Future of Space Flight

Thursday, August 15, 2019
University of Wisconsin-Platteville

29th Annual Wisconsin Space Conference
UW-Platteville Ullsvik Hall
1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI
Conference — Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019
7:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host the 29th annual Wisconsin Space Conference on FThursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in the university’s Ullsvik Hall. The theme of this year’s conference is “Future of Space Flight.”

The conference kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Thursday with a continental breakfast and an opening keynote by Elsbeth Magilton, J.D, Executive Director of the Space, Cyber, and Telecommuniations law programs at the University of Nebraska College of Law.  Throughout the day, attendees will hear about NASA partnerships, student research, K-12 outreach, academic and industry research, and WSGC team projects. There will be a poster and networking session, and an awards ceremony.

The evening concludes with dinner and a special presentation by Dr. Brian Pomeroy, Senior Engineer and senior technical lead for Sierra Nevada Corporation’s propulsion program.

Download the 2019 Conference Brochure for conference registration and accommodation information.

Thursday Morning Plenary Speaker: Elsbeth Magilton, J.D.

Executive Director, Space, Cyber, and Telecommunications 
University of Nebraska College of Law

Elsbeth Magilton oversees program development and research at the University of Nebraska College of Law. Her current focus areas include commercial space law and policy, and national security.  Magilton is a licensed attorney in the state of Nebraska and member ofthe American Bar Association, including the ABA Air and Space Section.  Magilton is a member of the American Society of International Law and serves as the Co-Chair for the Space Law Interest Group.  She is a member of the National Women in Aerospace organization and hosts the U.S. State Department Visiting Leaders Program, focused on  Women in STEM, Cybersecurity, and National Security annually.  Magilton is the law college’s principal investigator for projects serving the U.S. Strategic Command’s University Affiliated Research Center-the only such center in the Department of Defense to include a law school in their reseaarch partenerships.  In September 2018, Magilton was part of the team that received a major NASA/Space Law grant to create a nationwide network of students, faculty, and practitioners interested in space law and policy.

Thursday Evening Plenary Speaker: Brian Pomeroy, Ph.D.

Senior Engineer
Sierra Nevada Corporation

Dr. Brian Pomeroy has more than 13 years of experience in aerospace engineering, specializing in rocket combustion and propulsion technology. He received his undergraduate Aerospace Engineering degree from Penn State University and his graduate degree from Purdue University where he was a NDSEG fellow and research assistant. For his graduate work he developed optical and high-speed video observation tools, photodiode measurements, and Schlieren and Shadowgraph techniques to study combustion instability. Dr. Pomeroy’s area of expertise is in rocket combustion stability and combustion devices focusing on research and development of new technologies and integrating them into propulsion systems. In his current position at Sierra Nevada Corporation, Dr. Pomeroy supports SNC’s propulsion programs as a senior technical lead. He has worked research and development programs for a number of different programs. Currently he is leading an effort to develop a propulsion technology that can help the government expand their capabilities while reducing cost. He has been involved with integrating new manufacturing techniques as well as prior research level technology to develop a novel propulsion system. Prior to joining SNC, Dr. Pomeroy worked as a Senior Engineer, Analyst at Aerojet and Aerojet Rocketdyne, where he supported programs as a combustion device analyst. In this role he developed rocket injectors which would burn the propellants evenly in a distributed manor while keeping the rocket engine cool enough to not melt due to hot combustion temperatures. As an analyst he worked on parts of five different programs. Dr. Pomeroy is an active member of AIAA where he has written numerous papers as well as is the current Director of the Young Professional Group, has participated on the Space Transportation Technical Committee and served as the technical chair for two AIAA Forums. He is an advocate for young professionals and enjoys mentoring young engineers. Outside of work Dr. Pomeroy is an avid outdoor enthusiast enjoying adventurous backcountry treks, an Eagle Scout and active supporter of the Boy Scouts, triathlete, SCUBA certified and an active pilot with over 500 hours of flight time.

for more information:

Contact the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium at spacegrant@carthage.edu or call 262-551-6054.