F. Alan Smith Distinguished Lecture Series

"The Evolution of Space Travel"

Thurs. Feb. 20, 2025 | 5 to 6:15 p.m. | Gleason Performing Arts Center

Join us for a moderated panel discussion on space transportation and exploration, from where we've been to where we're going.

Featuring:

Master of Ceremonies - John Zarrella

Zarrella is an American journalist, widely known for his work as principal correspondent for CNN's coverage of the U.S. space program, reporting on events such as the 1986 Challenger disaster, John Glenn’s 1998 return to space, the Mars Pathfinder mission and the final flights of the Space Shuttle program. In 2024, Zarella served as master of ceremonies for the investiture of Dr. John Nicklow, Florida Tech's sixth president.

Panelist - Joan Higginbotham ’92 M.S., ’96 M.S.

Higginbotham is an electrical engineer, rocket scientist and retired astronaut, with dual master’s degrees, and a 35+ year career working with Fortune 500 companies in the aerospace, energy, and retail sectors. In 2022, she founded Joan Higginbotham, Ad Astra, LLC, an aerospace consulting firm, and recently consulted with Blue Origin which was awarded a $3.4 billion contract by NASA to develop and fly a lunar lander.

Panelist - James "Jimmy" Jenkins ’98 M.S.

Jenkins is the President and General Manager of the Armed Forces Portfolio at Blue Halo. Before this, he served as Director of Strategic Programs at Dynetics, focusing on hypersonics, high-energy lasers, and space systems, after spending five years at Northrop Grumman, where he oversaw Integrated Air and Missile Defense Systems.

Panelist - Lauren-Ann Graham '20, '23 M.S.

Graham is a Lockheed Martin mechanical test engineer currently supporting NASA's Gateway program, which includes work on the Orion spacecraft set to one day carry humans back to the moon. From the Launch Control Center, she supported the Artemis 1 mission management team during launch operations. An aspiring astronaut and STEM advocate, Graham shares her journey via social media and community outreach.

About F. Alan Smith

F. Alan Smith

A nearly 30-year member of the Florida Tech Board of Trustees, F. Alan Smith (April 21, 1931-June 2, 2023) had a prestigious career at General Motors Corporation that spanned more than 35 years. Mr. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1952 and an MBA in 1953. A generous benefactor, he established the lecture program in 2007 to enhance the academic experience for students, introduce outstanding speakers to the university, and engage the community around the topic of transportation—the industry to which he dedicated his career.

Established in 2007 as the F. Alan Smith Visiting Executive Program and since 2016 known as the F. Alan Smith Distinguished Lecture Series, this event was created to attract national leaders in a wide range of industries, typically those impacting transportation, and other subject experts to speak to students, faculty and community members at Florida Tech. Speakers address topics such as innovation in the automotive industry and self-driving cars, the hyperloop and high-speed rail, and innovations that impact business and the quality of life from space, land and sea exploration and travel.