Schmidt has also led performance studies of molecular countermeasures to optimize training for those preparing for US military special forces qualification, such as Navy SEAL (BUD/S), Army Rangers, Green Beret, and others. This has resulted in novel findings about motivation and viable countermeasures in the context of high training loads.
His work in traumatic brain injury (concussion) is focused on those who must operate in extreme environments or under extreme operating conditions. This covers a spectrum from military Special Operations Forces, to combat aviators, to professional athletes (NFL, NHL, UFC, etc.), to Olympic athletes (rugby, hockey, etc.), and others. Protecting and optimizing brain function in the radiation, microgravity, and isolation environment of prolonged space exploration is another of these domains. This work is focused on integrating complex molecular, physiological, and behavioral analytics, coupled with the development of both stratified and personalized countermeasures tailored to the individual and to the operating environment.
Dr. Schmidt is also the developer of Brain Fitness for Leaders. This program was developed to optimize the brain’s biology that underlies one’s ability to become leaders in their field (discipline, profession, sport) and/or to optimize brain function in those who seek to be better leaders of others. It is based on the premise that the brain’s biology shapes all the underlying drivers giving rise to the emotional and cognitive functions central to successful leadership.
Dr. Schmidt is a former advisor to the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, located at the Infectious Disease Research Complex at Colorado State University. This effort incorporated his work in complex molecular network analytics to develop countermeasures for improving human immune defenses, as a means of combating infectious disease in variable environments. Among these was the use of transcriptomics and proteomics to predict the onset of the dangerous condition of sepsis before other confirmatory laboratory and clinical signs emerge. He also led Sovaris Aerospace as a member of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for Commercial Spaceflight, in concert with its collaboration with the University of Colorado School of Aerospace Engineering.
Dr. Schmidt did his PhD research in Molecular Medicine and Biochemistry within the Life Sciences Division at NASA Ames Research Center under the Chief Medical Officer, Ralph Pelligra, MD. At NASA, he was involved in research on the NASA 20-G Long-Arm Human Centrifuge, conducting the longest continuous human hypergravity exposures in history. This also included work with the Human Information Processing Research Branch at NASA, under Mal Cohen, PhD. His subsequent gravitational work utilized the NASA 20G long radius (27.36 ft.) and short radius (8.36 ft.) centrifuge to quantify effects of different G levels, radii, and their resulting gravity gradients on body fluid distribution, cardiovascular regulatory responses, molecular network changes (e.g., metabolome), and the effect of lower limb exercise.
Dr. Schmidt also did a fellowship at NASA’s Human Systems Integration Division (Psychophysiology Research Laboratory), with an emphasis on physiologic monitoring and autogenic feedback-focused countermeasures aimed at raising human performance in extended microgravity, hypergravity, sleep deprivation, night vision operations, pararescue, high altitude flight, spaceflight, and other stressors encountered in extreme environments. This included extensive use of EEG, along with complex sensor arrays to get real time feedback on more than 20 distinct autonomic nervous system measures.
He received a second PhD in Neuroscience from Lancaster University, Department of Medical and Sports Science (UK), focused on methods to modulate neuroplastic molecular networks in humans (e.g., neurotrophins). This included some initial pilot work at the University of Cambridge (Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Addenbrookes Hospital) focused on the molecular mechanisms of traumatic brain injury. He did additional studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in data and models (artificial neural networks, etc.).
His forthcoming textbook, Building a Space Faring Civilization (Elsevier, Academic Press, January 2025), explores the biomedical challenges of what it means to truly build a civilization, also incorporating those values of a shared humanity and the striving to see the best in one another. It asks the question, “What kind of civilization will we take with us into space?” “Will we do it consciously?” “What are the biomedical, personal, and technological tools needed to accomplish this?” This book will be followed by his subsequent textbook entitled, The Human Research Program for Civilian Spaceflight (Elsevier, Academic Press, 2026), which is focused on the foundational operating principles of building a human research program for civilians traveling, living, and working in space. The following year, he and his team will release a textbook on artificial intelligence in clinical medicine.
Dr. Schmidt actively supports the Wounded War Heroes Foundation, where he has been involved in taking military vets and wounded warriors into the wilderness to be immersed in the wild and also experience the togetherness of the group. A second objective is to hunt, fish, and bring in additional food for their families. He also supports the SEAL Legacy Foundation, which provides college scholarships to the children of Navy SEALs who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Dr. Schmidt is experienced in open water/ocean kayaking, alpine mountaineering, high altitude research, wilderness medicine, expeditionary fitness/behavior, team building, and conflict resolution. He has also spent 30 years studying orcas, humpback whales, and dolphins in the wild, which includes documentary film work. He is the father of two sons who also caught the science bug. They too work in molecular medicine, systems engineering, and human performance. Dr. Schmidt resides in Boulder, Colorado.
His work is focused on facilitating human performance in extreme operating environments by using methods weighted in complex molecular analytics, coupled with physiologic and behavioral assessment. These are used to guide the development of tailored countermeasures (solutions) for individuals and teams. This work also incorporates the tools of team cohesion.
Dr. Schmidt is the founder, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer of Sovaris Aerospace, based in Boulder, Colorado. His work covers a spectrum from NASA, the NFL, the NBA, US Olympic teams, SpaceX, Axiom Space, Corvette Racing, NASCAR, Special Forces, SWAT, the Mayo Clinic, and others. In his academic role, Dr. Schmidt is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
His mission is to help humans optimize performance in any operational environment whether it be spaceflight, military, athletic, corporate, or other. This applies to individuals, teams, and organizations.
Dr. Schmidt is currently the President of the Human Research Program for Civilian Spaceflight (HRP-C). He is a member of the Explore Mars program, establishing human mission parameters with NASA and others for the exploration of Mars. Dr. Schmidt is also a member of the NFL Players Association Scientific Advisory Board and he led the molecular profiling/countermeasures program for the Golden State Warriors when they set the NBA record for wins in a season (73-9).
As part of his work with the NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR), he is a member of the Human Analysis Working Group and the Multi-Omics/Systems Biology Analysis Working Group. The goal of the OSDR working groups is to enable reuse of multi-modal and multi-hierarchical fundamental space life science data to advance basic science, applied science, and operational outcomes for space exploration and knowledge discovery.
One of the unique features of his work is the focus to continually translate back and forth between discoveries gleaned from work with high performers on Earth (athletes, soldiers, etc.) and discoveries derived from human performance in spaceflight (astronauts). This allows for a refinement of precision medicine and training applications across any extreme or high performance environment.
