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LEADERSHIP
Meet the Leaders Behind the Mission
The FIRST® leadership team, boards, and advisors bring together experience, vision, and a shared belief in the power of STEM to change lives. Their guidance drives everything we do – from program design to long-term outcomes.
OUR FOUNDER
FIRST® Founder & History
Prolific inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to ignite young people’s interest in science and technology. His passion for hands-on learning and real-world impact remains at the heart of our organization and the work we do to help the next generation discover the excitement and rewards of STEM.
FIRST Board of Directors
The FIRST Board of Directors brings together leaders from business, education, philanthropy, government, and STEM fields who are united by a commitment to our mission. They provide strategic guidance and oversight to help FIRST grow, innovate, and expand opportunities for young people around the world.
FIRST Founder
Dean Kamen
President, DEKA Research & Development Corp.
FIRST Founder
Dean Kamen
President, DEKA Research & Development Corp.
Dean Kamen is an inventor, an entrepreneur, and a tireless advocate for science and technology. His roles as inventor and advocate are intertwined—his own passion for technology and its practical uses has driven his personal determination to spread the word about technology's virtues and by so doing to change the culture of the United States.
As an inventor, he holds more than 1,000 U.S. and foreign patents, many of them for innovative medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of healthcare worldwide. While still a college undergraduate, he invented the first wearable infusion pump, which rapidly gained acceptance from diverse medical specialties, such as oncology, neonatology, and endocrinology. In 1976, he founded his first medical device company, AutoSyringe Inc., to manufacture and market the pumps. Then, working with leading diabetes researchers, Dean pioneered the design and adoption of the first portable insulin pump. It was quickly demonstrated that using a pump could much more effectively control patients’ blood glucose levels. At age 30, he sold AutoSyringe to Baxter Healthcare Corp.
Following the sale of AutoSyringe, he founded DEKA Research & Development Corp. to develop internally generated inventions and provide research and development for major corporate clients. Kamen led DEKA's development of the HomeChoiceTM peritoneal dialysis system for Baxter International Inc. The HomeChoiceTM system allows patients to be dialyzed in the privacy and comfort of their home and quickly became the worldwide market leader. Kamen also led the development of technology to improve slide preparation for the CYTYC (now Hologic Inc.) ThinPrep® Pap Test. Kamen-led DEKA teams have also developed critical components of the UVARTM XTSTM System, an extracorporeal photophereisis device marketed by Therakos, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, for treatment of T-Cell lymphoma. An advanced prosthetic arm in development for DARPA should advance the quality of life for returning injured soldiers. Other notable developments include the HydroflexTM surgical irrigation pump for C.R. Bard, the CrownTM stent, an improvement to the original Palmaz-Schatz stent for Johnson & Johnson, the iBOTTM mobility device, and the Segway® Human Transporter.
Kamen has received many awards for his efforts. Notably, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 2000. Presented by President Bill Clinton, this award was in recognition for inventions that have advanced medical care worldwide and for innovative and imaginative leadership in awakening America to the excitement of science and technology. Kamen was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1997. He was awarded the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2002, and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2005. He is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering, as well as many other national and international engineering organizations.
In addition to DEKA, one of his proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to become science and technology leaders and build a better world. Founded in 1989, FIRST robotics programs have served more than 3.2 million young people, ages 4 to 18, in more than 100 countries around the globe. Alumni of life-changing FIRST programs gain access to exclusive scholarships, internships, and other opportunities that create connections and open pathways to a wide variety of careers.
FIRST Board Chair
Laurie Leshin, Ph.D.
Bren Professor of Geochemistry & Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology
FIRST Board Chair
Laurie Leshin, Ph.D.
Bren Professor of Geochemistry & Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology
Laurie Leshin, Ph.D., Bren Professor of Geochemistry & Planetary Science at California Institute of Technology, is a distinguished geochemist and space scientist with extensive leadership experience in academia and government, including senior NASA positions.
Leshin was president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute from 2014 to 2022 and previously served as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Science dean. At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center from 2005 to 2008, she served as director of science, then deputy director for science and technology, leading strategy, planning, and implementation of more than 50 Earth and space flight projects. In 2010, Leshin became deputy associate administrator of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters, overseeing future human spaceflight.
Her numerous honors include NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal and Distinguished Public Service Medal and the Meteoritical Society’s Nier Prize for outstanding research by a scientist under the age of 35. The International Astronomical Union named asteroid 4922 Leshin to honor her planetary science contributions. Leshin advised President George W. Bush on space policy, and President Barack Obama appointed her to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum advisory board. Leshin holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Arizona State University and master’s and doctoral degrees in geochemistry from Caltech.
Leshin is the first woman to serve as JPL director, a role that also includes serving as vice president at Caltech, which manages JPL for NASA. Leshin will continue as co-investigator for two instruments on NASA's Mars Curiosity rover.
FIRST Board Vice Chair
Donald Bossi
General Partner, Technology Venture Partners
FIRST Board Vice Chair
Donald Bossi
General Partner, Technology Venture Partners
Donald Bossi is a general partner with Technology Ventures Partner (TVP). In this role, Don uses his long history as an operating executive to invest in and advise a wide range of technology-based growth companies.
From 2013 to 2019, hen served as president of FIRST®. During his successful tenure, FIRST more than doubled in size, and his business acumen and passion to do good led to many advances for the organization.
Prior to FIRST, Don had a distinguished career as CEO of Inlet Technologies and at Aegis Lightwave and as president of two large business units within JDS Uniphase, where he was responsible for more than $1 billion in revenue and thousands of employees. During his early career, he was a research scientist at MIT Lincoln Lab and United Technologies.
