Board of Directors

Kathie Scobee Fulgham, Chair

Kathie Scobee Fulgham is the daughter of Challenger astronaut Dick Scobee and June Scobee Rodgers, Ph.D.

The scope of Kathie's experience and leadership skills are grounded in a well-rounded career of team-play, where creative interchanges, along with goal completion, have been benchmarks of success. She focuses on public relations, special events, writing, editing, media relations, fundraising, marketing and website development.

While Kathie's work in Chattanooga has been concentrated on her projects with the Mayor, the Tennessee Aquarium and Waterfront endeavors, she also worked for two of the most highly respected institutions in the nation: Rice University and Texas A&M University. 

In addition to serving on the Astronauts Memorial Foundation Board, Kathie currently serves as a board member for Crime Stoppers, Hamilton County Department of Education Fund for Excellence, H*Art Gallery and advisory board member of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education. Past board service includes the Houston Museum, First Things First and the Cypress-Woodlands Junior Forum.

She was named a 2012 Woman of Distinction.

Taber MacCallum, Vice Chair

Taber’s reputation for tirelessly pursuing knowledge and excellence precedes him. Early in his career he was referred to as a wünderkind, a genius, the prodigal result of his environment and upbringing. His life’s journey has informed and enriched his every step, and today that path has led him to co-founding Space Perspective with his business partner and wife Jane Poynter.

Taber was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to an Australian psychiatrist mother and an American astrophysicist father. Prophetically, his father’s career was focused on the study of gamma rays using spaceballoons. In this stimulating environment Taber excelled, moving to Austin, Texas to finish high school. Like many before him, he then decided to travel and a love affair with all that the world had to offer ensued. Starting in the relatively safe realms of Western Europe, he decided to push the boundaries and visit the Soviet Union, traveling on the famed Trans-Siberian Railroad. He found great warmth and comradery from long conversations with the locals, quickly realizing that there was much more that binds us than separates us as humans. Emboldened by this experience, Taber moved to Japan to teach English and then on to China, which had only recently been opened to the West. Again, Taber was taken by the commonality within the human experience. It was in Samoa that Taber joined a research vessel that was sailing around the world filming breathtaking documentaries. In Singapore Taber learned to dive, the science of which he soon mastered. While docked in Sri Lanka the vessel picked up Jane and the two of them became part of the potential crew pool for the then recently conceived project Biosphere 2. From the outset, he was part of the design team, integral to imagining and realizing the Biosphere 2 project. He created the analytical laboratory that monitored the air, water, and soil of Biosphere 2. Many of the insights learned in Biosphere 2 would become the basis for future projects and innovations.

After sailing oceans together, developing and serving as crew members in Biosphere 2, and starting the successful aerospace company Paragon Space Development Corporation, Jane and Taber got married, and are now nearing their 30th anniversary. Named in honor of Taber’s Great-Grandfather’s company that built Paragon Propellors in WWII, Paragon is focused on building on their learnings from Biosphere 2. 20 years on, and Paragon has thrived, headquartered today in Tucson, AZ pioneering life support systems and thermal control products for extreme environments. These systems are used on the International Space Station, by NASA, major aerospace companies and the U.S. military.

By 2010 Taber was driven to start developing new space vehicle options which grant greater and cleaner access to space. Using his experience with his father’s spaceballoons, Taber started considering options that were in stark contrast to the rocket fuel options that dominated the market. In 2014, these innovative ideas were put to practical use as Google executive Alan Eustace choose Paragon to realize his dream of breaking the world free fall record in what was the StratEx project. This was all captured in the documentary 14 Minutes from Earth, released in 2016.

Taber is the former Chairman and current board member of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. Their mission is to advance commercial spaceflight and the associated industry, to pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. Taber holds an impressive number of technology patents, most notably; the atmospheric monitoring system used in the Biosphere, the Boeing CST-100 spacecraft humidity control system, the thermal radiators for Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser spacecraft, a hazardous water diving suit for the US Navy, the StratEx stable supersonic flight spacesuit, a wastewater recovery system now on the International Space Station, several breakthrough stratospheric altitude control navigation technologies designed for the stratollite, and a number of key Space Perspective technology patents for human balloon flight in the stratosphere.