Dr. Schmidt and his team at Sovaris Aerospace are currently building the Astronaut Digital Twin (ADT), which involves the integration of high dimensional data with machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, centered on the methods of Bayesian inference. A digital twin is a virtual model of a physical object (in this case an astronaut). It allows real-time interaction and communication between both the real twin and the digital twin to help with the modelling, monitoring, understanding, and optimization of the functions and behavior of the real twin, such as a human going into space. The ADT will also become translational to medicine on Earth, such as in the optimization of muscle performance in athletes (Athlete Digital Twin) or enhancement of cognitive performance.
Dr. Schmidt is the former President of the Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Branch of the Aerospace Medical Association and is currently a member of their Board of Governors. He is also President of the Space Precision Medicine Association and is a member of the Space Exploration and Integration Committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics.
Dr. Schmidt’s career includes 30 years of expertise in human metabolism, molecular networks, nutritional biochemistry, and clinical nutrition. His approach is strongly focused on laboratory analytics as a means to precisely describe metabolic networks and arrive at personalized interventions. This is all in the context of food and dietary applications that are tailored to the performance operating environment. As part of his work in functional genomics, Dr. Schmidt is a former member of the Curriculum Development Task Group for the Nutritional Genomics Certification program (in association with the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists), American College of Nutrition, American Nutrition Association. He is also a former member of the Scientific Advisory Council for this group. Over a 15 year period, Dr. Schmidt was a member of the Examination Writing and Review Committee for the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board, International & American Association of Clinical Nutritionists.
Dr. Schmidt is the recipient of the Research and Innovation Award from the Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Branch of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and he received the Marvingt Award from the Aerospace Medical Association for excellence in aerospace medicine. These awards were given for his work with the human genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and microbiome in spaceflight. This includes his work in translating these findings to precision medicine applications in space. Dr. Schmidt also recently received the President’s Medal for excellence in aerospace medicine leadership from the Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Branch of AsMA in 2024.
In his ongoing work with the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Schmidt has led and continues to lead a series of research investigations ranging from 1) ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro studying cardiovascular compensatory limits using echocardiography, 2) multiomics (genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, microbiome) in cancer, 3) systemic and cerebral perfusion in humans using NAD+ precursors, 4) stress and burnout countermeasures in high performance operations of medical personnel, 5) EEG monitoring and molecular countermeasures focused on protecting against brain injury/concussion in athletes engaged in contact sports, and others. Dr. Schmidt has also led performance studies of molecular countermeasures to optimize training for those preparing for US military special forces qualification, such as Navy SEAL (BUD/S), Army Rangers, Green Beret, and others. This has resulted in novel findings about motivation and viable countermeasures in the context of high training loads.
His work in traumatic brain injury (concussion) is focused on those who must operate in extreme environments or under extreme operating conditions. This covers a spectrum from military Special Operations Forces, to combat aviators, to professional athletes (NFL, NHL, UFC, etc.), to Olympic athletes (rugby, hockey, etc.), and others. Protecting and optimizing brain function in the radiation, microgravity, and isolation environment of prolonged space exploration is another of these domains. This work is focused on integrating complex molecular, physiological, and behavioral analytics, coupled with the development of both stratified and personalized countermeasures tailored to the individual and to the operating environment.
Dr. Schmidt is also the developer of Brain Fitness for Leaders. This program was developed to optimize the brain’s biology that underlies one’s ability to become leaders in their field (discipline, profession, sport) and/or to optimize brain function in those who seek to be better leaders of others. It is based on the premise that the brain’s biology shapes all the underlying drivers giving rise to the emotional and cognitive functions central to successful leadership.
Dr. Schmidt is a former advisor to the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, located at the Infectious Disease Research Complex at Colorado State University. This effort incorporated his work in complex molecular network analytics to develop countermeasures for improving human immune defenses, as a means of combating infectious disease in variable environments. Among these was the use of transcriptomics and proteomics to predict the onset of the dangerous condition of sepsis before other confirmatory laboratory and clinical signs emerge. He also led Sovaris Aerospace as a member of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for Commercial Spaceflight, in concert with its collaboration with the University of Colorado School of Aerospace Engineering.
Dr. Schmidt did his PhD research in Molecular Medicine and Biochemistry within the Life Sciences Division at NASA Ames Research Center under the Chief Medical Officer, Ralph Pelligra, MD. At NASA, he was involved in research on the NASA 20-G Long-Arm Human Centrifuge, conducting the longest continuous human hypergravity exposures in history. This also included work with the Human Information Processing Research Branch at NASA, under Mal Cohen, PhD. His subsequent gravitational work utilized the NASA 20G long radius (27.36 ft.) and short radius (8.36 ft.) centrifuge to quantify effects of different G levels, radii, and their resulting gravity gradients on body fluid distribution, cardiovascular regulatory responses, molecular network changes (e.g., metabolome), and the effect of lower limb exercise.
Dr. Schmidt also did a fellowship at NASA’s Human Systems Integration Division (Psychophysiology Research Laboratory), with an emphasis on physiologic monitoring and autogenic feedback-focused countermeasures aimed at raising human performance in extended microgravity, hypergravity, sleep deprivation, night vision operations, pararescue, high altitude flight, spaceflight, and other stressors encountered in extreme environments. This included extensive use of EEG, along with complex sensor arrays to get real time feedback on more than 20 distinct autonomic nervous system measures.
He received a second PhD in Neuroscience from Lancaster University, Department of Medical and Sports Science (UK), focused on methods to modulate neuroplastic molecular networks in humans (e.g., neurotrophins). This included some initial pilot work at the University of Cambridge (Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Addenbrookes Hospital) focused on the molecular mechanisms of traumatic brain injury. He did additional studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in data and models (artificial neural networks, etc.).
His forthcoming textbook, Building a Space Faring Civilization (Elsevier, Academic Press, January 2025), explores the biomedical challenges of what it means to truly build a civilization, also incorporating those values of a shared humanity and the striving to see the best in one another. It asks the question, “What kind of civilization will we take with us into space?” “Will we do it consciously?” “What are the biomedical, personal, and technological tools needed to accomplish this?” This book will be followed by his subsequent textbook entitled, The Human Research Program for Civilian Spaceflight (Elsevier, Academic Press, 2026), which is focused on the foundational operating principles of building a human research program for civilians traveling, living, and working in space. The following year, he and his team will release a textbook on artificial intelligence in clinical medicine.