Bossi holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from MIT and attended executive education courses at Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
FIRST Board Vice Chair
Richard L. Clemmer
Chairman, Socratic Ventures, and Former CEO & President, NXP Semiconductors
FIRST Board Vice Chair
Richard L. Clemmer
Chairman, Socratic Ventures, and Former CEO & President, NXP Semiconductors
Richard L. “Rick” Clemmer brings significant executive leadership experience in the technology industry to the FIRST® Board of Directors. He most recently led NXP Semiconductors as CEO and president for more than a decade.
Clemmer has also previously served as the president and CEO of Agere Systems Inc. (the Lucent semiconductor company) and as senior advisor to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. He also held a number of executive leadership positions at Texas Instruments and Quantum Corp.
Clemmer currently serves as chairman of Socratic Ventures, Privafy Inc., Pallidus, and Axon Networks. He also serves on the boards of HP Inc. and Aptiv PLC, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Clemmer holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.
FIRST Board Treasurer
Vincent Wilczynski, Ph.D.
Deputy Dean, Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science and James S. Tyler Director of the Center for Engineering Innovation & Design
FIRST Board Treasurer
Vincent Wilczynski, Ph.D.
Deputy Dean, Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science and James S. Tyler Director of the Center for Engineering Innovation & Design
Vincent Wilczynski, Ph.D., has served as the deputy dean of the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science since 2010. In this role, he is responsible for planning and implementing all academic initiatives and overseeing the engineering school’s facilities. Previously, he was the dean of engineering at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He retired with the rank of captain and has also served as a vice president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. His teaching skills have been cited by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Wilczynski has been a truly extraordinary volunteer for FIRST® since 1994. He started and mentored an FIRST® Robotics Competition team in Groton, Connecticut, in 1994. he used his sabbatical leave from the Coast Guard Academy in early 1999 to serve as the FIRST Robotics Competition program director. In late 1999, he helped FIRST with exploration of a concept that turned into today’s FIRST® LEGO® League program. Then in 2004, he piloted a summer outreach program in Connecticut that trialed the initial version of the FIRST® Tech Challenge kit. Wilczynski served on the FIRST Robotics Competition Game Design Committee for 10 years and has been a critical part of creating the Showcase Presentation at the FIRST Championship since 2001. He has also co-authored three books on innovative engineering in FIRST. He Wilczynski currently serves as the co-chair of the FIRST Executive Advisory Board and as a member of the Steering Committee.
Dr. Wilczynski holds a B.S. from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from MIT, and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from The Catholic University of America.
FIRST Board Secretary
Chris Moore
Chief Executive Officer, FIRST
Chris Moore is the CEO of FIRST®, a global nonprofit robotics community that prepares young people for the future through hands-on, K–12 STEM programs delivered in classrooms and afterschool settings. With more than 25 years of executive leadership experience across corporate and nonprofit sectors, Chris is a passionate advocate for positive youth development, equity in education, and the transformative power of technology.
Before joining FIRST, Chris served as CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance, a national organization focused on training youth and amateur sports coaches, and as CEO of the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the country. In these roles, he led efforts to increase participation, expand coach education, and positively impact the lives of millions of youth, high school, and collegiate athletes.
Earlier in his career, Chris was president and chief operating officer of GENYOUth, a youth empowerment nonprofit founded by the National Dairy Council and the NFL to improve school wellness and inspire students to "Fuel Up to Play 60" by making healthy food choices and staying active.
A purpose-driven executive, Chris is committed to creating access and opportunity for all students—especially those furthest from it. At FIRST, he champions initiatives and partnerships that help students build skills, discover their STEM identity, and gain the confidence to pursue their passions and thrive as future global citizens.
Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations and French, with a minor in Economics, from Lake Forest College, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. A native Chicagoan, he now lives in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, with his wife of 25 years. They have two young adult sons.
Ursula Burns
Chairwoman, Teneo Ltd.
Ursula Burns
Chairwoman, Teneo Ltd.
Ursula Burns has extensive international experience in leading large companies that face technology sea changes within their industries.
Burns was the chairman of the board of Xerox Corp. from 2010 to 2017 and CEO from 2009 to 2016, after having been appointed president in 2007. Burns joined Xerox as a summer intern in 1980 and has since held leadership posts spanning corporate services, manufacturing, and product development. During her tenure as CEO, she helped the company transform from a global leader in document technology to the world’s most diversified business services company serving enterprises and governments of all sizes. Shortly after being named CEO in 2009, Burns spearheaded the largest acquisition in Xerox history -- the $6.4 billion purchase of Affiliated Computer Services.
In 2016, Burns led Xerox through a successful separation into two independent, publicly traded companies – Xerox Corp., which is comprised of the company’s document technology and document outsourcing businesses, and Conduent Inc., a business process services company. After her retirement from Xerox, Burns was appointed chairman of VEON Ltd. in 2017. She became chairman and CEO in December 2018 and served in that role until June 2020. During her tenure at VEON, Burns successfully steered the company through various compliance and restructuring changes.
Burns is a member of the Uber Technologies Inc., Endeavor Group Holdings Inc., and IHS Holding Board of Directors. She is also a founding partner of Integrum Holdings, a private equity firm, non-executive chairman of Teneo Holdings LLC, and the executive chairman of Plum Acquisition Corp I. In addition, Burns is on several private company boards, while also providing leadership counsel to several other community, educational, and non-profit organizations, including the Ford Foundation, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Corp., Cornell Tech Board of Overseers, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Mayo Clinic, amongst others. She's also on the Board Diversity Action Alliance, leading an effort to support diversity on corporate boards.
President Barack Obama appointed Burns to lead the White House national program on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) from 2009 - 2016, and she served as chair of the President’s Export Council from 2015 - 2016 after service as vice chair from 2010 - 2015. In February 2022, Burns joined the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Advisory Council on Supply Chain Competitiveness as vice chair.
Burns holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York University. Burns is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Royal Academy of Engineering, and the G7 Gender Equity Advisory Council.
