Director
Steve Lindsley leads COSMIAC as Director and brings experience across space systems, controls, dynamics, machine learning, computer vision, additive manufacturing, swarm robotics, and aerospace prototyping. His work at COSMIAC has included applied research, student mentorship, and development of advanced aerospace and robotics capabilities.
Associate Director for Radiation Systems
Benjamin Rutherford received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Engineering from The University of New Mexico. He serves as a Senior Radiation Effects Engineer and Principal Investigator for radiation-related contracts at COSMIAC, with expertise in FPGA and PCB design, radiation effects testing, team leadership, and radiation test methodology development.
Associate Director for Space Systems
Daniel Joseph Garcia serves as the Associate Director for Space Systems and a Senior Research Engineer at COSMIAC, where he leads and supports research in spacecraft systems, optical communications, controls, modeling and simulation, and cyber-resilient space technologies. His work includes optical intersatellite link development, free-space optical communications, satellite mission design, FPGA/SoC-based payload prototyping, radiation-aware system assessment, and advanced control methods for spacecraft operations.
Associate Director of Mechanical Systems
Chad Rathbun received his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of New Mexico in December 2023. His work includes deployable structures, solar arrays, antennas, thermal testing equipment, micro-welding, space debris mitigation support, SSPIDR antenna structures, advanced thermal testing, NASA STP-Sat 7 payload development support, mechanical systems integration, and test engineering for space and defense systems.
Chief Scientist
Dr. Jim Aarestad serves as Chief Scientist for COSMIAC. His research interests include robust and secure embedded system design methods for aerospace and terrestrial applications, FPGA-based embedded systems, hardware security, satellite navigation receiver design, and educational materials for reconfigurable systems.
Research Engineer
Leilani Baker supports SSPIDR mechanical demonstration design, systems engineering, high-temperature vacuum sintering of 3D printed ceramics and semiconductors, and solar tracker development.
Research Engineer
Zack Daniels received his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from UNM and supports work in memory upset mapping, blockchain-backed systems engineering tools, embedded systems, control systems, and robotics.
Research Engineer
Micco Estrada supports software engineering, spacecraft simulation development, and applied space cybersecurity research, including prior work with AFRL space cyber resiliency efforts.
Research Engineer
Luis Hernandez has supported AFRL Spacecraft Charging and Instrument Calibration Laboratory work, material science research, and Advanced GPS Technologies mechanical design efforts.
Research Engineer
Hailey Holder has supported AFRL SSPIDR efforts, commercial spacecraft systems and communications engineering, and currently leads and manages a contract focused on hypersonics.
IT Manager
Erik Johnson provides IT support at COSMIAC and works with leadership to keep COSMIAC networks operational and secure for staff, faculty, and students.
Research Engineer
Matthew Macias supports the COSMIAC RAPID team, with work focused on space cybersecurity, networking in space systems, cloud environments, software engineering, and simulation engineering.
Research Engineer
Collin Nesbit supports active research at AFRL and brings experience in propulsion, structures, small spacecraft design, manufacturing, sounding rocket development, and aerospace mechanical systems.
Software Engineer
Fernando Miguel Parra supports satellite simulation, ground system software, automated testing, DTRA web application development, and drone integration for autonomous security systems.
Research Engineer
Dr. John Plumley supports modeling, testing, and validation of novel batteries for AFRL, solid oxide fuel cell systems, passive radiative cooling, electrochemical mirror devices, and resistive switching devices.
Research Engineer
Brandyn Solano supports PCB design, manufacturing, radiation effects testing, and SSPIDR space beaming efforts while continuing graduate study in computer engineering.
Research Engineer
Jamerson Tenorio is a research engineer and systems specialist with experience in embedded systems, secure communications, high-reliability computing, modernization efforts, and mission-critical technical operations.
Research Engineer
Gabriel Urbaitis supports data-driven models for GNSS spoofing detection, GPS jamming classification, SD-WAN telemetry analysis, machine learning, signal processing, and resilient communications research.
Partnering Faculty
Professor Christos Christodoulou is a co-founder of COSMIAC. His research interests include electromagnetic systems, FPGA reconfigurable systems, and smart RF/photonics. He helped lead COSMIAC collaboration among government, industry, and academia and is an IEEE Fellow.
Partnering Faculty
Edl Schamiloglu is a 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 is a Fellow of the IEEE and the American Physical Society and founded the Directed Energy Center at UNM.
Founding and Strategic Leadership
Mr. Craig J. Kief has served as a key leader in COSMIAC’s development, proposal strategy, contracting activities, satellite communications efforts, and long-term innovation vision. His career includes more than 32 years of experience in computer engineering and satellite communications, including embedded systems, network operations, software/hardware integration, and satellite ground station operations.
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