As the Chief Technology Officer of Space Perspective, Taber heads up a team of world class engineers. His experience, knowledge and passion conjure confidence and inspire the whole company.

Joseph Mayer, Secretary

Joe Mayer has 34 years’ professional experience in government and community relations, national security affairs and U.S. space exploration policy, as well as communications and business development.  He currently serves as Lockheed Martin’s Director for Government Relations – FL. 

Mayer has worked for Lockheed Martin, The Boeing Company, Rockwell International, the Senate Intelligence Committee and U.S. Senator Jake Garn (R-UT).  He is the National Chairman of Citizens for Space Exploration – a grassroots, pro-space exploration advocacy group.  He served nearly ten years with the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in Houston, TX, including Chairman of the Board for the Chamber’s 50th Anniversary Year, Vice Chair of Research, Executive Committee and Board Member, Chair and principal author of the Chamber’s 2012 and 2017 strategic plans, as well as a member of the Government Affairs and Education Divisions. 

Joe Mayer is a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast and a member of the National Space Club – FL.  He has supported STEM education outreach as a Board Member of the Clear Creek Education Foundation, is a NASA Space Flight Awareness award recipient, and was named by the Clear Lake Chamber as one of fifty individuals who had a significant impact in shaping the achievements and future of the Clear Lake – Houston region.  The Mayor and City Council of Houston recognized his many professional and community contributions by officially declaring February 26, 2013 “Joe Mayer Day” in the city of Houston.
 

Michael Olson, Treasurer

Mike is a career banker in Iowa. He has served the banking industry nationally with past service on the American Bankers Association's Government Relations Council and Compliance Administrative Committee and current service representing Iowa on ABA's Banker Advocacy and Grassroots Committee. He is also a Congressional Contact Banker for the Iowa Bankers Association, advocating for the banking industry in Washington DC. He is an honor graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In 2009, Mike received a Congressional nomination for an appointment by the Treasury Department to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee to the United States Mint. In that capacity, he advised the Secretary of the Treasury on themes and designs of nearly 200 coins and Congressional Gold Medals. He first proposed the 2019 Apollo 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin program while a member of the CCAC in 2014 and it was unanimously recommended by the full committee in its 2014 and 2015 annual reports. He worked tirelessly to get a bill authorizing the coins introduced in Congress and was a key player in its passage into law in 2016.

Mike's military career began with a commission through the Reserve Officers Training program at the University of Northern Iowa in 1987, where he also earned his bachelor's degree. He is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. During his career with the Iowa Army National Guard, he served as the commander of several units as well as in a number of staff positions, most notably as a strategic planning officer on the Iowa National Guard Joint Staff. He was additionally involved in Baldrige-based continuous improvement programs for the National Guard for over 10 years. His final assignment was as the Selective Service Officer for the State of Iowa, responsible for the recruitment and training of 145 civilian board members recommended by the Governor and appointed in the name of the President. Under his leadership, Iowa ranked first in a 23-state region in terms of readiness. His military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. He was also honored with the Arkansas Traveler award presented by the Governor and Secretary of State of Arkansas.

He has served as president of the Grinnell Rotary Club and treasurer of Big Brothers/Sisters of Northeast Iowa and is involved in many other community activities and organizations.

Sheryl L. Chaffee, Immediate Past Chair

Sheryl Chaffee was born in Kingsville, Texas; she is the daughter of Roger and Martha Chaffee.  Sheryl grew up in Houston, Texas during the Apollo space race, moved to Florida in 1979 and began her career at NASA in 1983.

Sheryl's father, Roger was an Apollo astronaut.  Roger died in the Apollo 1 fire along with Gus Grissom and Ed White on January 27, 1967.  Sheryl’s mother, Martha served on the Astronaut Memorial Foundation Board of Directors from 2008 to 2013.  

Sheryl's career at NASA spanned 33 years.  She held several positions during her years of service.  Her last position was as the Real Property Officer at the Kennedy Space Center where she was accountable for all real property assets on the Center. Sheryl retired from NASA December 2016.

