top of page

Inara Tabir

President

COMMAND CREW

Inara Tabir is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming humanity into a Multiplanetary species, serving as President of the Multiplanetary Society and spearheading initiatives that bridge industries to elevate space exploration from a niche pursuit to a cultural movement. She emphasizes igniting public passion for space expansion, believing collective enthusiasm is key to humanity’s cosmic journey. Drawing from her experiences as a former foster child, Inara advocates for creating opportunities for foster youth within the space industry and frequently shares her insights globally through in-person and online presentations. Her work spans organizations like the Human Space Program, Foundation for the Future, Marcantonio Global, and SpaceKind, and she has hosted shows such as Cosmosapiens, Coffee on the Moon, and LiftOff! She coined the term “The Eighth Continent” to describe the Moon, erasing the Earth-Space divide and advocating for a unified vision of humanity’s future. With dreams as vast as space itself, she envisions living on Mars one day.

Sanaz Abravani

Executive Director

COMMAND CREW

A Social Artist and Strategic Advisor, Sanaz Abravani brings systematic thinking to humanity's exponential transformation. Drawing from fifteen years of expertise in global citizenship and international mobility, she has evolved to champion ethical innovation and human sovereignty in our rapidly evolving world. As Executive Director of The Multiplanetary Society and CEO of Abravera Ventures, she guides purpose-driven ventures focusing on Human-First implementation of singularity technologies. Her commitment to human flourishing extends to the physical realm through the development of regenerative communities and wellness-focused real estate projects. These living laboratories for sustainable community building bring together her expertise in global mobility and conscious development. Her work spans documentary filmmaking exploring digital rights and longevity science, reflecting her mission to architect frameworks that bridge consciousness with technological advancement. An Iranian millennial raised across Dubai, Toronto, and California, her multicultural journey shaped her into a natural bridge builder between cultural frontiers, informing her approach to conscious transformation in this era of unprecedented change.

Tim Chrisman

Board Director

COMMAND CREW

Tim Chrisman is a former Army intelligence advisor, security officer, and CIA officer who supported the National Space Council and the Joint Staff of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Holding two master's degrees in Intelligence Studies and International Relations and Affairs from American University, Tim is the author of Humanity in Space and numerous articles exploring the expansion of civilization into space. His mission is to build the foundation for America’s next century in space. In 2020, he co-founded Foundation For The Future, a scientific education and public works advocacy foundation with the singular goal of creating a space infrastructure administration. This public-private partnership aims to generate jobs in the space economy, foster innovation, and ensure space access for all.

Mike Mantzke

Director of Innovation

COMMAND CREW

Mike Mantzke, CEO of Global Data Sciences and Chief Encryption Architect at Encrypted Information Exchange, brings over 35 years of expertise in business strategy and technology. As CEO of Global Data Sciences, a consulting firm he co-founded in 2007, he has earned a strong reputation for formulating executable, affordable solutions for some of the world’s largest manufacturing companies, including First Alert, Sunbeam, and Coleman Powermate. Mantzke’s leadership at Global Data Sciences is rooted in the belief that well-developed strategies drive sustained success while avoiding pitfalls. Since 2017, as the Encryption Architect at Encrypted Information Exchange, he has utilized his extensive experience to develop secure communication solutions like the EIE Legal app, enabling encrypted, user-controlled sharing of confidential texts, files, and media. Previously, Mantzke was Director of IT at Powermate Corporation (2003-2008) and held key roles at BRK Electronics/First Alert, where he advanced from Production Engineer to Director of IT over 27 years. He holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science and Criminal Justice and certifications in Data Analytics, Blockchain Technologies, and Big Data from MIT. Born blind due to congenital cataracts, Mantzke’s journey and insights are featured in *The Supply Chain and Space Commerce* and *Bathrobe Moments*. He continues to contribute thought leadership through LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium, and publications like *Manufacturing Evolution* and *Smart Manufacturing: More Than a Buzz Phrase*.

Lea Garcia

Art Director

CREATIVE TEAM

Lea Garcia is the Art Director for the Multiplanetary Society and a freelance Graphic Designer based in the Philippines. Though relatively new to the industry, Lea is driven by a passion for becoming a professional Brand Designer and contributing to the establishment of human settlements "with style." A Bachelor of Science in Computer Science graduate, she has long been inspired by the transition to a space era, a fascination that began in childhood with dreams of becoming an astronaut and building habitable settlements for humankind. Accepting the challenges of this dream, Lea redirected her determination into using 'Space life' as a source of inspiration for her career, creative projects, and non-corporate endeavors. Enthralled by the space-lo-fi aesthetic, she is currently self-studying Multimedia Arts and NFT systems, with interests extending to online gaming and developing innovative technologies for rugged environments.