Her book “Where You Are Is Not Who You Are” was published in June 2021.
Burns served on the FIRST® Board in 2000-2017 and 2020-Present.
Robin N. Coger, Ph.D.
Professor of Engineering, East Carolina University
Robin N. Coger, Ph.D.
Professor of Engineering, East Carolina University
Robin N. Coger, Ph.D., is a well respected higher education leader with a strong track record of building programs and strategic partnerships for the benefit of learners, faculty, academics, research, and industry. She has served as the provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.; as the dean of the College of Engineering and professor of Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University; and as a professor, researcher, center director, and administrator at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Coger’s technical research expertise is in solving design and performance problems related to tissue engineered organs, with special emphasis on liver replacement devices and their safe storage for off-the-shelf availability. Her work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other federal agencies, and has resulted in numerous publications, one patent, plus two additional provisional patent applications. Coger has been awarded for her excellence in leadership, research, teaching, and mentoring throughout her career.
Coger is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. She has chaired the Advisory Committee of the Engineering Directorate of the National Science Foundation since 2023, and is a board member of FIRST® – an organization founded to inspire the interest and participation of young people in engineering, science and technology. Aligned with Coger’s understanding of the importance of sharing best practices and concepts among engineering educators, she has also served on the editorial board of the American Society of Engineering Education publication, PRISM.
Coger earned a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, and her Master of Science and Doctoral degrees from the University of California – Berkeley, all in Mechanical Engineering. She completed her post-doctoral research as a fellow at Harvard Medical School and the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Karen Horting
Executive Director & CEO, Society of Women Engineers
Karen Horting
Executive Director & CEO, Society of Women Engineers
Karen Horting is the executive director and CEO for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), a position she has held since 2013. With more than 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and fund development, Horting was most recently the SWE deputy executive director. In this capacity, she was responsible for all fund-development activities for the organization, including corporate membership, SWE’s Corporate Partnership Council, and more traditional philanthropy, such as foundation and government grants, individual gifts, and bequests. She also oversaw many of the society’s programs and services, including professional development, K-12 outreach, the annual conference, and SWE’s international expansion.
Horting came to SWE in March 2004 from the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), where she served as director of strategic planning, managing the academy’s development activities and long-range organizational planning. Prior to her role with NYAS, Horting worked for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, managing both marketing and fund development on a global level for Science’s Next Wave, a groundbreaking career-development website for graduate students and post-doctorates in science, math, and technology. Horting’s experience also includes more than 10 years in the paint and coatings industry in a variety of technical service and marketing functions.
Horting holds a B.S. in biology from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.
Matt Rendall
Co-Founder & CEO, OTTO Motors & Clearpath Robotics
Matt Rendall
Co-Founder & CEO, OTTO Motors & Clearpath Robotics
Matt Rendall is an accomplished robotics entrepreneur and executive with a proven track record building market leading robotics companies. With 20 years of experience in autonomous mobile robots, his vision and leadership has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of the mobile robotics industry.
Matt co-founded Clearpath Robotics in 2008 and quickly established it as a global leader in the field of autonomous mobile robotics. In 2015, he introduced OTTO Motors to commercialize Clearpath’s autonomous technology in the material handling industry. Under his leadership, OTTO Motors has grown into a market leader in autonomous production logistics and was named a Fast Company Most Innovative Company in 2023.
A passionate entrepreneur, angel investor, and robot industry advocate, Matt frequently speaks on the future of robotics, autonomous technology, and the digitization of industry. He currently serves on the Technology Steering Board for the A3 Association for Advancing Automation. Prior to that he was a board member of the Robotic Industries Association. He was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Finalist in 2023 and Business Insider 40 Under 40 People to Watch.
Matt earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Waterloo (2008), and a Master's of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology also from the University of Waterloo (2009).
Matt resides in Ontario, Canada.
Martine Rothblatt
Chairperson, CEO & Founder, United Therapeutics
Martine Rothblatt
Chairperson, CEO & Founder, United Therapeutics
Dr. Martine Rothblatt is the chairperson & CEO of United Therapeutics Corp. (UT). She started UT to save her youngest child's life from a rare illness after having previously created SiriusXM satellite radio and other satellite communications systems. She is also responsible for several innovations in aviation and architecture, including the design and piloting of an electric helicopter to Guinness World Records and creating the world's largest zero carbon footprint building. Her company is now saving hundreds of lives a year with medicines for pulmonary hypertension and neuroblastoma, and by restoring otherwise discarded donor lungs to transplantability. UT is also in pre-clinical development of manufactured kidneys, hearts, and lungs to be delivered via autonomously flown electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) systems. Rothblatt led the efforts to create the first genetically modified porcine hearts and kidneys transplanted into humans (xenotransplantation), resulting in a life-saving xeno-heart transplant in January 2022.
Rothblatt earned her Ph.D. in Medical Ethics from the Royal London College of Medicine and Dentistry after earning JD and MBA degrees from UCLA, which also recently awarded her the UCLA Medal, its highest honor. She is an inventor on several patents and the author of several books, the most recent of which pertain to artificial cognition and cyber-consciousness.
James Scapa
Co-Founder, Escape Investment Management, and Founder, Former Chairman & CEO, Altair
James Scapa
Co-Founder, Escape Investment Management, and Founder, Former Chairman & CEO, Altair
James Scapa brought nearly 40 years of business growth, innovation, and cultural stewardship to his former role as chairman and CEO of Altair, a global leader in computational intelligence software.
Through his leadership, the company served more than 16,000 customers and employed more than 3,000 employees with 79 offices across 28 countries. Altair software is used across a broad range of industry sectors, including automotive, aerospace, government and defense, finance, energy, electronics, life sciences, architecture, and construction. Siemens acquired Altair in March 2025.
Following the acquisition, he co-founded Escape Investment Management. A family office focused on investing in technology innovation.
James holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.