Sheryl has been an active supporter of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation since its inception.  She participated in fund raising events and committee meetings during the development of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation and the Center for Space Education.  She has received various awards and recognitions including a Community Service Award from the Astronauts Memorial Foundation and Outstanding Contribution recognition from the Telephone Pioneer of America North Florida Charter 39.

She supports local cancer center charitable events, has volunteered to work the Melbourne Art Festival 5K run and regularly participates in beach clean ups.  She enjoys traveling, boating, biking and the beach.  Sheryl is married to Grady Thomas, has two grown sons, a daughter-in-law and four grandchildren.

Andrew Allen (LtCol. USMC, Ret.)

Test Pilot, Top Gun, United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and Space Shuttle Astronaut, CEO Andrew (Andy) Allen has had a distinguished and heralded career that spans more than 35 years in the aerospace industry.

Andy logged more than 900 hours in space as a Pilot and Mission Commander for three Space Shuttle missions.

Andy’s career literally 'spanned the globe' from a Marine Top Gun fighter pilot to three stints as a Space Shuttle Pilot and Mission Commander to his current role as Chief Executive Officer for Aerodyne Industries LLC in Cape Canaveral, FL.

In 2017, he was recognized by the National Space Club Florida Committee with the Dr. Kurt Debus Award, Florida’s most prestigious space industry honor. He has received numerous other honors during his illustrious career, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

As a former United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, Marine test pilot and NASA astronaut, Andy logged more than 6,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. Following his service with NASA and the Marine Corps, he performed in senior leadership positions at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Johnson Space Center (JSC) and NASA Headquarters, where he proved his ability to lead organizations exceeding 4,500 personnel.

Prior to Aerodyne, Andy spent seven years at KSC, working directly for NASA and United Space Alliance (USA). During his tenure with USA, Andy served as Associate Program Manager for Ground Operations. Andy's organization performed Launch Operations and provided maintenance and operational support to the ground infrastructure required for space flight support.

Andy was successful in managing change at NASA when budget cuts required a 50% reduction of the employee base (from 8,000 to approximately 4,000 in ground operations) with no significant reduction in work scope. His team not only performed the level of work required, but also introduced new efficiencies. As a result, overtime was reduced by more than 60 percent and there were more on-time launches than in previous years, and fewer in-flight anomalies.

Andy was also responsible for USA's Shuttle Return-to-Flight effort after the Columbia (STS-107) disaster in February 2003, which required the recovery, identification and subsequent modification of critical Space Shuttle components and related systems prior to the launch of Discovery (STS-114) nearly 30 months later.

Andy has also held several positions at Honeywell, including Vice President (VP) of Space Programs and Requirements, where he led business development for Space Exploration Programs, VP of Sales and Customer Marketing for Space Systems, where he generated $600,000,000 in space systems business, and VP of International Military Aircraft Programs, where he was responsible for over $800,000,000 in annual sales and 400 customers in over 40 countries.

Bonnie Baer

Bonnie Baer is the daughter of Lt. Colonel Ed and Pat White. Ed White was selected in the second group of astronauts. He was the first American to walk in space and the first person to use a jet propulsion gun to maneuver himself in space while on Gemini 4. Ed was chosen as senior pilot of Apollo 1 and was killed in a launch pad training accident in 1967.

Bonnie has been a supporter of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation since the beginning. Her brother, Ed White II, was one of the first directors.  Bonnie is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with a degree in business specializing in marketing. After raising two daughters she has been employed by Neiman Marcus since 2004 and was selected to be a personal shopper. She has been awarded for exceptional customer service and is one of the top producers at the flagship Dallas downtown store.  Bonnie has served on several boards and has been involved in many fundraising projects. She presently volunteers at North Dallas Shared Ministries filling food baskets for the elderly and sorting clothing donations.