Cheryl Gallagher

Creative Content Specialist

CREATIVE TEAM

Cheryl Gallagher, known professionally as Madhavi Devi, is a multifaceted artist and musician celebrated for her contributions to ambient electronic music and visual arts, characterized by spiritual depth and transcendental qualities. With recognition in the New Age and ambient music communities as well as the creative arts sector, she is also a passionate advocate for human cultural evolution, particularly within the aerospace community. Through her published articles, videos, and project support, Cheryl promotes advanced human physical and cultural development in space. Holding a Master’s Degree in Adult Education with a focus on Program Administration, she possesses versatile skills in digital creative production, including audio/visual production, social media platforms, website design, and various AI tools. Cheryl’s dedication to personal and collective evolution is evident in her art and advocacy, especially her efforts to advance humanity's cultural evolution in space exploration. She supports organizations like the Multiplanetary Society and engages in research on critical aspects of human evolution, such as reproduction and settlement in space, envisioning humanity's transcendence of current limitations in future outer space environments.

Daniel Tompkins

Lead Biotech Integration

SEC TEAM

Dr. Daniel Tompkins has a lifelong interest in plant science and agricultural systems, contributing over 20 years to plant disease diagnostics and advanced crop consulting services for fruit and vegetable growers. He integrates lab and field R&D across diverse cropping systems to sustain life independent of Earth in space environments.

Marshall Porterfield

Chief of Science & Engineering

SEC TEAM

Dr. Porterfield is a Professor of Biological Engineering at Purdue University, with over 30 years of experience in understanding life in space. His work focuses on microgravity's biophysical environment, bioregenerative life support technology, and plant nutrient delivery. He served as NASA's Division Director for Space Life Sciences and pioneered open science initiatives like GeneLAB.

Pamela Gay

Senior Scientist

SEC TEAM

Dr. Pamela Gay is an astronomer and technologist using new media to engage people in science. A senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, her work includes citizen science projects mapping the Solar System and media productions like Astronomy Cast. She holds a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Texas.

Jacob Sager

Multimedia Producer

SEC TEAM

Jacob Sager is a writer, automation advocate, McLuhanist, and father of five, driven by a passion for exploring the intersections of tradition, technology, and the human spirit. He is the creator and host of Space Midrash, a podcast that examines how Jewish civilization can inform and evolve alongside the emerging space age. As a recovering English major, Jacob is fascinated by the stories we tell—how they shape us and how emerging technologies, like AI and space exploration, can amplify our ability to cultivate both art and nature. He believes that humanity's purpose lies in creating meaning, beauty, and connection, and that the tools of the future must serve this purpose ethically and artfully.

Ubaldo Ciminieri

Head of Programming for MP Radio

SEC TEAM

Ubaldo "The Space Ace" Ciminieri is a dynamic podcast host, space entrepreneur, and advocate for inclusion, collaboration, and creativity in the space industry. As the host of podcasts like Liftoff! and Human Everywhere, he bridges science, art, and culture, making space exploration accessible to all. Liftoff! highlights diverse contributors to the space sector, exploring intersections with art, music, fashion, and entertainment, while Human Everywhere examines shared humanity as we venture beyond Earth, promoting inclusivity and collaboration in space environments. Ubaldo also serves as Chief of Staff at CisLunar Industries, a company developing key technologies for the in-space industrial economy on Earth orbit and the Lunar surface, and he co-founded The Traveling Space Panel, which organizes interdisciplinary discussions on space exploration. Through his podcasts, leadership roles, and creative initiatives, Ubaldo is dedicated to fostering collaboration, celebrating creativity, and ensuring everyone has a voice in humanity's journey to the stars.

