Jim Aarestad, Chief Scientist

Dr. Jim Aarestad serves as Chief Scientist for COSMIAC. Dr. Aarestad received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Engineering from The University of New Mexico in 2009 and 2011 respectively. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering, also from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Aarestad’s graduate research centered on research and development of VLSI primitives for hardware security, including physical unclonable functions (PUFs) and hardware Trojan detection methodologies. His research interests include the application of highly robust and highly secure embedded system design methods for aerospace and terrestrial applications. He has numerous conference and journal publications and has presented his research at several national conferences. Dr. Aarestad has developed the embedded flight software for numerous space-based payload modules, along with educational materials and training programs to advance the teaching of FPGA-based embedded system concepts. He is also engaged in a research project to better understand and mitigate the susceptibility of cryptographic computing resources to power analysis attacks. Dr. Aarestad has, for several years, provided engineering consultation to the U.S. Air Force in support of its development of next-generation Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). He is also a research professor at The University of New Mexico’s Electrical & Computer Engineering department, and has taught and developed numerous courses in programming, computer hardware design, and satellite navigation receiver design. Finally, Dr. Aarestad is the director of COSMIAC’s Embedded and Reconfigurable Systems Laboratory, with an emphasis on providing student research opportunities in the areas of FPGA and microprocessor systems for machine learning and the Internet-of-Things (IoT).

Christos Christodoulou, Professor

Professor Christos Christodoulou is a co-founder of COSMIAC. His research interests are in the areas of modeling of electromagnetic systems, FPGA reconfigurable systems, and smart RF/photonics. He was responsible for leading the COSMIAC collaboration between Government, Industry, and Academia to ensure design success and deployment of programmable logic in space, military, and civil applications as well as developing the long-term plans for the Center. Dr. Christodoulou received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1985. He served as a faculty member at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, from 1985 to 1998. In 1999, he joined the faculty of UNM’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, where he served as the Chair of the Department through 2005. Dr. Christodoulou is an IEEE Fellow.

Craig J. Kief, Director of Innovation

Mr. Craig J. Kief serves as the Director of Innovation at COSMIAC where he directs the vision of future proposals and contracting activities. Mr. Kief serves as retired Research Faculty at The University of New Mexico, retired Air Force and has over 32 years of experience in computer engineering and satellite communications, including voice and data networks, testing, troubleshooting, debugging, system administration, embedded software, software/hardware integration, and network monitoring. He is responsible for maintaining two separate satellite ground stations operating 24 hours a day. He has a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Engineering from The University of New Mexico. He has published and taught in the areas of digital and programmable logic, satellite design, and in verification and validation of systems. He is also an IEEE senior member.

Steve Lindsley, Deputy Director

Steve Lindsley has completed his MSME from The University of New Mexico, focusing on kinetic sculpture and photography. He is currently in the MSME program at UNM, focusing on space systems, controls, and dynamics. During his first year at COSMIAC, he concentrated on machine learning centered around computer vision and additive manufacturing. He spent two years learning to program robot behaviors for swarm robotics while participating in the NASA Swarmathon competition at Kennedy Space Center. He has also played an instrumental role in creating and developing a custom vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone for testing volcanic plume emissions. Before returning to school, he worked in biotechnology manufacturing high throughput flow cytometry systems, shop floor control, inventory control, and design and fabrication of manufacturing aids. He enjoys mountain biking, Overlanding, vehicle restoration and modification, drone fabrication and flight, 3D printing, and metal casting in his personal time.

Edl Schamiloglu, Director, Directed Energy Center

Edl Schamiloglu is an American physicist, electrical engineer, pulsed power expert, inventor, and distinguished professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering at The University of New Mexico. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Columbia University, New York, NY in 1979 and 1981, respectively. He received his Ph.D. degree from Cornell University in 1988. He joined The University of New Mexico as Assistant Professor in 1988. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He has received numerous awards, most recently the 2019 (inaugural) IEEE NPSS Magne “Kris” Kristiansen Award “For outstanding contributions in experimental nuclear and plasma science.” At The University of New Mexico, he also serves as the Special Assistant to the Provost for Laboratory Relations. In 2021 he founded the Director Energy Center at The University of New Mexico (DEC@UNM). He has published three books related to directed energy microwaves.

Leilani Baker received her Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering with a minor in management. She is currently working toward her Master of Science in mechanical engineering. Leilani played college soccer at the University of New Mexico for 6 years and received multiple awards while getting her undergraduate degree. Leilani is now a Research Engineer at UNM’s COSMIAC working in collaboration with SSPIDR, designing the mechanical demonstration as well as gaining experience as a systems engineer. Leilani’s additional research includes the study of high-temperature vacuum sintering of 3D printed ceramics and semiconductors, as well as research on designing and developing a solar tracker that aims to match commercial power with spatial awareness.