Denise Coleman, Education Committee Chair

Denise Coleman was born in Syracuse, NY, and her family moved to Florida in 1965 as her father became part of the fledgling Space Program team. After watching Apollo rockets fly over her childhood school playgrounds, she joined NASA in 1978 at the beginning of the Shuttle Program. She supported the rollout of STS-1 through the final flight of STS-135, and then continued to support the NASA Commercial Crew Program and Artemis missions. She received several awards, with highlights being a NASA Certificate of Commendation, the Spaceflight Awareness Award, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.

Denise has held various administrative roles in her 42-1/2 year career, including Education Program Specialist, under the NASA Office of STEM Engagement. She supported programs that engaged local and national K-12 educators and students; school districts; university faculty and students; Space Grants; Challenger Centers; science centers and museums; and informal education programs such as Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H, and the Boy and Girl Scout organizations. She has had key roles on multiple teams that ran collegiate NASA challenges and competitions. Her last role was as the NASA STEM activity lead of the Next Gen STEM Commercial Crew Program. With a team of education specialists from across KSC, JSC, LARC, GRC and NASA HQs, developed K-12 curriculum and activities related to the CCP program. She worked with education and public affairs reps from SpaceX and Boeing to ensure the NASA CCP story was fully disseminated to the public. Throughout her career, she supported NASA Guest Operations for multiple launches and special events. This included being the KSC lead liaison for the astronaut extended families, working closely with the JSC Astronaut Office to ensure optimum launch experiences for the families.

Denise is married to husband, Marty, and has a son, daughter and son-in-law. She enjoys reading (plans to volunteer at the local library), the beach, gardening and traveling.

William (Bill) Gattle

Frank Kinney

Frank Kinney served as the Chief of Staff, Senior VP for External Relations, and Vice President for Research at Florida Institute of Technology from 2006 to 2020. Prior to joining Florida Tech, Mr. Kinney served as the Executive Director of the Technological Research and Development Authority from 1989 to 2006.

He has been honored to receive the following awards in recognition of his professional and community service: NASA Public Service Medal, Space Congress Achievement Award, Florida Business Incubation Association Innovation Award, Brevard Community College Noah award for Outstanding Community Leadership, and the National Alliance of Clean Energy Business Incubators Achievement Award.

Frank received his BS and MS degrees from Florida State University in Government. He is married to Kitt Kane, who is a retired Florida elementary school teacher

Barbara R. Morgan

Barbara Morgan is an educator and retired NASA astronaut. Morgan is the public elementary school teacher who trained with the Challenger crew as the back-up for Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe, then later served as a NASA astronaut for 10 years. She is now Distinguished Educator in Residence, Emeritus, at Boise State University.

Morgan graduated with honors from Stanford University, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. She earned her teaching credential at College of Notre Dame (Notre Dame de Namur University). She taught public school for 24 years in diverse locations including the Bay Area in California, the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana, a small mountain town in Idaho, and Colegio Americano in Quito, Ecuador. In 1985, Morgan (back-up) and Christa McAuliffe (Teacher in Space) were selected to train with the space shuttle Challenger crew. After that mission ended tragically shortly after lift-off with the loss of the crew, NASA asked Morgan to continue as Teacher in Space Designee. She returned to her teaching in Idaho and continued to work for NASA, part-time, where her duties included public speaking, educational consulting, curriculum design, and serving on the National Science Foundation’s Task Force for Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering.

NASA selected Morgan to join the 1998 astronaut class. She flew 5.3 million miles in space in 2007 on STS-118, a two-week mission to help construct the International Space Station. Her duties included operating the space shuttle and space station robotic arms, serving as loadmaster, assisting the pilots with re-entry and landing, and teaching lessons from orbit to schoolchildren on Earth. In addition to spaceflight, Morgan worked in Mission Control as prime communicator (“Capcom”) with on-orbit crews, and she served in the Space Station Operations Branch and Robotics Branch of the Astronaut Office.

Morgan retired from NASA in 2008 to become Distinguished Educator in Residence at Boise State University, where she represented the university and provided vision and leadership to the State of Idaho, primarily in STEM education. Her work included policy and program development, advocacy, and mentoring. Currently, Morgan works with Boise State University as Emeritus, and continues to work with national and international education organizations, other non-profits, and NASA.

