2023 Partnering with NASA

What does it mean to “partner” with NASA? And what can it do for my business?

NASA offers 60 years of experience in advanced engineering and testing capabilities, cutting edge research and technology development, as well as unique assets such as land, facilities and laboratories for use by commercial industries, academic institutions, U.S. Government agencies and international entities.

Representatives from Marshall Space Flight Center will tell us about what they have to offer their partners, AND representatives from local businesses that have successfully partnered with Marshall will be on hand to discuss how they managed the partnership and how it benefited their business.

Speakers:

Reginald Alexander
Manager Partnerships and Formulation Office
Marshall Space Flight Center

Reginald Alexander provides Strategic Planning and Business Development Support as well as creating partnering and new mission opportunities for the center. He was previously of the domain lead for space transportation. In that role he led the development of propulsion technology development and integration planning for future NASA missions.  

Previous positions Alexander held include Strategic Planning and Business Development, Propulsion; Manager of the Advanced Concepts Office, Engineering Directorate; Chief Engineer for the Lunar Precursor Robotics Program; Lead systems engineer the Space Launch Initiative’s Crew Transfer Vehicle; NASA Headquarters as the center’s liaison for thermal protection systems supporting the agency’s return to flight efforts.

Alexander holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University, and earned a master’s of science degree in aerospace engineering (Heat Transfer/Fluid Mechanics), from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He joined NASA January 1990.



Robbie Harris
Director of Advanced Concepts
Nanoracks  

Robbie Harris wants to push humanity’s reach into space, and he pursues that goal with a multi-disciplined approach. He has a blended background in business and engineering from across multiple segments of the aerospace industry, and he uses that perspective to think about problems and opportunities through multiple lenses.

Harris has over 15 years of experience in the aerospace industry with large, medium, and small companies in roles spanning design, manufacturing, research, organizational development, and project management. In his most recent role, he was the Program Office Manager for RUAG Space USA’s Launcher Division.

Harris excels at leading teams to achieve big goals through novel approaches, focused problem-solving, and systematic methodologies. He seeks to build a collaborative environment to tackle those big goals and promote a pride of ownership amongst his teams. He holds a Master of Aeronautics and Astronautics and an MBA from MIT through the well-renowned Leaders for Global Operations Program. Harris also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Bachelor of Business from the University of Mississippi.



Daniel Cavender
Director of Propulsion
Rubicon Space Systems 

Daniel Cavender joins Rubicon Space Systems from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center where he was a Center Deputy Chief Technologist and a Project Manager in NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Branch and has over 15 years’ experience in spacecraft propulsion. He managed the development of low toxicity, chemical propulsion technologies, including the propulsion system for JPL’s Lunar Flashlight spacecraft, and supported NASA’s Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM). Cavender chaired the NASA Green Propulsion Working Group and championed the development of low toxicity “Green” propulsion technologies nationwide.