Jayshree Seth
Corporate Scientist & Chief Science Advocate at 3M
Jayshree Seth
Corporate Scientist & Chief Science Advocate at 3M
Jayshree Seth is a corporate scientist at 3M and currently holds 80 patents for a variety of innovations, with several additional pending. She joined 3M in 1993 after an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, New York. She is a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from her alma mater REC Trichy India, now NIIT Trichy, where she earned a B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering. Jayshree was appointed 3M’s first chief science advocate in 2018 and is uses her scientific knowledge, technical expertise, and professional experience to advance science and the importance of STEM-based innovation with a robust talent pipeline to drive it. She is also a member of Carlton Society, which is the 3M Science and Innovation “Hall of Fame.” Jayshree is the fourth woman and first female engineer to be inducted. She is the winner of Women & Technologies 2019 Le Tecnovisionarie® award for sustainability, and in 2020 she was awarded Society of Women Engineers (SWE) highest Achievement Award. She is also the first winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the new Female Thought Leaders of the Year category in the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business in 2021. In 2025, she was named to the prestigious Thinkers50 Radar that spotlights thinkers whose ideas are most likely to shape the future.
Jayshree is a TEDx speaker and was also featured in a docuseries "Not the Science Type." She is the author of the books "The Heart of Science – Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints, & Imprints," "The Heart of Science – Engineering Fine Print" and "The Heart of Science – Engineering Blueprint" published by the Society of Women Engineers. All sales proceeds of the trilogy go to a scholarship for women in STEM. She is a globally sought-after speaker on a multitude of topics, such as innovation, leadership, careers, and STEM advocacy and has been featured in local, national, and international media.
Jayshree serves on the Board of Science Museum of Minnesota, the Education Outreach Subcommittee for the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab, Engineering Advisory Council for Clarkson University, American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) Industry Advisory Council, Advisory Board for Innovation - The Conference Board as Innovation Fellow, and Advisory Group of Aspen Institute Our Future is Science program. At 3M, Jayshree has served on the CEO's Inclusion Council, chaired the Asian Employee Resource Group A3CTION, and serves on the Steering Committee for Technical Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF).
Jayshree’s husband also works at 3M and was a FIRST® mentor. Both of their now-adult children participated in FIRST.
David Siegel
Co-Founder & Co-Chairman, Two Sigma and Chairman, Siegel Family Endowment
David Siegel
Co-Founder & Co-Chairman, Two Sigma and Chairman, Siegel Family Endowment
David Siegel is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He co-founded financial services company Two Sigma with the belief that innovative technology and data science could help discover value in the world’s data. Today, Two Sigma drives transformations across the financial services industry in investment management, venture capital, private equity, real estate, and insurance.
David’s philanthropic efforts underscore his conviction that education, science, and technology are the keys to a better world. In keeping with this vision, he founded Siegel Family Endowment in 2011 to support organizations and leaders that will understand and shape the impact of technology on society.
He is a member of the executive committee of the MIT Corporation and is chairman of the Cornell Tech Council. David also serves as vice chair of the Scratch Foundation, an organization he co-founded in 2014 to support Scratch, a programming language and online community for children. In addition, he is a board member of FIRST®, NYC FIRST, Khan Academy, and Stanford’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society.
He received his B.S. in electrical engineering from Princeton and his Ph.D. in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he conducted research at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. David also serves on the board of directors of Hamilton Insurance and Re:Build Manufacturing.
Melissa Smith, Ph.D.
UX Research Lead, Google
Melissa Smith, Ph.D.
UX Research Lead, Google
Melissa Smith is a tenured User Experience Researcher and manager at Google Workspace for the Playspace Labs team, where she leads research for a multidisciplinary team innovating and building the next generation of workplace tools. Previously, she held roles working on YouTube Music & Premium, improving YouTube creator monetization, and advancing the video watching experience for the YouTube mobile app and desktop site.
Melissa is the first FIRST® alum on the board, having participated as a student (FIRST® LEGO® League and FIRST® Robotics Competition) and actively volunteered in various roles for the past 24-plus years. Currently, Melissa is a regional and championship-level head referee and part of the Greater San Francisco Region planning committees. She was the 2018 FIRST Inspire Gala Evelyn Kamen "Rising Star" Award Recipient and the 2020 San Francisco Regional Volunteer of the Year Award recipient.
Melissa holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and a Ph.D. in Human Factors & Applied Cognitive Psychology from George Mason University.
Raj Subramaniam
President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, FedEx Corp.
Raj Subramaniam
President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, FedEx Corp.
Raj Subramaniam is president and CEO and a member of the board of directors of FedEx Corp., one of the world's largest transportation companies. He is responsible for providing strategic direction for the entire enterprise. Subramaniam is chair of the six-person executive committee, which plans and executes the corporation’s strategic business activities. He is also chair of the FedEx strategic management committee, a select group of the company’s top leadership, which ensures strategy alignment across the company.
Before being appointed president and CEO in June 2022, he was president and chief operating officer of FedEx.
Subramaniam has more than 30 years of industry experience at FedEx. His international leadership experience, keen business insights, and focus on globalization have contributed to the success of FedEx and provide a blueprint as the company revolutionizes the transportation and logistics industry. He is responsible for spearheading the current global transformation of FedEx, which includes revitalizing the company’s operating strategy, profitably growing the e-commerce business, and harnessing the power of global supply chain data to drive the company’s digital transformation.
Outside of FedEx, Subramaniam serves on the board of directors of the Procter & Gamble Co. He is also committed to using his industry experience to advance economic growth and trade around the world, serving on the boards of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s China Center Advisory Board, FIRST®, U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, and the U.S.-China Business Council, and as a member of the U.S.-India CEO Forum. In February 2023, Subramaniam was appointed by President Joe Biden to the President’s Export Council, a White House advisory committee overseeing international trade. He is also a proud 2023 recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest civilian award presented by the president of India to the Indian diaspora in recognition of outstanding achievements in India and abroad.
