Speakers

Mr. Thomas joined Amazon in August 2020. He is the leader of Kuiper Government Solutions team, responsible for leading Kuiper Government engagement and advanced project teams. Prior to Kuiper, Mr. Thomas led the Project Blackjack and Pit Boss teams for DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office that are demonstrating the military utility of proliferated LEO small satellites, including autonomous operations and direct tactical communication links from space assets to warfighters.

Prior to DARPA, Mr. Thomas was Senior Director of Dragon Production at SpaceX, where he led the team that built the first commercial spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station. His team also manufactured the Falcon9 landing legs and actuators. He has held positions at Motorola on the original Iridium satellite integration and launch team, worked on Space Shuttle and SpaceLab structural analysis, led the DARPA MiTEX mechanical design team, and held multiple program management positions at Northrup Grumman’s (previously Orbital) advanced projects groups developing and launching classified spacecraft.

Education:

• B.S., Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University
• M.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

All times are presented in the host university’s local time zone.