Dr. Schmidt actively supports the Wounded War Heroes Foundation, where he has been involved in taking military vets and wounded warriors into the wilderness to be immersed in the wild and also experience the togetherness of the group. A second objective is to hunt, fish, and bring in additional food for their families. He also supports the SEAL Legacy Foundation, which provides college scholarships to the children of Navy SEALs who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Dr. Schmidt is experienced in open water/ocean kayaking, alpine mountaineering, high altitude research, wilderness medicine, expeditionary fitness/behavior, team building, and conflict resolution. He has also spent 30 years studying orcas, humpback whales, and dolphins in the wild, which includes documentary film work. He is the father of two sons who also caught the science bug. They too work in molecular medicine, systems engineering, and human performance. Dr. Schmidt resides in Boulder, Colorado.
Robert Hubbard, Ed.D., M.B.A., M.A.
Chief of Operations
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Robert Hubbard, Ed.D., M.B.A., M.A. Chief of Operations
Dr. Hubbard has extensive experience in both early-stage and mature organizations dealing with high-technology Aerospace, Higher Education, and Biotechnology. A 17-year career with North American Aviation/Rockwell International developed operational skill-sets across multiple manufacturing, engineering and new product development; New Business Development contracts, pricing and negotiation of government and commercial platforms; and culminating as Director of Marketing and Sales with a new startup division of Rockwell International.
His work with Rockwell consisted of a significant operational engagement with the U. S. space program, including program experience in major aerospace accomplishments (Apollo Space Program, command and service modules; Hound Dog missile; Mars Viking Lander; Space Shuttle); military (Minuteman Missile experimental machine shop; Rockwell B-1B Lancer; Ships Inertial Navigation Systems; and a personal privilege to work with Col. Robert C. Chilton at the LAX Experimental Flight Operations, and Wright-Patterson AFB); and Commercial aviation (Sabreliner High-Flight program; and Rockwell AeroCommander 112). This work also included development on the X-20A Dyna-Soar (Dynamic Soarer), an early single-pilot manned reusable space plane conceived as a reconnaissance platform, satellite inspection vehicle, and space interceptor.
His former personal consulting group (AirConsul) provided training to Fixed-Base Operators on behalf of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) nationwide. Dr. Hubbard continues to enjoy the privileges of being a licensed private pilot.
Dr. Hubbard has previously served as Director/General Manager of Pulsewave, LLC, located in the Boulder-Denver area, executing New Technology and Product research-and-development of a unique micronization device applicable to minerals and mined materials, chemicals, organic compounds, plant-derived small molecules, food and plant bulk materials, man-made or synthetic materials, and animal based materials. A significant focus included collaboration with the Department of Energy and associated universities, resulting in unique results described as having a major potential to serve National and commercial interests in energy production. Dr. Hubbard currently serves Sovaris Aerospace, LLC, making available a strong knowledge base in Organizational Development, Quality Assurance, Intellectual Property, Contracts and Agreements, Systems Analysis, and Digital Creative Development.
Higher education experience included full-time faculty and administrative positions: Professor/Director of Graduate Studies and Adult Continuing Education; Professor of Counseling Psychology and Business Leadership programs executed across college and university posts; and founding member of the Advisory Board to School of Technology, and adjunct Professor, Eastern Illinois University. Dr. Hubbard is the originator of the LEAD Adult Studies Program, Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, MA, enabling the college to remain successful across years in a highly competitive Higher Education environment.
Credentials include Ed.D., Boston University; M.A., Eastern Nazarene College; Executive MBA, Suffolk University, Boston; and three post-doc credentials, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
His work with Rockwell consisted of a significant operational engagement with the U. S. space program, including program experience in major aerospace accomplishments (Apollo Space Program, command and service modules; Hound Dog missile; Mars Viking Lander; Space Shuttle); military (Minuteman Missile experimental machine shop; Rockwell B-1B Lancer; Ships Inertial Navigation Systems; and a personal privilege to work with Col. Robert C. Chilton at the LAX Experimental Flight Operations, and Wright-Patterson AFB); and Commercial aviation (Sabreliner High-Flight program; and Rockwell AeroCommander 112). This work also included development on the X-20A Dyna-Soar (Dynamic Soarer), an early single-pilot manned reusable space plane conceived as a reconnaissance platform, satellite inspection vehicle, and space interceptor.
His former personal consulting group (AirConsul) provided training to Fixed-Base Operators on behalf of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) nationwide. Dr. Hubbard continues to enjoy the privileges of being a licensed private pilot.
Dr. Hubbard has previously served as Director/General Manager of Pulsewave, LLC, located in the Boulder-Denver area, executing New Technology and Product research-and-development of a unique micronization device applicable to minerals and mined materials, chemicals, organic compounds, plant-derived small molecules, food and plant bulk materials, man-made or synthetic materials, and animal based materials. A significant focus included collaboration with the Department of Energy and associated universities, resulting in unique results described as having a major potential to serve National and commercial interests in energy production. Dr. Hubbard currently serves Sovaris Aerospace, LLC, making available a strong knowledge base in Organizational Development, Quality Assurance, Intellectual Property, Contracts and Agreements, Systems Analysis, and Digital Creative Development.
Higher education experience included full-time faculty and administrative positions: Professor/Director of Graduate Studies and Adult Continuing Education; Professor of Counseling Psychology and Business Leadership programs executed across college and university posts; and founding member of the Advisory Board to School of Technology, and adjunct Professor, Eastern Illinois University. Dr. Hubbard is the originator of the LEAD Adult Studies Program, Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, MA, enabling the college to remain successful across years in a highly competitive Higher Education environment.
Credentials include Ed.D., Boston University; M.A., Eastern Nazarene College; Executive MBA, Suffolk University, Boston; and three post-doc credentials, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Jeffrey A. Jones, M.D.
Lead, Spaceflight Medicine
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Jeffrey A. Jones, M.D. Lead, Spaceflight Medicine
Dr. Jones was a NASA Flight Surgeon for 13 years. He served tenures as crew surgeon for Shuttle and ISS missions, the lead flight surgeon for both the International Space Station and Exploration Medicine programs, the lead for the NASA JSC Radiation and Countermeasures Integrated Product Team, the lead for the Multilateral Medical Operations Panel Radiation Health and Countermeasures Working Group, as well as the lead for the NASA Telemedicine program. He has been a crew surgeon, deputy crew surgeon, or flight controller on multiple space shuttle and space station missions, including the lead crew surgeon for Expedition 5. He also served as the Lead for International Space Station Medical Operations for the first five expeditions.
As a US Naval Flight Surgeon, he participated in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, serving with F-18/EA-6 squadrons in Al Asad, Iraq. His military service earned him several honors, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Air Medal.
Dr. Jones is practicing surgeon, a distinguished professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), and is also a faculty member at BCM’s Space Medicine Center. He earned his B.A. from Trinity University and his M.D. from Baylor College of Medicine, followed by surgical training at Indiana University Hospitals and a fellowship in Urologic Oncology. He holds the Jamail-Abramson Chair of Urologic Research at BCM and as a board-certified Urologic Surgeon and Aerospace Medicine specialist.