Originally from Trivandrum, India, Subramaniam lives in Memphis, Tennessee. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University, and a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Austin.
Robert M. Tuttle
General Partner, 1848 Associates
Robert M. Tuttle
General Partner, 1848 Associates
Bob Tuttle is a general partner of 1848 Associates, a commercial real estate development entity. 1848 Associates specializes in rehabilitating and managing office buildings.
Tuttle previously served as the executive vice president of DEKA Research & Development Corp., which provides R&D services for major corporate clients, primarily related to medical products. In related activities, Bob also was the vice chairman of Segway, which developed a revolutionary personal transporter, and was president of Teletrol Systems Inc., which commercialized building management systems.
Much of Tuttle’s early career was in the aerospace field. For more than 10 years, Bob was the chairman & CEO of Enstrom Helicopter Corp., a developer and manufacturer of light helicopters for commercial and military applications. Prior to that, Tuttle held several executive positions for Raytheon Co.’s Missile Group, including deputy group general manager and group controller/chief financial officer. The Missile Group’s products included the Patriot, Hawk, Sparrow, AMRAAM, Sidewinder, and Maverick Systems. He started his career as an aerospace engineer with Grumman Aerospace, working on the F-14.
Tuttle earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Cornell University and an MBA in finance from Cornell. He has been a volunteer for FIRST® for more than 25 years, including serving two stints on a volunteer basis as the FIRST interim president. His board roles have included eight years as co-chair and 16 years as treasurer.
Emily Van Dunk, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Argosy Foundation
Emily Van Dunk, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Argosy Foundation
Emily Van Dunk became the executive director of the Argosy Foundation in 2011 after first joining the foundation as a program officer in 2006. The family foundation was founded by John Abele with a board of trustees consisting of four family members. Emily has spent more than a decade learning about all aspects of FIRST®. Additionally, in her own capacity as a volunteer, Emily founded the Milwaukee Robotics Academy where three FIRST® Robotics Competition teams operate during the competitive season and year-round FIRST Robotics Competition training is offered to Milwaukee high school students. Since the launch of the Academy in 2021, Emily has raised more than $500,000 to fund the expansion of FIRST programming in Milwaukee.
Before joining the foundation, Emily served as the budget operations manager for Milwaukee County. Prior to that, she was research director for the Wisconsin Policy Forum. Emily earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a master's from Iowa State University, and a bachelor's from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Emily resides in Milwaukee.
"Grace" Jinliu Wang, Ph.D.
President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
"Grace" Jinliu Wang, Ph.D.
President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Grace Wang began as WPI’s 17th president on April 3, 2023. She is also a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at WPI.
Elected by the WPI Board of Trustees after an extensive national search, Wang came to WPI from The Ohio State University (OSU), where she served as executive vice president for research, innovation, and knowledge and was a professor in Materials Science and Engineering. At OSU, Wang’s efforts helped expand the university’s research and innovation ecosystem, achieving $1.4 billion in annual R&D expenditures during her tenure. With a strong focus on supporting faculty, staff, and student researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, Wang led the team to support curiosity-driven research; attract external funding to establish multiple large-scale, impact-driven, interdisciplinary research centers; launch campus-wide entrepreneurial activities; and enable experiential learning opportunities. Wang played a leading role in building a few large-scale, strategic university-industry partnerships, setting the vision, and paving the pathways for the development of OSU’s innovation district.
Prior to OSU, Wang served a series of increasingly complex leadership roles at the State University of New York (SUNY). Appointed by the SUNY Board of Trustees, Wang started as vice chancellor for research and economic development at SUNY System. She was subsequently promoted to senior vice chancellor for research and economic development of the SUNY System. During this time, Wang also simultaneously served as the interim provost for the SUNY System for one academic year. For about two and half years, Wang held dual roles as the interim president of SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) and the senior vice chancellor for research and economic development of the SUNY System. She also served as a professor in Materials Design and Innovation at the flagship University at Buffalo (UB).
Wang led the SUNY research enterprise with about $1.7 billion in annual R&D expenditures, advanced the research and economic development growth strategy, and significantly expanded research capacity in key areas. She supported a purposeful focus on identifying and implementing tools and resources to improve access and affordability at scale; enabling pathways for student success and completion; and fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming campus culture. At SUNY, Wang was instrumental in building large-scale university-industry partnerships, including partnerships with IBM, Applied Materials, and Cree, to grow impact-driven research and innovation while fueling regional economic growth. Wang led SUNY Poly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she prioritized the health of the community with a hands-on, caring approach.
Before SUNY, Wang served as deputy assistant director for engineering and later as acting assistant director for engineering at the National Science Foundation (NSF), where she oversaw a funding portfolio of more than $900 million, investing in frontier engineering research, supporting engineering education, and fostering innovation and technology commercialization. Previously at NSF, Wang was the director of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships division. She started at NSF as a program director, focusing on investing in small businesses in the areas of nanotechnology, advanced materials, and manufacturing.
Wang began her career at IBM/Hitachi Global Storage Technologies where she focused on research and development of thin-film magnetic recording media and carbon overcoat for data storage. She holds seven U.S. patents.
In 2022, Wang was appointed by the White House to serve on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. She is a council member of the Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She is a member of the Board of Governors for the New York Academy of Sciences. She also serves on the Board of Massachusetts High Technology Council (MHTC).
Wang earned a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University.
Dantaya Williams
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, RTX
Dantaya Williams
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, RTX
Dantaya Williams is the chief human resources officer at RTX. She is responsible for the company’s global human resources function, which is focused on the RTX people strategy – including talent development; culture; employee and labor relations; total rewards; and employee experience.