Karen Bassett Stevenson

Karen Bassett Stevenson is the daughter of Charlie and Jeannie Bassett. Charlie was a member of the third group of astronauts and was scheduled to pilot Gemini IX. He and flight commander Elliot See were killed in a T-38 accident in St. Louis, Missouri on February 28, 1966.

Karen was born on the far eastern tip of Long Island (where her dad watched Sputnik orbit) and earned a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Texas Tech University. She continued graduate studies in American History at Portland (Oregon) State University.

Her career has been shaped by 501(c)(3) organizations. She’s worked on heritage preservation and tourism projects in Oregon and Houston and with environmental conservation organizations in South Dakota, Chicago, and Seattle. She served as a board member for community organizations in Chicago dedicated to teaching school children in inner-city food deserts and the training director for Texas Master Naturalists in San Antonio. As the director of communications for The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, she reshaped institutional communication programs. She now lives in Fredericksburg, Texas, where she serves as the director of visitor and volunteer services at the National Museum of the Pacific War.

Jessica Andre

A native of Melbourne, Florida, Jessica André graduated from Melbourne High School in 2003 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Auburn University in 2008. She is co-owner of FrogBones Family Shooting Center and Double Tapp Grill in Melbourne. Jessica has served on many boards and has supported numerous fundraising efforts throughout the community. She credits her philanthropic efforts to her parents, Ed and Jeanne André, who have been involved in the community for decades and instilled in Jessica the importance of giving back at an early age. For more than a decade, Jessica partnered with the Cancer Care Centers Foundation to help organize the annual Caring Hearts Benefit, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Foundation cancer patients in Brevard and Indian River Counties. Jessica’s passion for the organization is inspired by her sister, Rachael, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2004. Jessica joined the Health First Foundation Board of Directors in 2016 and the same year, served as chairwoman of the Health First Foundation Benefit Ball themed “A Walk in Wonderland,” which featured more than 500 attendees and raised more than $500,000 for the Foundation. Jessica also served on the Space Coast Field of Dreams Board of Directors during construction of the Field of Dreams handicapped-accessible playground and sports complex in West Melbourne. She is also a Director of the André Family Foundation. An avid dog lover, Jessica also volunteers with Touch of Grey Rescue in Melbourne Beach and has fostered more than 20 senior dogs. Jessica received Space Coast Daily’s Central Florida Humanitarian Award in 2018 and tied for first-place in the fourth-annual Dancing for the Space Coast fundraising event the same year. Her interest and love for space and the space program stems from her grandfather who worked at Cape Canaveral on the Apollo Moon Landing Program. As a Space Coast native she grew up watching the rockets and shuttles go up and hearing about the Apollo missions from her grandfather. Jessica, who was paralyzed from the waist down following an accident in 2012, is no stranger to challenges and continues to live her life to the fullest. She strives to give God the glory for every good thing in her life and tries to live by Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” She has a strong passion for her Christian faith, family, giving back and anything adventurous.

Nancy P. Bray

In December 2022, Nancy P. Bray retired from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) after 34 years of dedicated service. For the last 10 years of her career, she served as Director of Spaceport Integration and Services at KSC, providing executive leadership and operational integration of America’s premier multiuser spaceport. Nancy has held a variety of positions since she began her career at NASA in 1989 with responsibilities ranging from contract management; protective services; medical and environmental management; facilities construction, operations, maintenance and engineering; and logistics and operations support. Nancy dedicated 22 years to NASA’s Space Shuttle program and for the last 10 years has been transforming KSC into a robust multiuser spaceport supporting the NASA Artemis, Commercial Crew, and uncrewed Launch Services Programs, in furtherance of science and deep space exploration as well as the burgeoning commercial space market. Throughout her career she received two Presidential Rank Awards and the NASA Outstanding Leader, Exceptional Service and Exceptional Achievement medals. Nancy also served as the Center Sustainability Officer and was KSC’s executive champion for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender and Allies employee resource group. Nancy earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, and a Masters of Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida. She currently serves as a Board Member for the Central Brevard Sharing Center and the Merritt Island Wildlife Association.