His special interest is in facilitating the exploration of the solar system, including the reduction of life science uncertainties for a human mission to Mars. His research interests span urologic oncology, cancer therapeutics, and aerospace medicine, with particular emphasis on spaceflight countermeasures. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on urological surgery, cancer therapy, and space radiation health.
As a US Naval Flight Surgeon, he participated in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, serving with F-18/EA-6 squadrons in Al Asad, Iraq. His military service earned him several honors, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Air Medal.
Dr. Jones is practicing surgeon, a distinguished professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), and is also a faculty member at BCM’s Space Medicine Center. He earned his B.A. from Trinity University and his M.D. from Baylor College of Medicine, followed by surgical training at Indiana University Hospitals and a fellowship in Urologic Oncology. He holds the Jamail-Abramson Chair of Urologic Research at BCM and as a board-certified Urologic Surgeon and Aerospace Medicine specialist.
His special interest is in facilitating the exploration of the solar system, including the reduction of life science uncertainties for a human mission to Mars. His research interests span urologic oncology, cancer therapeutics, and aerospace medicine, with particular emphasis on spaceflight countermeasures. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on urological surgery, cancer therapy, and space radiation health.
Bruce D. Johnson, Ph.D.
Lead, Space Physiology
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Bruce D. Johnson, Ph.D. Lead, Space Physiology
Dr. Bruce Johnson is a distinguished leader in the field of applied human physiology with research focusing on human performance and adaptation in extreme environments, such as aviation and spaceflight. Dr. Johnson is a 1) Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science; 2) Director of the Human Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic; and 3) Professor, Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science. The Mayo Clinic aerospace program is one of only three civilian medical residency programs in the United States that prepares physicians for board certification in Aerospace Medicine.
Dr. Johnson currently runs parallel research laboratories at Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN (USA) and Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ (USA). His research at the Human Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory at Mayo clinic has focused on the physiological monitoring and interpretation of individuals responses to the physical stressors of extreme environments (e.g., hypoxic conditions and reduced gravity). He is also Director of the Mayo Clinic Clinical Research Trials Until Energy Balance Core Laboratory. In addition, he has been the Research Director of the Delos Well Living Laboratory, which focuses on improving human health and longevity in the indoor environment.
As the world prepares to send the first astronauts on a mission to Mars, Dr. Johnson is playing an important role in understanding the response and developing optimal mission parameters. Through his work with the Data Safety Monitoring Board for NASA’s Simulated MARS Mission, Dr. Johnson has been involved with assessing the human risk of decompression sickness and better understanding the value of changing space station parameters to higher oxygen at lower pressure.
Dr. Johnson’s laboratory has been extensively engaged with the United States Air Force and Navy studying pilot health challenges. In doing so, his team has helped develop novel methodologies for tracking in-flight lung physiology during the highly dynamic conditions faced by fighter pilots. Dr. Johnson is a respected member of the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society as well as the American Physiological Society with a particular focus on human physiology, adaptation and performance in extreme environments.
Through his efforts to better understand the physiology of high-altitude performance, Dr. Johnson has partnered with National Geographic and the North Face company’s innovation team to pursue studies on Mt. Everest, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mt. Aconcagua. This includes analog research in Antarctica with the US National Science Foundation. Dr. Johnson has pioneered the study of cardiopulmonary physiology in high-altitude environments with a focus on the pathophysiology of hypoxic-related conditions such as acute mountain sickness, high-altitude pulmonary edema, and high-altitude cerebral edema. He and his team have identified several novel risk factors for acute mountain sickness, as well as identified gene expression signatures that suggest the inflammatory response as a primary driver of acute mountain sickness.
Dr. Johnson completed his bachelor’s degree in biology at Pacific Lutheran University, followed by a master’s degree in Exercise and Cardiopulmonary Physiology from St. Cloud University in St. Cloud, MN. Dr. Johnson earned his PhD in Respiratory Physiology and Biodynamics from the University of Wisconsin. Shortly after completing his PhD, Dr. Johnson started as a research fellow in the Department of Anesthesia Research in the Respiratory Muscle Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Towards the end of his research fellowship, he began an internship as a clinical exercise physiologist in the division of cardiovascular disease at the Cardiovascular Health Clinic at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
As a valuable member of the Sovaris team, Dr. Johnson has a particular interest in advancing our understanding of the physiological nuances and challenges faced by astronauts during spaceflight missions, and also to advance the training of future flight surgeons and scientists in aerospace medicine. His ultimate goal is to develop meaningful countermeasures that can be readily applied to enhance human health, safety, and performance in extreme operating environments.
Dr. Johnson currently runs parallel research laboratories at Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN (USA) and Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ (USA). His research at the Human Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory at Mayo clinic has focused on the physiological monitoring and interpretation of individuals responses to the physical stressors of extreme environments (e.g., hypoxic conditions and reduced gravity). He is also Director of the Mayo Clinic Clinical Research Trials Until Energy Balance Core Laboratory. In addition, he has been the Research Director of the Delos Well Living Laboratory, which focuses on improving human health and longevity in the indoor environment.
As the world prepares to send the first astronauts on a mission to Mars, Dr. Johnson is playing an important role in understanding the response and developing optimal mission parameters. Through his work with the Data Safety Monitoring Board for NASA’s Simulated MARS Mission, Dr. Johnson has been involved with assessing the human risk of decompression sickness and better understanding the value of changing space station parameters to higher oxygen at lower pressure.
Dr. Johnson’s laboratory has been extensively engaged with the United States Air Force and Navy studying pilot health challenges. In doing so, his team has helped develop novel methodologies for tracking in-flight lung physiology during the highly dynamic conditions faced by fighter pilots. Dr. Johnson is a respected member of the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society as well as the American Physiological Society with a particular focus on human physiology, adaptation and performance in extreme environments.
Through his efforts to better understand the physiology of high-altitude performance, Dr. Johnson has partnered with National Geographic and the North Face company’s innovation team to pursue studies on Mt. Everest, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Mt. Aconcagua. This includes analog research in Antarctica with the US National Science Foundation. Dr. Johnson has pioneered the study of cardiopulmonary physiology in high-altitude environments with a focus on the pathophysiology of hypoxic-related conditions such as acute mountain sickness, high-altitude pulmonary edema, and high-altitude cerebral edema. He and his team have identified several novel risk factors for acute mountain sickness, as well as identified gene expression signatures that suggest the inflammatory response as a primary driver of acute mountain sickness.
