Dr. John C. Mather, Senior Astrophysicist, Observational Cosmology Laboratory, NASA/GSFC

Dr. Mather's research centers on infrared astronomy and cosmology. As an NRC postdoctoral fellow at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (New York City), he led the proposal efforts for the Cosmic Background Explorer (74-76), and came to GSFC to be the Study Scientist (76-88), Project Scientist (88-98), and the Principal Investigator for the Far IR Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS) on COBE. He showed that the cosmic microwave background radiation has a blackbody spectrum within 50 parts per million, confirming the Big Bang theory to extraordinary accuracy.

As Senior Project Scientist (95-present) for the James Webb Space Telescope, he leads the science team, and represents scientific interests within the project management. He is the recipient of many awards, including most recently the Nobel Prize in Physics (2006) with George Smoot, for the COBE work.

In 1976, she ran for Congress and won, representing Maryland's 3rd district for 10 years. In 1986, she ran for Senate and won, becoming the first Democratic woman Senator elected in her own right. She was re-elected with large majorities in 1992, 1998 and 2004.

A leader in the Senate, Mikulski is the Dean of the Women--serving as a mentor to other women Senators when they first take office. As the dean, she builds coalitions--proving that the Senate women are not solo acts, but work together to get things done.

Dr. John Campbell, Director, Wallops Flight Facility

Dr. Campbell has worked for NASA since 1987. Prior to his current position as Director of Wallops Flight Facility, Dr. Campbell was the director of Flight Programs and Projects at the Goddard Space Flight Center. He was responsible for all major flight programs and projects at Goddard, including the Hubble and Next Generation Space Telescopes, NOAA polar and geosynchronous weather satellites, space science and earth science spacecraft, and NASA's tracking data and relay satellites.

BGEN David L. Johnson, USAF (Ret.), NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services, and Director, NOAA's National Weather Service

David L. Johnson has served as NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director of the National Weather Service (NWS) since January 2004. He is responsible for the day-to-day civilian weather operations of 122 local Weather Forecast Offices in the United States, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Guam. He also leads operations in 13 River Forecast Centers, 9 National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and 21 Aviation Center Weather Service Units.

Eric Webster, Director, Office of Legislative Affairs, NOAA

Eric Webster has served as Director, Office of Legislative Affairs for NOAA since his appointment by President Bush in September, 2005. In his position, Mr. Webster serves as the agency’s chief legislative officer. NOAA, a part of the US Department of Commerce, provides weather forecasts, fisheries management, climate and ocean research, safe navigation, and costal services with a direct impact on the lives of our citizens. The agency, which has 12,500 employees and a $4 billion budget, consists of the National Weather Service, NOAA Corps, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service, and a satellite division. Additionally, Mr. Webster specializes in weather satellite issues.

Walt Faulconer, Civilian Space Business Area Executive, APL

Mr. Faulconer is the Business Area Executive for Civilian Space at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Labority in Laurel, MD. He oversees the work that APL does on behalf of NASA, and is responsible for strengthening and expanding the Laboratory's relationships with its space science and exploration customers. Mr. Faulconer joined APL after more than 25 years at Lockheed Martin, where he last directed space exploration business development for Lockheed's Space Systems Co.

Dr. Matt Mountain, Director, Space Telescope Science Institute

Dr. Mountain has been the Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, since September 1, 2005, leading the 400-person institute that is responsible for the research done with the Hubble Space Telescope, and its planned successor the James Webb Space Telescope. Dr. Mountain was previously the Director of the Gemini Observatory in Hilo, Hawaii. He is also the Telescope Scientist for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, a member of the Webb Science Working Group, a Professor at Johns Hopkins Department of Physics and Astronomy and a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford (UK).

Lesa B. Roe, Director, NASA Langley Research Center

Ms. Roe is the senior management official of the laboratory employing approximately 2,100 civil service personnel. She is responsible for the center's aeronautical and space research programs, as well as facilities, personnel and administration. Ms. Roe served as the Langley Deputy Director from June 2004 until being named Director in October 2005. In this position, she helped plan, organize and direct Center and inter-center activities to advance research significant to national aerospace objectives.

Dr. Laurie Leshin, Director, Science and Exploration Directorate, NASA

In November 7, 2007, Ed Weiler named Dr. Leshin to assume the post of Deputy Director-Technical once Dolly Perkins retires at the end of the year. Dr. Leshin joined NASA in August 2005 as the Director of Sciences and Exploration at the Goddard Space Flight Center. In this capacity, she has led the largest science organization within NASA, with responsibility for ensuring the scientific integrity of Earth observing missions, space-based telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope, and instruments exploring the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, comets and more.

Dr. James B. Garvin, Chief Scientist, NASA

Dr. Garvin serves the Agency and the Administrator as the primary advisor for the entire NASA science portfolio. His duties include advising the senior leaders of the Agency on matters that range from how science fits into the Vision for Space Exploration to the basic scientific research and development priorities for the Agency. In his former capacity as the Lead NASA Scientist for Mars Exploration, Dr. Garvin was instrumental in formulating and developing the NASA scientific strategy for Mars, and most recently, that for the Moon as well.