Jason Batt

Web Development

SEC TEAM

Dr. Jason D. Batt is a technological philosopher, mythologist, futurist, artist, writer, former teacher, whose PhD focused on the mythologies of the future, in particular those of interstellar travel. He is a co-founder of Deep Space Predictive Research Group, Project Lodestar, and the International Society of Mythology. He is the Creative and Editorial Director of 100 Year Starship, a DARPA seed-funded initiative—in this role, he has founded and organized the Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Writing. In his role with 100YSS, he has served as senior editor on six different volumes of 100YSS Conference Proceedings, equaling nearly 2500 pages of scholarly work on interstellar travel. His novels include Onliest, Young Gods, and Dreamside, and his short fiction has appeared in Perihelion, Bastion, Bewildering Stories, A Story Goes On, and other periodicals. His scholarly work has appeared in Room, Renascence, the Journal of Space Philosophy, the Mythological Studies Journal, Winning Westeros, and more. He edited the science fiction anthology Visions of the Future, published through Lifeboat Foundation and Strange California, a successful Kickstarter through Falstaff Books. His most recent publication is the chapter "Evolving Light" with authors Alires Almon and Ted Vial in Routledge's Outer Space and Religion book, released July 7 2023. He is currently co-editing Soul and the Machine, a book exploring artificial intelligence through the lenses of depth psychology and mythology, to be published by Palgrave in 2025.

James Maynard

AI Czar

SEC TEAM

James Maynard combines AI with storytelling to inspire humanity toward space exploration. From publishing science magazines at nine to writing over 10,000 articles, he now creates immersive experiences blending AI and science. Based in Tucson, he collaborates with experts to redefine science communication.

Diane Ward

Director of Educational Initiatives

SEC TEAM

Bio forthcoming

Vanessa Valore

SEC Team Member

SEC TEAM

Vanessa Valore is an entrepreneur and the Founder/CEO of SandboxLife® and Co-founder/CEO of Diverse Vitality. She founded Valore Ventures in 1996, overseeing three divisions, including a design/build company focused on identity creation and branding for companies nationwide. By 2005, she launched SandboxLife®, a technology company specializing in behavioral science classification with gamification elements, later distilled into an advanced app. Vanessa has organized live team-building events for major companies such as Comcast and the United Green Council. She consults and serves on boards like Cyber Court and Learn to Learn, focusing on neuroscience and technology. Her extensive client list includes roles as VP of Marketing for United International, Marketing Specialist for Promises Rehabilitation, and Director of the Reverse Mortgage Counseling Association, overseeing over 280 locations nationwide. Vanessa has also served on boards for former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, including as chair of the Design Board in Santa Fe and on the Film and New Media Advisory Board. A dedicated fundraiser, she transitioned from the hospitality industry to technology startups and cross-platform New Media. Educated at Professional Children’s School in New York City, Parsons School of Design, and The New School for Social Research, she completed her degree through the College of Santa Fe, focusing on studies in Southern Spain, North Africa, and Italy.

Frank White

SME Council Member

SME COUNCIL

Frank White, widely regarded as a "space philosopher," has authored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change and artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered a seminal text in the field of space exploration, with the term "the Overview Effect" becoming a standard for describing the spaceflight experience since the book's first edition in 1987. A film inspired by his work, Overview, has garnered nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo. The fourth edition of The Overview Effect, featuring interviews with 31 astronauts, was published in 2019. Frank's most recent book, The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, explores the purpose of human space exploration, questioning why humanity is on the brink of becoming a spacefaring species. In it, he presents the concept of "the Human Space Program" as a unifying project to engage humanity in becoming "Citizens of the Universe." Frank and his wife Donna reside outside Boston, Massachusetts.

Janet Ivey

SME Council Member

SME COUNCIL

Janet Ivey is dedicated to sharing the joy of exploration and discovery with children worldwide. Growing up in Covington, TN, she nurtured her love for the cosmos through childhood games of astronaut and Star Trek, inspired by her fifth-grade teacher Ms. Ernestine Yarborough, who hosted a star party where Janet first looked through a telescope. This experience ignited her lifelong passion for space. Believing in the harmony of art and science, Janet, who holds a Bachelor’s in Music and Theatre, integrates both disciplines in her educational work. In 2016, she received the inaugural "Permission to Dream" Award from Rick Tumlinson’s New Worlds Institute for her commitment to STEAM education and global outreach. As a member of the Board of Governors of the National Space Society and spokesperson for Enterprise in Space, Janet inspires young people, especially girls, to see intelligence as beautiful. She created the #DearPluto project for NASA’s New Horizons Mission, earning international acclaim, and is working on a book featuring children’s letters with commentary from New Horizons scientists. Janet also serves as an ambassador for the Children’s Television Network, providing uplifting programming for children in hospitals. She presents two live shows, Tour of the Solar System and Exploring Microgravity, combining humor, theatrical elements, and experiential learning to promote scientific literacy. Runner-up for the 2016 Woman of the Year by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Janet has also co-hosted Tennessee’s Wildside for 15 years and has numerous TV and film credits, available on her IMDB page.