Dr. Johnson completed his bachelor’s degree in biology at Pacific Lutheran University, followed by a master’s degree in Exercise and Cardiopulmonary Physiology from St. Cloud University in St. Cloud, MN. Dr. Johnson earned his PhD in Respiratory Physiology and Biodynamics from the University of Wisconsin. Shortly after completing his PhD, Dr. Johnson started as a research fellow in the Department of Anesthesia Research in the Respiratory Muscle Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Towards the end of his research fellowship, he began an internship as a clinical exercise physiologist in the division of cardiovascular disease at the Cardiovascular Health Clinic at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
As a valuable member of the Sovaris team, Dr. Johnson has a particular interest in advancing our understanding of the physiological nuances and challenges faced by astronauts during spaceflight missions, and also to advance the training of future flight surgeons and scientists in aerospace medicine. His ultimate goal is to develop meaningful countermeasures that can be readily applied to enhance human health, safety, and performance in extreme operating environments.
Joel Dudley, Ph.D.
Lead, Biomedical Informatics & Business Development
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Joel Dudley, Ph.D. Lead, Biomedical Informatics & Business Development
Dr. Dudley is the biomedical informatics and business development lead for Sovaris Aerospace, working to help shape the strategic and tactical direction of the company and projects, as it relates to bioinformatics, experimental design, multivariate statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in spaceflight.
In addition to his work with Sovaris, Joel also currently serves as a Partner at Innovation Endeavors, bringing his expertise in biomedical science, data science, and artificial intelligence to the firm’s investment and new technology development strategy. Innovation Endeavors was founded by Google founder and former CEO Eric Schmidt. Previously, Dr. Dudley was Chief Scientific Officer and former Senior Vice President of Research at Tempus Labs. Tempus uses artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and application of novel targets, treatments, and trials for various diseases. It provides testing, data, and research services for healthcare providers, life sciences, and patients.
Prior to his time with Tempus, Dr. Dudley was Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and was the founding Director of the Institute for Next Generation Healthcare at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, while also serving as Executive Vice President for Precision Health for the Mount Sinai Health System. Mount Sinai Hospital has one of the largest datasets in the world that pairs genetic data with clinical data. His entrepreneurial ventures include co-founding NuMedii, Inc. and Onegevity Health.
His more than 200 peer-reviewed research publications have established novel precision medicine paradigms at the nexus of omics, digital health, and artificial intelligence (AI). His work has also been featured in major media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, MIT Technology Review, and Scientific American. Named one of Fast Company’s 100 most creative people in business in 2014, Dr. Dudley also co-authored “Exploring Personal Genomics” from Oxford University Press. He holds degrees from Arizona State University (BS in Microbiology) and Stanford University School of Medicine (MS and PhD in Biomedical Informatics).
In addition to his work with Sovaris, Joel also currently serves as a Partner at Innovation Endeavors, bringing his expertise in biomedical science, data science, and artificial intelligence to the firm’s investment and new technology development strategy. Innovation Endeavors was founded by Google founder and former CEO Eric Schmidt. Previously, Dr. Dudley was Chief Scientific Officer and former Senior Vice President of Research at Tempus Labs. Tempus uses artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and application of novel targets, treatments, and trials for various diseases. It provides testing, data, and research services for healthcare providers, life sciences, and patients.
Prior to his time with Tempus, Dr. Dudley was Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and was the founding Director of the Institute for Next Generation Healthcare at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, while also serving as Executive Vice President for Precision Health for the Mount Sinai Health System. Mount Sinai Hospital has one of the largest datasets in the world that pairs genetic data with clinical data. His entrepreneurial ventures include co-founding NuMedii, Inc. and Onegevity Health.
His more than 200 peer-reviewed research publications have established novel precision medicine paradigms at the nexus of omics, digital health, and artificial intelligence (AI). His work has also been featured in major media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, MIT Technology Review, and Scientific American. Named one of Fast Company’s 100 most creative people in business in 2014, Dr. Dudley also co-authored “Exploring Personal Genomics” from Oxford University Press. He holds degrees from Arizona State University (BS in Microbiology) and Stanford University School of Medicine (MS and PhD in Biomedical Informatics).
Mike Chesne, M.A., M.B.A.
Lead, Strategy & Logistics,
Remote Medicine Operations
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Mike Chesne, M.A., M.B.A. Lead, Strategy & Logistics, Remote Medicine Operations
Mike Chesne is a specialist in biomedical strategy, logistics, leadership, team building, and operations in extreme, remote, and low-resource environments. He served a highly decorated 25-year career in the United States Army Special Operations, as a US Army Ranger, Special Forces Weapons Sergeant, Medical Sergeant, Military Freefall Parachutist, and Military Freefall Jumpmaster. This includes his role as a Special Forces Team Sergeant and a 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) Direct Support Training Sergeant Major. During this period, he was also a Senior Medical Instructor for Selection and Training (1st SFOD-D) and was the Designer and Lead Instructor for the Assault Medical Advanced Course (1st SFOD-D).
Shortly before retiring from the US Army, Mike founded an emergency medical supply company. Caromeds, Inc. developed pre-hospital trauma and emergency medical kits for all branches of the United States Department of Defense, as well as for many NATO allied countries, with some of these kits still used as standard issue in the several different military forces. Mike exited the Caromeds company and went into global healthcare consulting (Advon Healthcare; VP of Global Health Initiatives) working with the Ministries of Health of Afghanistan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, and other countries.
During this period, he developed the curriculum for the first ever nursing school in Afghanistan, realigned the entire healthcare system and medical doctor training program in Afghanistan, assisted in the logistics and manning of the Faruq Medical Center in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq, and helped the Algerian government design and develop their own version of the Food and Drug Administration. Mr. Chesne also founded Veterans Consulting Group LLC, which specialized in bringing innovative medical products into the government market through design evaluation, field trails, and government contracting. VCG also provided consulting services for medical research projects, Combat Trauma Medical training programs, and austere healthcare management.
His experience in the United States Army working with the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) led him to develop a keen understanding of the scientific method and the use of advanced science to rapid prototype countermeasures for use in low-resource environments. Mike is a co-founder of Tecton Life, Inc., a US company that engineered a novel exogenous ketone molecule for applications in athletics, military, spaceflight, and clinical medicine. This commercially available product is currently undergoing trials in human performance, brain injury, and cognition.
Mr. Chesne is co-author of a series of papers in the Journal of Special Operations Medicine entitled, “Tactical Medical Emergencies Protocols for Special Operations Advanced Tactical Practitioners (ATP’s).” He received a B.S. in Applied Science at Campbell University, an M.A. in Ancient and Classical History from American Military University, and an MBA from Louisiana State University, Shreveport.
