Guest Speakers
William J. Pomerantz
Director of Space Projects
X PRIZE Foundation
Mr. Pomerantz currently serves as the Director of Space Projects for the X PRIZE
Foundation. He holds a BA in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University. He served as a Research Associate in the NASA Academy at Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA's premiere leadership training program. After graduating from the Academy, Mr. Pomerantz worked as a planetary geologist studying Martian geology in the lab of James Head, III at Brown University for one year before leaving to earn his MS in Space Studies at the International Space University (ISU).
After graduating from ISU, Mr. Pomerantz worked as an Analyst at the Futron Corporation, an aerospace consultancy based in Bethesda, Maryland. At Futron, he participated in a number of research projects, ranging from launch demand analysis for the Federal Aviation Administration to commercial development research for the Florida Spaceport Authority. In July of 2005, Mr. Pomerantz took the position of Director of Space Projects at the X PRIZE Foundation, where he currently manages all of the Foundation's new prizes in the field of aerospace, totaling more than $2.5 million in total prize money. Additionally, Mr. Pomerantz serves as the Foundation's sole representative in Washington, DC, performing many government relations tasks.
Mr. Pomerantz is also the co-founder and editor of SpaceAlumni.com, an online news and networking tool for young space professionals around the world. In 2006, Mr. Pomerantz was selected to serve on a National Research Council (NRC) Federal Advisory Committee producing a report on "Meeting the Workforce Needs for the National Vision for Space Exploration". Additionally, he is an officer of the Space Generation Foundation, a Vice President of the NASA Academy Alumni Association, and sits on the Steering Committee for the Space Exploration Alliance. Mr. Pomerantz has been an invited lecturer at a number of institutions and conferences, including the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and George Washington University's Space Policy Institute.
Bruce G. NormanGeneral Manager, Controls Product Management
GE Energy
Bruce was born in Schenectady, New York. He received his Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1979 and his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1982. He is a graduate of GE’s Advanced Course in Engineering. He has over 25 years experience in technology development within Energy and Aerospace and has managed several development teams within Energy.
Bruce was named Chief Engineer of Controls for Energy in 1999. In 2004 he was named the Energy Business Program Manager for GE Global Research where he was responsible for all development programs at the Research Center in the Energy and Oil and Gas spaces. His responsibilities included managing an Energy venture capital fund where he selected and drove high payback, big bet development programs. In 2007 he was appointed to his current position of General Manager, Controls Product Management. Bruce was the recipient of the 1985 Young Engineer Award for Power Systems Gas Turbine, the 1999 Outstanding Technical Contribution Award, and the 2005 Best Issued Energy Patent Award.
In 2003 GE’s CEO, Jeff Immelt, created a corporate award, named after GE’s founder and most prolific inventor, Thomas Edison, to recognize an individual in each of the 9 technology fields within GE whose technical contributions have made a significant impact on the current and future vitality of GE. Bruce was selected as the first recipient of this GE Edison Award for Energy. He is a certified Six Sigma Quality Master Black Belt. Bruce has taught widely on the subjects of technology, innovation and creativity in many GE and customer forums including GE’s Management Institute in Crotonville, addressing GE employees as well as CEO’s and senior leaders from many global companies.