Plenary Session Chairs

Lt. General Tattini Deputy Director of JPL NASA Chair - "Mars Missions Operations" Plenary Session 1 - Tuesday, May 18

Eugene L. "Gene" Tattini was appointed Deputy Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in July 2001.

Prior to his retirement from the Air Force and his appointment as JPL Deputy Director, Lt. Gen. Tattini was commander, Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. He was responsible for managing the research, design, development, and acquisition of space launch, command and control, and satellite systems. The Center employed more than 3,200 people nationwide and had an annual total obligation authority in excess of $5 billion. SMC is the United States center of excellence for military space acquisition. The general was the Air Force's designated acquisition commander for the Air Force Satellite Control Network, Space Lift Ranges, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, Space Based Laser Program, and the Atlas, Delta, Titan and Inertial Upper Stage families of launch vehicles that provide assured access to space.

Shabeer Ahmed Director of DFL CSA Chair - "Space Operation Challenges of Today" Plenary Session 2 - Wednesday, May 19

Dr. Shabeer Ahmed has been a Director at the David Florida Laboratory since 1999.

Dr. Shabeer Ahmed joined Spar Aerospace in 1969 as an R&D engineer for the development of instrument deployment mechanisms for programs such as the Apollo lunar missions. In 1972, as Chief Space Systems Engineer, he participated both as a technical contributor and leader in the development of key bus subsystems for the communications technology satellite (CTS). After joining the Communications Research Centre (CRC), he helped complete the CTS project as well as carry out technology development investigations on future satellite systems. At CRC, he helped negotiate a role for Canadian industry in the European Space Agency's Olympus project. From 1981, he led the critical technology development of the RADARSAT space segment, and from 1989, led the implementation of the end-to-end RADARSAT system.

Benoît Marcotte Director Operation Engineering and Programs CSA Chair - "International Space Station Operations" Plenary Session 3 - Thursday, May 20

Benoît Marcotte is the Director, Operations Engineering at the Canadian Space Agency. He is also the Program Manager of the Canadian Space Station Program.

He is responsible for the training, operational support, ground segment and the logistics and sustaining engineering of the Mobile Servicing Systems, as well as the integration and operational support for the Canadian-sponsored International Space Station (ISS) payloads. He works with other ISS program managers to manage the construction, maintenance and utilization of the space station.

Benoît Marcotte joined the Canadian Space Agency in August 1999 after retiring from the Canadian Air Force at the rank of colonel. During his 28-year career, he served primarily as a fighter pilot; commanded the 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3 Wing based at Bagotville, Québec; and was twice the commander of a deployed CF-18 operational task force to Europe. He was the Director of Operations for the Canadian NORAD Region for two years.