Shortly before retiring from the US Army, Mike founded an emergency medical supply company. Caromeds, Inc. developed pre-hospital trauma and emergency medical kits for all branches of the United States Department of Defense, as well as for many NATO allied countries, with some of these kits still used as standard issue in the several different military forces. Mike exited the Caromeds company and went into global healthcare consulting (Advon Healthcare; VP of Global Health Initiatives) working with the Ministries of Health of Afghanistan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, and other countries.
During this period, he developed the curriculum for the first ever nursing school in Afghanistan, realigned the entire healthcare system and medical doctor training program in Afghanistan, assisted in the logistics and manning of the Faruq Medical Center in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq, and helped the Algerian government design and develop their own version of the Food and Drug Administration. Mr. Chesne also founded Veterans Consulting Group LLC, which specialized in bringing innovative medical products into the government market through design evaluation, field trails, and government contracting. VCG also provided consulting services for medical research projects, Combat Trauma Medical training programs, and austere healthcare management.
His experience in the United States Army working with the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) led him to develop a keen understanding of the scientific method and the use of advanced science to rapid prototype countermeasures for use in low-resource environments. Mike is a co-founder of Tecton Life, Inc., a US company that engineered a novel exogenous ketone molecule for applications in athletics, military, spaceflight, and clinical medicine. This commercially available product is currently undergoing trials in human performance, brain injury, and cognition.
Mr. Chesne is co-author of a series of papers in the Journal of Special Operations Medicine entitled, “Tactical Medical Emergencies Protocols for Special Operations Advanced Tactical Practitioners (ATP’s).” He received a B.S. in Applied Science at Campbell University, an M.A. in Ancient and Classical History from American Military University, and an MBA from Louisiana State University, Shreveport.
C. Rick Lyons, M.D., Ph.D.
Lead, Biomedical Program Management
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C. Rick Lyons, M.D., Ph.D. Lead, Biomedical Program Management
Dr. Rick Lyons is the former Director of the Infectious Disease Research Center at Colorado State University (CSU), and the former Chief Scientific Officer of the Infectious Disease SuperCluster (CSU). This included work with the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease Research. Prior to this, he served in the Department of Internal Medicine at the New Mexico Health Sciences Center, where he was Director of the Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity. He is currently on the board of the National Center for Genomic Resources in Santa Fe, NM and was also previously on the board of Biophysical 250, Austin, TX.
Dr. Lyons has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA). Over the course of his career, he has been on numerous grant and research review committees for the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Lyons was a standing member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Department of Defense Scientific Advisory Committee from 2012-2015 and has sat on a variety of NAS advisory committees related to research. He has also participated in several FDA committees evaluating new therapeutics.
Dr. Rick Lyons research interests involve applying complex data analysis of molecular and physiologic signals toward understanding the current state of an individual’s health. These precision medicine-focused methods are also being used for multivariate modeling and predictive analytics.
Dr. Lyons received his B.S. in Biochemistry at Washington State University and did his doctoral work in microbiology under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Uhr. He subsequently received his M.D. at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He performed an Internal Medicine Residency and fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. This was followed by a research fellowship in molecular biology at Harvard.
Dr. Lyons has authored approximately 80 papers, and several reviews and chapters related to the pathophysiology of infection. He has been an ad hoc reviewer for multiple journals related to immunology and infectious diseases.
Dr. Lyons has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA). Over the course of his career, he has been on numerous grant and research review committees for the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Lyons was a standing member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Department of Defense Scientific Advisory Committee from 2012-2015 and has sat on a variety of NAS advisory committees related to research. He has also participated in several FDA committees evaluating new therapeutics.
Dr. Rick Lyons research interests involve applying complex data analysis of molecular and physiologic signals toward understanding the current state of an individual’s health. These precision medicine-focused methods are also being used for multivariate modeling and predictive analytics.
Dr. Lyons received his B.S. in Biochemistry at Washington State University and did his doctoral work in microbiology under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Uhr. He subsequently received his M.D. at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He performed an Internal Medicine Residency and fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. This was followed by a research fellowship in molecular biology at Harvard.
Dr. Lyons has authored approximately 80 papers, and several reviews and chapters related to the pathophysiology of infection. He has been an ad hoc reviewer for multiple journals related to immunology and infectious diseases.
Wade Henrichs, M.D.
Lead, Emergency and Remote Medicine
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Wade Henrichs, M.D. Lead, Emergency and Wilderness Medicine
Dr. Henrichs is an explorer at heart. He thrives on the edge, with a joyful passion for medicine, physiology and elite performance in remote and extreme environments. He is a practicing emergency physician, certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
As an expedition physician for National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions, Dr. Henrichs provides medical support for projects in remote international locations, often hundreds of miles from medical care. As a faculty member and instructor for Adventure Medical Seminars, he taught wilderness medicine in field in locations such as Alaska, Costa Rica, and Baja, while also dogsledding in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
While a physician for the Himalayan Rescue Association in the Everest Region of Nepal, Dr. Henrichs provided medical support to trekkers, expedition climbers, and indigenous people. His efforts there earned him special recognition and honors at the British Embassy in Kathmandu. He has studied high altitude related illness on Mt Rainier in Washington State and has conducted medical research on Denali (Mt McKinley) in Alaska. He has published scientific papers in the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Dr. Henrich’s name is attached to a challenging first ascent on the South Face of Denali that he pioneered with his friend Dr. Roger Volkmann. He also climbed to the summit with Gary Scott when Mr. Scott set a world record for the fastest ascent of Denali (18 hours and 29 minutes). Dr. Henrichs has been a physician coordinator and patroller for the Mt Baker Ski Patrol in Washington State, and the medical director for the American Alpine Institute. He served as a climbing ranger on Denali for the National Park Service in Alaska. As a rock climber, he has done clean ascents of big walls like Half Dome and El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, California.
Dr. Henrichs earned his medical degree at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. While completing his Emergency Medicine Residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, he received training in their hyperbaric medicine program. He has been a SCUBA instructor and holds advanced SCUBA certifications. He is also an avid sailor, power boater, and kayaker. An accomplished paraglider and hang glider pilot, he received a first-place award at an international paragliding competition.
Dr. Henrichs received Tactical Medicine and SWAT training at the Heckler and Koch International Training Division in Washington, DC. He has served with the Bellingham Police Department SWAT team and holds a black belt in Taekwondo.