Williams, who joined United Technologies Corp. prior to the company’s 2020 merger with Raytheon Co., has 25 years of human resources and leadership experience. She worked in numerous positions across the former United Technologies carrier division, including talent, engagement, and labor relations. She is a member of The Executive Leadership Council, serves on the FIRST® Board of Directors, and is a member of the Advisory Board for Michigan State University’s School of Human Resources and Labor Relations.
Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in labor relations and human resources from Michigan State University.
General Janet Wolfenbarger
U.S. Air Force, Retired
General Janet Wolfenbarger
U.S. Air Force, Retired
Retired Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger served as commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, from 2012-2015. The command employed some 80,000 people and managed $60 billion annually, executing the critical mission of warfighter support through leading-edge science and technology, cradle-to-grave life cycle weapon systems management, world-class developmental test and evaluation, and world-class depot maintenance and supply chain management.
Wolfenbarger was commissioned in 1980 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and began her career in acquisition as an engineer at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The general held several positions in the F-22 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, served as the F-22 lead program element monitor at the Pentagon, and was the B-2 system program director for the Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. She commanded ASC's C-17 Systems Group, Mobility Systems Wing. She was the service's director of the Air Force Acquisition Center of Excellence at the Pentagon, then served as director of the Headquarters AFMC Intelligence and Requirements Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB. She served as AFMC vice xommander from December 2009 to September 2011. Prior to her final assignment as AFMC commander, Wolfenbarger was the military seputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
After her retirement from the Air Force in 2015, Wolfenbarger was elected to serve on the board of directors for AECOM (2015-present) and KPMG (2018-present). She served as the chair, Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services from 2016-2021. She was also elected to serve as a trustee of the US Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation (2016-present) and as a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Corp. (2020-present).
FIRST Executive Leadership Team
The FIRST Executive Leadership Team guides our day-to-day operations, long-term strategy, strategic partnerships, and more. Their efforts ensure every program we deliver empowers young people to build skills, confidence, and resilience.Chris Moore
Chief Executive Officer, FIRST
Chris Moore is the CEO of FIRST®, a global nonprofit robotics community that prepares young people for the future through hands-on, K–12 STEM programs delivered in classrooms and afterschool settings. With more than 25 years of executive leadership experience across corporate and nonprofit sectors, Chris is a passionate advocate for positive youth development, equity in education, and the transformative power of technology.
Before joining FIRST, Chris served as CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance, a national organization focused on training youth and amateur sports coaches, and as CEO of the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the country. In these roles, he led efforts to increase participation, expand coach education, and positively impact the lives of millions of youth, high school, and collegiate athletes.
Earlier in his career, Chris was president and chief operating officer of GENYOUth, a youth empowerment nonprofit founded by the National Dairy Council and the NFL to improve school wellness and inspire students to "Fuel Up to Play 60" by making healthy food choices and staying active.
A purpose-driven executive, Chris is committed to creating access and opportunity for all students—especially those furthest from it. At FIRST, he champions initiatives and partnerships that help students build skills, discover their STEM identity, and gain the confidence to pursue their passions and thrive as future global citizens.
Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations and French, with a minor in Economics, from Lake Forest College, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. A native Chicagoan, he now lives in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, with his wife of 25 years. They have two young adult sons.
Chris Rake
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Chris Rake
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Chris Rake is executive vice president and chief operating officer of FIRST®, the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM. He leads daily operations of FIRST to drive forward its global community, which is dedicated to preparing young people for the future through engaging, team-based research and robotics programs that inspire young leaders and innovators.
Rake joined FIRST in 2018 as vice president of programs. Bringing an impressive background in leadership and technical excellence, and a passion for FIRST, he’s championed the growth of the progression of FIRST programs worldwide and led the team responsible for strategic planning and development of overall program content and experience.
Prior to joining FIRST, Rake served as a chief engineer at NI, a FIRST Strategic Partner. He led complex cross-team architectures and initiatives in the areas of data acquisition, embedded control, and industrial systems. As part of the role, Rake also managed and owned the FIRST® Robotics Competition control system program for more than 10 years, commencing with the inaugural NI FIRST Robotics Competition controller that started development in 2007. Rake also volunteers for various referee, judge, and coaching roles across FIRST programs.
Rake received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, with Highest Honor, from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Brooke Blew
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Brooke Blew
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Brooke Blew is an accomplished marketing and communications executive with a proven track record of using the power of storytelling to elevate brands, drive growth, and spark meaningful change. Since joining FIRST® in 2014, Brooke has advanced through several leadership roles before being named vice president of marketing and communications in 2022. In this role, she leads the organization’s comprehensive marketing and communications strategy – overseeing brand identity, digital engagement, public relations, and demand generation to broaden awareness and deepen impact.
Under Brooke’s leadership, the organization has significantly expanded its reputation as a global leader in STEM education and workforce development. She has been instrumental in shaping narratives that champion opportunities for young people, and her work has helped FIRST reach new audiences and inspire a generation of innovators.
Among her standout achievements is the acclaimed collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm that resulted in the feature documentary "More than Robots," which premiered at SXSW and reached audiences worldwide. Her team’s work has been recognized with numerous accolades, including Telly Awards, Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, the Bulldog PR Award for Best Nonprofit Campaign, and the Shorty Award for Best Storytelling Campaign of the Year.
Brooke began her career in journalism, with prior roles at The New York Times Company and Boston Globe Media. She holds a B.S. in Journalism and Public Relations from the State University of New York College at Brockport.
Janell N. Catlin, Ph.D.
Vice President, Social Impact & Engagement
Janell N. Catlin, Ph.D.
Vice President, Social Impact & Engagement
Janell N. Catlin, Ph.D., is the vice president of social impact & engagement at FIRST®. She joined FIRST in October 2020 and brings more than 25 years of experience as a global STEM education researcher, teacher educator, and champion of STEM education for all learners.