Jamal Simpson

SME Council Member

SME COUNCIL

Bio forthcoming

Sean McClaine

SME Council Member

SME COUNCIL

Sean McClain is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), class of 2007. During his military career, Sean has served with distinction in nuclear and space operations, with notable accomplishments in highly selective Green Door assignments, including 1st Space Operations Squadron (1 SOPS), 3d Space Experimentation Squadron (3 SES), and at the Headquarters of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Chantilly, VA. He has an extensive operational background in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Sean is a 2023 graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School’s Space Test Course, a partner program between the Air Force and the Space Force to produce premier space test professionals for leading and solving the challenges of developing the United States military’s and intelligence community’s most complex space systems. Sean has a Master of Military Operational Art and Science (MMOAS), a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Military Strategic Studies from the United States Air Force Academy. His Masters' thesis, “Celestial Sentinels: A Framework for Cis-Lunar Space Domain Awareness in 2035,” has been used by industry professionals since its public release in 2020 as a vision for how to unlock the economic potential of the Earth’s cislunar regime. More can be learned of Sean McClain at: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-mcclain-397a25b5/

Alexander Layendecker

SME Council Member

SME COUNCIL

Bio forthcoming

Namrata Goswami

SME Council Member

SME COUNCIL

Dr. Namrata Goswami is an author and educator specializing in space policy, international relations, and ethnic identity. Currently, Dr. Goswami teaches at the Schriever and West Space Scholar Programs, the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, and at the Joint Special Forces University. She is a guest lecturer at Emory University for seminars on Technology, Society & Governance, and India today. She worked as a Research Fellow at MP-Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi; a Visiting Fellow at Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway; La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; University of Heidelberg, Germany; Jennings-Randolph Senior Fellow, United States Institute of Peace; and was a Fulbright Senior Fellowship Awardee. She was awarded the Minerva grant by the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense to study great power competition in outer space. In April 2019, Dr. Goswami testified before the U.S-China Economic and Security Review Commission on China’s space program. Her co-authored book, Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space was published in 2020 by Lexington Press; Rowman, and Littlefield. Her book on The Naga Ethnic Movement for a Separate Homeland was published in 2020 by Oxford University Press. She has published widely including in The Diplomat, the Economic Times, The Washington Post, Ad Astra, Asia Policy, Live Encounters Magazine, Cairo Review. She was invited in November 2019 to share about her life and her work at a Tedx event held at the Rosa Parks Museum, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Vishal Konapala

National Head, India

CHAPTER HEADS

Bio forthcoming

Oscar Iván O’Farrill Cobo

Head of MPS Mexico

SEC TEAM

Oscar Iván O’Farrill Cobo is a renowned Mexican psychologist and academic internationally recognized for his leadership in aerospace psychology, consciousness studies, and mental training for astronauts. As a pioneer in merging science, tradition, and technology, he addresses the challenges of human development in extreme environments such as space exploration. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Universidad Iberoamericana, a Master’s degree in Cognitive Psychology and Learning from FLACSO Argentina and the Autonomous University of Madrid, and has completed advanced training in neuroscience, forensic psychology, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Oscar has co-authored groundbreaking research, such as "Psychological Challenges of Spaceflight," and is a member of the Psychology Proto Task-Force of the Overview Round Table and The Human Space Program. As the founder of The Future Academy and the Ecosystem for Human Development and Consciousness Studies (EDHEC), he integrates artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and ancestral wisdom to develop innovative training programs for astronauts and therapists. His role as Director of the Postgraduate Program in Therapeutic Accompaniment with Ancestral Medicines and Entheogens (Protocolo Q) bridges traditional practices with modern science, making it a benchmark for transformative mental health methodologies. A former elite athlete in rugby and ice hockey, his expertise in focus and resilience complements his scientific work. As a Sun Dancer, Vision Quest Practitioner, and consciousness musician, Oscar blends traditional rituals and sound therapy to promote mental flow states, ensuring humanity’s preparedness for the challenges of a multiplanetary future. His visionary leadership continues to inspire innovation at the intersection of psychology, education, and cultural evolution.
landscape 16.png
landscape 11.png
bottom of page