A recipient of a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Mathematics and Science Award, Dr. Henrichs is grateful to have been recognized for his contributions ranging from heartfelt thanks from individuals he has served in remote third world regions, to an award for academic and leadership excellence from a President of the United States at the White House. Dr. Henrichs was voted by his emergency department nurses as “the physician they would most want to care for them or their family,” an acknowledgement for which he is especially proud and humbled.
Dr. Henrichs practices emergency medicine in Bellingham, Washington at Peace Health St Joseph Hospital and at Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington.
As an expedition physician for National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions, Dr. Henrichs provides medical support for projects in remote international locations, often hundreds of miles from medical care. As a faculty member and instructor for Adventure Medical Seminars, he taught wilderness medicine in field in locations such as Alaska, Costa Rica, and Baja, while also dogsledding in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
While a physician for the Himalayan Rescue Association in the Everest Region of Nepal, Dr. Henrichs provided medical support to trekkers, expedition climbers, and indigenous people. His efforts there earned him special recognition and honors at the British Embassy in Kathmandu. He has studied high altitude related illness on Mt Rainier in Washington State and has conducted medical research on Denali (Mt McKinley) in Alaska. He has published scientific papers in the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Dr. Henrich’s name is attached to a challenging first ascent on the South Face of Denali that he pioneered with his friend Dr. Roger Volkmann. He also climbed to the summit with Gary Scott when Mr. Scott set a world record for the fastest ascent of Denali (18 hours and 29 minutes). Dr. Henrichs has been a physician coordinator and patroller for the Mt Baker Ski Patrol in Washington State, and the medical director for the American Alpine Institute. He served as a climbing ranger on Denali for the National Park Service in Alaska. As a rock climber, he has done clean ascents of big walls like Half Dome and El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, California.
Dr. Henrichs earned his medical degree at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. While completing his Emergency Medicine Residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, he received training in their hyperbaric medicine program. He has been a SCUBA instructor and holds advanced SCUBA certifications. He is also an avid sailor, power boater, and kayaker. An accomplished paraglider and hang glider pilot, he received a first-place award at an international paragliding competition.
Dr. Henrichs received Tactical Medicine and SWAT training at the Heckler and Koch International Training Division in Washington, DC. He has served with the Bellingham Police Department SWAT team and holds a black belt in Taekwondo.
A recipient of a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Mathematics and Science Award, Dr. Henrichs is grateful to have been recognized for his contributions ranging from heartfelt thanks from individuals he has served in remote third world regions, to an award for academic and leadership excellence from a President of the United States at the White House. Dr. Henrichs was voted by his emergency department nurses as “the physician they would most want to care for them or their family,” an acknowledgement for which he is especially proud and humbled.
Dr. Henrichs practices emergency medicine in Bellingham, Washington at Peace Health St Joseph Hospital and at Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington.
Darren Stokes, M.S., W.E.M.T.
Lead, Remote Medicine Training Program
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Darren Stokes, M.S., W.E.M.T. Lead, Remote Medicine Training Program
Darren Stokes is a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT). He has spent the past 15 years as a professional trainer for Wilderness Medical Associates International, where he has logged more than 1,000 days training first responders and presented nearly 200 on site trainings in wilderness first response. Darren teaches medical and on-medical personnel throughout the US, Alaska, and Internationally. He specializes in training people who work in extreme environments, including aviation, spaceflight, remote space analogues, Antarctic and Arctic research, high-altitude research, oceanic research, Naval Aerospace Medicine Operations, Navy SEAL teams, Air Force SEER Instructors, Heli-ski guides, river outfitters, forestry workers, and many other remote expedition guides and leaders.
He is part of the volunteer unit of Chaffee County Search and Rescue, where he has served as Training Officer and Board Member. He is also a member of the Swiftwater Rescue Team. Darren has been an Outdoor Guide and Instructor for over 30 years and holds a Masters Degree from Ohio University. He lives in Buena Vista, Colorado at the base of the Collegiate Peaks and on the banks of the Arkansas River. He owns Colorado Outside, a local provider for Wilderness Medical Training.
Darren shares his love for the outdoors with his wife Tina, son Jesse, and daughter Bailey. The kids have been skiing since they were two and rafting since they were three, keeping up with them is Darren’s foremost outdoor challenge.
He is part of the volunteer unit of Chaffee County Search and Rescue, where he has served as Training Officer and Board Member. He is also a member of the Swiftwater Rescue Team. Darren has been an Outdoor Guide and Instructor for over 30 years and holds a Masters Degree from Ohio University. He lives in Buena Vista, Colorado at the base of the Collegiate Peaks and on the banks of the Arkansas River. He owns Colorado Outside, a local provider for Wilderness Medical Training.
Darren shares his love for the outdoors with his wife Tina, son Jesse, and daughter Bailey. The kids have been skiing since they were two and rafting since they were three, keeping up with them is Darren’s foremost outdoor challenge.
Thomas J. Goodwin, Ph.D.
Lead, Fundamental Space Biology
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Thomas J. Goodwin, Ph.D. Lead, Fundamental Space Biology
NASA cellular physiologist (Retired), pioneer and authority in 3D biology, tissue engineering, bioelectromagnetic field effects, and synthesized tissue growth.
Dr. Goodwin was the Manager of the Disease Modeling and Tissue Analogues Laboratory at the NASA Johnson Space Center and Lead Scientist for the Oxidative Stress and Damage research discipline for more than 15 years. Known for 30 years of work in 3D tissues for study of human physiology and tumor biology, 3D models as microbial hosts for infectious disease, and research into effects of ultra-low frequency electromagnetic fields on human tissues.
Dr. Goodwin is Honorary President and Chair of the Personalized Medicine panel of the European Society of Translational Medicine (EUSTM). He holds adjunct positions at the University of Texas Medical School, Galveston Texas, Dept. of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the University of Houston, Dept. of Health and Human Performance, and is an Adjunct Scientist at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and the Southwest National Primate Research Center which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. He has authored or co-authored over 40 peer review articles, two book chapters on three-dimensional biology, has been awarded 21 U.S. patents, with several disclosures pending, published more than 59 peer-reviewed scientific papers, co-authored two book chapters on 3D biology and human physiology, and is the recipient of more than 70 NASA Scientific and Technical awards.
Dr. Goodwin’s research focuses on cell physiology and organ tissue bioengineering, development of ex vivo physiological 3D systems, and the three-dimensional biology of human and animal cells. Complex recapitulated tissues may serve as surrogates for studies of tumor physiology, viral, and bacterial infectivity, genomic responses to a myriad of cellular conditions including genomic modulation and regulation due to chemical, physical, and environmental stimuli such as may be seen on the Earth and in the microgravity environment and as a platform to study man-machine interfaces. Recent papers include the co-authorship of Personalized Medicine in Human Space Flight: Using Omics Based Analyses to Develop Individualized Countermeasures that Enhance Astronaut Safety and Performance, published in the journal Metabolomics in 2013 and Three-Dimensional Normal Human Neural Progenitor Tissue-Like Assemblies: A Model of Persistent Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection”, PLoS Pathogens 2013.