Janell has led fundraising campaigns to lay the foundation for building out global STEM and girls’ education programs, and she has led STEM and girls’ education initiatives throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and Southeast Asia. In this capacity, she has structured the vision, design, and implementation for teacher and school leader professional development and leveraged partnerships to deepen the impact of STEM and girls’ education teaching and learning. Furthermore, she has led international STEM consultancies with federal agencies for a funded project in Indonesia, private American schools in China and Vietnam, and for the New York City Department of Education.
Janell received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Science Education, and Masters in Pharmacology from Columbia University (New York). She received her Bachelors in Biology from Bennett College (North Carolina). Janell is extremely passionate about engagement for all learners in global STEM and Girls’ Education. In 2019, she co-authored a National Science Teaching Association position statement on Science Education. Janell has been awarded for her scholarship by the National Association for Research in Science Teaching and her alma mater, Bennett College.
Pete Diaz
Chief Information Officer
Pete Diaz
Chief Information Officer
Pete Diaz is the chief information officer of FIRST®, the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM through hands-on, K-12 classroom and afterschool robotics-based STEM programs. He joined FIRST in 2022 and is responsible for innovation and operations in information technology across the organization. He brings more than 25 years of technology and leadership experience with a passion for solving business problems through the application of innovative technologies and processes. As CIO, he is responsible for all aspects of FIRST’s Technology organization, which includes solutions delivery, software development, project management, infrastructure, and process improvement.
During his career, Pete has served in a variety of leadership and technology consulting roles at Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, Berkshire Hathaway, Ryder, Carnival Cruise Lines, JM Family Enterprises, Castle Group, and MasTec. Prior to moving into leadership positions, he served in several roles, such as help desk analyst, business analyst, system administrator, software developer, database administrator, technical architect, and solutions architect. These collective experiences have provided a strong basis to drive technical transformations that allowed the organizations he served to innovate, scale, and increase efficiency.
Pete’s passion for the mission of FIRST started more than 10 years ago as a mentor for his daughter’s FIRST® LEGO® League team. Over the years he has volunteered across all three FIRST programs, serving in roles such as coach, mentor, judge, FIRST technical advisor, and dean’s list reviewer. He strongly believes in the mission and impacts of FIRST, having witnessed the amazing growth of children in FIRST, including his own daughters.
Pete is a native of Miami, Florida, and is based in South Florida, where he resides with his wife and two daughters. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University (FIU) in Management Information Systems (MIS).
Ron Falcone
Chief Sourcing Officer
Ron Falcone
Chief Sourcing Officer
Ron Falcone joined the FIRST® Executive Leadership Team in 2020 as chief sourcing officer with primary responsibilities in strategic planning and leadership. Ron joined FIRST in 2007 and has served in varying leadership positions throughout the years. His team overseas all supply chain, vendor/contract management and sourcing for the organization.
Prior to joining FIRST, Ron spent his career in global supply chain management with various global manufacturing companies.
Ron attended Boston College and then graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a (summa cum laude) Finance degree.
Mark Giordono
Vice President, Development & Alumni Relations
Mark Giordono
Vice President, Development & Alumni Relations
Mark Giordono joined FIRST® in 2013 as the vice president of development. Drawn to working at FIRST because of his passion for the mission, Mark’s team oversees all sponsorship, individual fundraising, and FIRST Alumni activity for FIRST worldwide.
Prior to joining FIRST, Mark worked for technology startups in Vermont and New Jersey, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, and did economic development via technology commercialization at MIT.
Mark attended Dartmouth College and graduated cum laude with degrees in Geography and History. He received his master’s degree in Business Administration from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, where he was a Siebel Scholar.
Amy Lynn Hunt
Chief People Officer
Amy Lynn Hunt
Chief People Officer
Amy Lynn Hunt joined FIRST® in 2015, bringing a passion for youth-serving organizations and a background in strategic people, program, and performance management. In her role at FIRST, Amy Lynn’s primary mission is to support the people who make our programs possible and ensure all our participants have a safe and positive experience. This responsibility includes a broad array of functions, including youth protection, human resources, and volunteer resources.
Prior to FIRST, Amy Lynn worked for the District of Columbia Public Schools, managing the talent life cycle and strategic people initiatives for the district’s central office staff. Amy Lynn started her career as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, completing several destroyer tours before transferring to Washington, D.C. for a final posting as an intelligence analyst. After leaving the Navy in 2010, Amy Lynn pursued a graduate degree in Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University. During her time at Johns Hopkins, she completed fellowships with Education Pioneers and the U.S. Department of Education and discovered her passion for mission-driven organizations that transform the lives of young people.
Amy Lynn graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in History. In 2012, she received a master’s degree in Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University, concentration in Education Policy.
Danielle Pliska
Chief Financial Officer
Danielle Pliska
Chief Financial Officer
Danielle Pliska is the chief financial officer of FIRST®, with primary responsibility for daily oversight and leadership of reporting & control, financial planning & analysis, risk management, operational finance, cash flow, and investments. Danielle started at FIRST in 2010 as a staff accountant and progressively increased her responsibilities and strategic leadership over the next decade, joining the Executive Leadership Team in 2020. She has been inspired to grow her career with FIRST because of the non-profit organization’s impact on kids’ lives and making a better future for us all.
Prior to joining FIRST, Danielle worked in public accounting leading external audit engagements across a wide variety of industries, including not-for-profit, healthcare, financial institutions, employee benefit plans, and more. She has used her skill set to help FIRST navigate the complexities of revenue streams and accounting requirements, provide strategic leadership to many cross-departmental initiatives, and preside over several years of successful financial audits.
Danielle has been a licensed CPA in New Hampshire since 2009. She received her Master of Science in Accounting (summa cum laude) and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Accounting option from UNH Whittemore School of Business. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, three daughters and cats.