Zack Daniels is an electrical engineer who received his MSEE from The University of New Mexico in 2022. He has been with COSMIAC since 2018, and has assisted with several projects with a wide range of work including physical mapping of bit upsets in computer memory stacks, research and development for blockchain-backed systems engineering software, and the development and implementation of embedded systems for a ground-based power beaming experiment. His career interests reside primarily in control systems and robotics, and he would eventually like to work on deep sea submersibles for oceanographic research. In his free time he enjoys woodworking, creating interactive multimedia, hacking (destroying) his personal electronics, and occasionally writing music.

Micco joined COSMIAC in 2021 as a student and then after receiving his bachelor’s in computer science, became full time staff in 2023. He got his start doing work directly supporting AFRL’s Space Cyber Resiliency team. The most notable work he did as part of this team was conducting vulnerability assessments in space technologies of interest to AFRL. In Spring 2024, COSMIAC stood up their Space Cybersecurity Lab in which Micco led with a team of students. This lab sought to conduct more applied cybersecurity research to aid the field in further understanding the threat landscape in the space domain. Currently Micco is leading efforts at COSMIAC in the areas of software engineering and spacecraft simulation development as well as continuing to conduct research in the area of space cybersecurity.

Daniel is a graduate from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNM, and as Research Engineer at the COSMIAC laboratory he supports research advancing predictive control systems for space cybersecurity, spacecraft power management and distribution, attitude determination and control, and autonomous constellation station keeping. Daniel maintains experience as a principal investigator and has is actively serving as the responsible PI for several funded contracts at The University of New Mexico, including COSMIAC’s several University Nanosatellite Portfolio (UNP) projects. His interests extend beyond space as well, and he has served as a Sekazi Mtingwa scholar, where he studied accelerator physics and technology topics at the US Particle Accelerator School to further his understanding of particle physics and gain a deeper understanding of the intersection advanced predict control modeling for accelerator applications. Further, he is the sole proprietor of a small business focused on providing engineering consulting and implementation in areas of electrical design, system and network administration, and automation technology for homes and businesses across the state of New Mexico.

Mr. Luis Hernandez has completed his MSME from The University of New Mexico. Hernandez has worked at AFRL’s space vehicles directorate under the Spacecraft Charging and Instrument Calibration Laboratory (SCICL). He tested the characteristics of electrostatic discharges in advanced solar array designs by using simulated space weather conditions. His Master’s research was focused on material science and characterizes the effects of an electron irradiated and chemically enhanced polymer used in the space industry. Hernandez currently works with the Advanced GPS Technologies group at AFRL assisting with mechanical design components.

Hailey Holder joined COSMIAC in 2022 as a student researcher while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, which she completed in 2025. During this time, she worked with the SSPIDR team at AFRL (Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research), contributing to efforts supporting space-based power and advanced defense research initiatives. She also worked for the startup company Black-Ve, which was building a satellite, where she supported both systems and communications engineering, gaining direct experience in spacecraft architecture, integration, and early-stage mission development. These roles provided exposure to both government research environments and commercial space programs. Today, she leads and manages a contract focused on hypersonics, marking her transition from student contributor to program leadership and reflecting rapid professional growth within the organization. She will continue her academic and technical development by pursuing a master’s degree beginning in Fall 2026.

Erik Johnson provides IT support at COSMIAC. He is currently taking classes at Central New Mexico Community college in order to get his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at The University of New Mexico. Erik has worked with computers most of his life and participated in the supercomputing challenge for three years. He’s skilled in problem-solving and computer repair. Erik works with the Director to ensure COSMIAC networks stay operational and that the staff, faculty, and students can work in a secure IT environment. 

Matthew received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at The University of New Mexico in 2025, and became a member of COSMIAC as an undergraduate in 2024. During his undergraduate degree and prior to his current COSMIAC duties, his focus with COSMIAC was concerned with the Space Cyber Security team, which focused on research into the vulnerability and security concerns related to Space Systems. His current activities involve him with the COSMIAC RAPID Team, and revolve around Networking in Space Systems and Cloud Environments. His future aspirations for his career include Software Engineering, Simulation Engineering, and Game Design.