Dr. Goodwin was the Manager of the Disease Modeling and Tissue Analogues Laboratory at the NASA Johnson Space Center and Lead Scientist for the Oxidative Stress and Damage research discipline for more than 15 years. Known for 30 years of work in 3D tissues for study of human physiology and tumor biology, 3D models as microbial hosts for infectious disease, and research into effects of ultra-low frequency electromagnetic fields on human tissues.
Dr. Goodwin is Honorary President and Chair of the Personalized Medicine panel of the European Society of Translational Medicine (EUSTM). He holds adjunct positions at the University of Texas Medical School, Galveston Texas, Dept. of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the University of Houston, Dept. of Health and Human Performance, and is an Adjunct Scientist at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and the Southwest National Primate Research Center which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. He has authored or co-authored over 40 peer review articles, two book chapters on three-dimensional biology, has been awarded 21 U.S. patents, with several disclosures pending, published more than 59 peer-reviewed scientific papers, co-authored two book chapters on 3D biology and human physiology, and is the recipient of more than 70 NASA Scientific and Technical awards.
Dr. Goodwin’s research focuses on cell physiology and organ tissue bioengineering, development of ex vivo physiological 3D systems, and the three-dimensional biology of human and animal cells. Complex recapitulated tissues may serve as surrogates for studies of tumor physiology, viral, and bacterial infectivity, genomic responses to a myriad of cellular conditions including genomic modulation and regulation due to chemical, physical, and environmental stimuli such as may be seen on the Earth and in the microgravity environment and as a platform to study man-machine interfaces. Recent papers include the co-authorship of Personalized Medicine in Human Space Flight: Using Omics Based Analyses to Develop Individualized Countermeasures that Enhance Astronaut Safety and Performance, published in the journal Metabolomics in 2013 and Three-Dimensional Normal Human Neural Progenitor Tissue-Like Assemblies: A Model of Persistent Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection”, PLoS Pathogens 2013.
Caleb M. Schmidt, M.S.
Vice President, Research
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Caleb M. Schmidt, M.S. Vice President, Research
Mr. Schmidt is the Vice President of Research for Sovaris Aerospace. His work encompasses three main areas: elite performance in space and on Earth, computational and systems modeling, and biotechnology development. He specializes in applying systems thinking and systems engineering to solve complex problems in biological, natural, and engineered systems.
Over the past decade, Mr. Schmidt has played a key role in establishing Sovaris as a leader in precision medicine for human spaceflight and high-performance operations on Earth. The company’s collaborators include NASA, professional sports organizations (NFL, NBA, US Olympic teams), aerospace companies (SpaceX, Axiom Space), military units (US Special Forces, SWAT), research institutions (Naval Submarine Medical Research Lab), prestigious medical centers (Mayo Clinic, Cornell Weill Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine), among others.
Caleb is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Systems Engineering at Colorado State University, studying under advisor Dr. Steve Simske. His dissertation work focuses on the Astronaut Digital Twin (ADT), an interdisciplinary project that creates a virtual representation of how critical human body systems respond to the space environment by integrating molecular, physiological, clinical, and population data.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with a minor in Chemistry and a Master of Science in Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology. Caleb lives in the mountains of North Carolina with his wife and young daughter.
Over the past decade, Mr. Schmidt has played a key role in establishing Sovaris as a leader in precision medicine for human spaceflight and high-performance operations on Earth. The company’s collaborators include NASA, professional sports organizations (NFL, NBA, US Olympic teams), aerospace companies (SpaceX, Axiom Space), military units (US Special Forces, SWAT), research institutions (Naval Submarine Medical Research Lab), prestigious medical centers (Mayo Clinic, Cornell Weill Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine), among others.
Caleb is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Systems Engineering at Colorado State University, studying under advisor Dr. Steve Simske. His dissertation work focuses on the Astronaut Digital Twin (ADT), an interdisciplinary project that creates a virtual representation of how critical human body systems respond to the space environment by integrating molecular, physiological, clinical, and population data.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with a minor in Chemistry and a Master of Science in Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology. Caleb lives in the mountains of North Carolina with his wife and young daughter.
Julian C. Schmidt, M.S.
Clinical Trial & Research Manager
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Julian C. Schmidt, M.S. Clinical Trial & Research Manager
As a clinical research scientist and Manager of Clinical Sciences, Julian has spent the past several years researching the optimization of human performance in various populations such as astronauts, athletes, and healthy humans. Additionally, he has spent time researching several pathological states such as breast cancer, traumatic brain injury, and anxiety and depression. Julian is a key member of the research team focused on the integration of multi-omics data, including genomics, transcriptomics, serum chemistry, metabolomics, gut microbiomics, and measures of the clinical phenotype. Julian is also proficient in literature mining and interpretation, preclinical research, human clinical study design, trial execution, data analysis and pattern recognition, and manuscript preparation.
Julian received his M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Arizona. The focus of his graduate research was on developing effective molecular countermeasures for pathologies associated with traumatic brain injury. Julian holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Saint Mary’s College of California, where his undergraduate research focused on the chemical synthesis of chalcones as tyrosinase inhibitors in melanoma.
Julian received his M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Arizona. The focus of his graduate research was on developing effective molecular countermeasures for pathologies associated with traumatic brain injury. Julian holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Saint Mary’s College of California, where his undergraduate research focused on the chemical synthesis of chalcones as tyrosinase inhibitors in melanoma.
Our Network
Representative Affiliations & Collaborations
- Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA)
- Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Branch, Aerospace Medical Association
- Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF)
- Human Research Program for Civilian Spaceflight (HRP-C)
- Space Precision Medicine Association (SPMA)
- Space Surgery Association (SSA)
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
- Polaris Program (In Collaboration with SpaceX)
- Weill Cornell Medicine – Mason Lab
- BioAstra
- Johns Hopkins University
- Baylor Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
- Harvard University
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Aerospace Medicine Program
- University of Pittsburgh, Space Biomedicine
- University of Colorado, Aerospace Engineering Sciences
- NASA Open Science Data Repository, Human Analysis Working Group
- NASA Open Science Data Repository, Multi-Omics/Systems Biology Working Group
- NASA Open Science Data Repository, Digital Twins Working Group
- NASA Ames Research Center
- NASA Johnson Space Center
- NASA; Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer; Extreme Environment Analogs Assessment Program