Will Saxe
Vice President, Risk Management & General Counsel
Will Saxe
Vice President, Risk Management & General Counsel
Will Saxe joined FIRST® in 2024 as vice president of risk management and general counsel, bringing a broad spectrum of experience as in-house counsel and strategic leadership skills to help FIRST manage and mitigate a wide variety of legal risks, including data privacy, cyber security, youth protection, and contracts.
Prior to FIRST, Will served as assistant general counsel and director of risk management at Colby College, where he played a pivotal role in advising on corporate compliance, 501(c)(3) governance, privacy, litigation, and policy development. He launched Colby’s first enterprise risk management program in 2023 and oversaw the college’s entire insurance portfolio, among many other responsibilities. Will has also worked as a staff attorney at Northern Light Health/Mercy Hospital and an associate in the employment and litigation practice groups at Pierce Atwood LLP.
Will holds a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School, a Master of Education in Administration from Boston College's Lynch School of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Sociology from Occidental College. He lives in Maine with his wife and two teenage sons.
Michael Shea
Vice President, Program Delivery
Michael Shea
Vice President, Program Delivery
Michael Shea joined FIRST® in 2023 as vice president of program delivery. During his career, he has served in a variety of commercial operations leadership positions within large global healthcare organizations, including Zimmer Biomet, Anika Therapeutics, and Sekisui Diagnostics. Prior to that, he spent time in the tech and management consulting industries, where he had responsible for strategic planning and large project implementation. The primary focus of Michael’s career has been partnering with field teams to improve collaboration, execution, and effectiveness within high growth and complex environments.
Michael is a native of Boston and currently lives in North Andover, Massachusetts, where he resides with his wife, Amy; son, Jackson; and beloved dog, Alfred. He received his bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College in Business Management and has an MBA from the Boston College Carroll School of Management.
FIRST Honorary Directors
John E. Abele
FIRST Chairman: 2002-2010; Founding Chairman, Retired, Boston Scientific Corp.
John E. Abele
FIRST Chairman: 2002-2010; Founding Chairman, Retired, Boston Scientific Corp.
J.T. Battenberg III
Chairman & CEO, Retired, Delphi Corp.
J.T. Battenberg III
Chairman & CEO, Retired, Delphi Corp.
L. John Doerr III
Chairman, Kleiner Perkins
L. John Doerr III
Chairman, Kleiner Perkins
Walt Havenstein
Chief Executive Officer, Retired, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
Walt Havenstein
Chief Executive Officer, Retired, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
Gary L. Tooker
Chairman of the Board, Retired, Motorola Inc.
Gary L. Tooker
Chairman of the Board, Retired, Motorola Inc.
James R. Utaski
FIRST Chairman: 2000-2002; Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Officer, Retired, Johnson & Johnson
James R. Utaski
FIRST Chairman: 2000-2002; Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Officer, Retired, Johnson & Johnson
FIRST Senior Advisors
Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D.
President, Retired, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D.
President, Retired, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen
Deputy Chairman of the Board, LEGO Foundation & KIRKBI A/S
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen
Deputy Chairman of the Board, LEGO Foundation & KIRKBI A/S
Steve Sanghi
CEO, President, & Chair of the Board of Directors, Microchip Technology Inc.
Steve Sanghi
CEO, President, & Chair of the Board of Directors, Microchip Technology Inc.
Josh S. Weston
Honorary Chairman, Automatic Data Processing Inc.
Josh S. Weston
Honorary Chairman, Automatic Data Processing Inc.
FIRST Executive Advisory Board
The FIRST Executive Advisory Board brings together leaders from business, industry, academia, and the sciences who share a commitment to our mission. They serve in an advisory capacity and collaborate with FIRST staff and the Board of Directors to offer guidance, support special initiatives, and help shape our strategic direction.Woodie Flowers, Ph.D. (1943 - 2019)
EAB Chair Emeritus & Distinguished Advisor
Woodie Flowers, Ph.D. (1943 - 2019)
EAB Chair Emeritus & Distinguished Advisor
Kevin Ross
Co-Chair; Founder, FIRST Washington
Kevin Ross
Co-Chair; Founder, FIRST Washington
Heidi Sipe
Co-Chair; Superintendent, Umatilla Public Schools
Heidi Sipe
Co-Chair; Superintendent, Umatilla Public Schools
Charlie Ackerman
President, CAC LLC
Charlie Ackerman
President, CAC LLC
Ray Almgren
President & CEO, Swift Sensors Inc.
Ray Almgren
President & CEO, Swift Sensors Inc.
Gail Alpert
President, FIRST in Michigan
Gail Alpert
President, FIRST in Michigan
Susie Armstrong
Senior Vice President of Engineering, Qualcomm
Susie Armstrong
Senior Vice President of Engineering, Qualcomm
Mark Breadner
Co-Founder & Former President, FIRST Canada
Mark Breadner
Co-Founder & Former President, FIRST Canada
William (Kip) Gary
President, Summit Oak Cliff
William (Kip) Gary
President, Summit Oak Cliff
Greg Hale
Vice President & Chief Safety Officer, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Greg Hale
Vice President & Chief Safety Officer, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Jahmy J. Hindman
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Deere & Company
Jahmy J. Hindman
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Deere & Company
Kent H. Hughes
Former Public Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Kent H. Hughes
Former Public Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
David Lavery
Former Program Executive for Solar System Exploration, NASA
David Lavery
Former Program Executive for Solar System Exploration, NASA
John McEleney
Co-Founder, Onshape
John McEleney
Co-Founder, Onshape
Ceci Neumann
Independent Law Practice Professional
Ceci Neumann
Independent Law Practice Professional
Cate Prescott
Chief People Officer & Executive Vice President, Verra Mobility
Cate Prescott
Chief People Officer & Executive Vice President, Verra Mobility
Nancy Quan
Executive Vice President, Chief Technical Officer, The Coca-Cola Co.