Collin Nesbit received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from The University of New Mexico in 2024 and 2025. During his undergraduate and graduate program Collin focused his coursework on areas related to aerospace applications including propulsion, structures, and small space craft design while gaining experience in both high-volume manufacturing environments during his time with Intel as well as sounding rocket design with the UNM Lobo Launch program. Having joined the COSMIAC team in October 2025, Collin now supports active research at AFRL and has professional interests in developing vehicles for spaceflight, 3D printing applications, and propulsion systems. In his free time Collin enjoys staying active, resin 3D printing, working on tabletop hobby projects, and cooking

Fernando received his bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science from The University of New Mexico. During graduate school, he worked at AFRL developing simulations to test the performance of different task allocation algorithms in multi-satellite systems. Previous work also includes development on the ground system software used by the Air Force's Multi-Mission Satellite Operations Center and writing automated tests for emTRUTH's APIs used to manage data on a blockchain. Currently, Fernando works with KBR on developing an interactive web application that presents DTRA's capabilities. Additionally, he's working with Counter Drone on integrating drones into security systems for autonomous patrols and responses to security events.

Dr. John Plumley earned his BS in Chemical Engineering and his MS and PhD in Nanoscience and Microsystems from The University of New Mexico (UNM). He is currently modelling, testing, and validating novel batteries for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). He has also designed and tested bipropellant-consuming solid oxide fuel cell systems in collaboration with AFRL. Dr. Plumley has been involved in several AFRL collaborations during his post-doctoral appointment with UNM, which includes reversible electrochemical mirror device development, passive radiative cooling testing, and fabrication of resistive switching devices. He also conducted additional post-doc research in collaboration with Sandia National Labs studying the effects of applied stress on corrosion and pitting in stainless steel.

Mr. Rathbun received his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in December 2023. As an undergraduate research assistant at COSMIAC, Mr. Rathbun worked closely with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate, focusing on deployable structures such as solar arrays and antennas. His early contributions included designing and fabricating thermal testing equipment, compiling technical libraries for deployable structures, and leading micro-welding tests to support space debris mitigation initiatives. Currently, Mr. Rathbun serves as a contractor with AFRL and has contributed to several high-profile efforts including the Space Fingerprint Experiment (SFPE), the High Performance Residual Bus (HPRB), and the SSPIDR program. He is serving as Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) with the RAPID team, working on innovative satellite communications systems that advance data routing and signal integrity in contested environments. He has also been a key player in payload development for the upcoming NASA STP-Sat 7 mission, overseeing design reviews and integration readiness. As Co-PI on SSPIDR antenna structures and PI for advanced thermal testing, he has helped shape the technical trajectory of next-gen satellite technologies. Mr. Rathbun brings over five years of experience in test engineering for space and defense system.

Benjamin Rutherford received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Computer Engineering from The University of New Mexico, with an emphasis in computer architecture and VLSI design. With extensive experience at UNM COSMIAC, Benjamin has developed expertise in FPGA and PCB design, radiation effects testing, and multidisciplinary team leadership. He currently serves as a Senior Radiation Effects Engineer and Principal Investigator for all radiation-related contracts at COSMIAC. Benjamin established the COSMIAC Radiation Effects Laboratory and manages a team of researchers while overseeing contract compliance and strategic planning. He has led radiation tests at a wide range of national facilities and continues to drive the advancement of test methodologies and hardware design for radiation effects analysis.

Brandyn Solano received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of New Mexico in 2023. During his time with UNM Cosmiac, Brandyn has developed his knowledge of PCB design and manufacture, and their applications to radiation effects testing. Building on this foundation, Brandyn is now pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Engineering at UNM, with a concentration in computer architecture and VLSI design to further advance his skills. Brandyn's primary role at COSMIAC is supporting contracts that need reliable, dependable, and high-quality PCB designs. He currently is working on managing a small team of students to help with the SSPIDR effort in space beaming applications.

Jamerson Tenorio is a research engineer and systems specialist with a background in embedded systems, secure communications, and high-reliability computing environments. He holds a B.B.A. in Business Administration, a B.S. in Computer Science, and an M.S. in Information Systems & Assurance, all from the University of New Mexico. His recent professional experience includes research engineering at COSMIAC where he developed embedded systems and cybersecurity testbeds for small satellite systems. Previously, he has worked on extensive systems and network specialist roles at the University of New Mexico and in the U.S. Marine Corps. Across these roles, Jamerson has designed and deployed secure technical solutions, led modernization efforts, and supported mission-critical operations in academic and defense environments. He thrives in environments that challenge him to develop innovative solutions, integrate emerging technologies, and continuously improve system performance and security.

Gabriel Urbaitis is a Research Engineer and Data Scientist at the COSMIAC Research Center. He develops data-driven models for GNSS spoofing detection and GPS jamming classification, and contributes to SD-WAN telemetry analysis assessing network performance and reliability. With a B.S. in Computer Science and ongoing M.S. studies at The University of New Mexico focused on Machine Learning, his work integrates deep learning, signal processing, and network analytics to advance COSMIAC’s research in secure and resilient communication systems. He is a co-author of peer-reviewed IEEE publications on radiation effects testing and has several years of professional software and data science experience, including full-stack development, CRM engineering, and applied machine learning across academic and industry environments.