David Thomas
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Phone: 480-727-7961
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Mail code: 6011Campus: Tempe
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Summary
David is dedicated to transforming the way we engage in space science and exploration, making missions accessible globally, and enabling more countries to participate in the growing space economy.
School of Earth and Space Exploration
As Executive Director of the Milo Space Science Institute at ASU, David directs Space Missions and Capacity Building programs.
Space Missions
Milo employs a collaborative model to foster international cooperation, share costs and risks, and undertake complex space initiatives that would be impossible for individual entities to pursue alone.
- Luna Ride: The Milo Space Science Institute at ASU offers international partners the opportunity to deploy payloads onto the lunar surface. Luna Ride offers opportunities for nations with mature space flight heritage as well as from those with relatively new, and perhaps growing, space agencies and/or ecosystems. The contemporary approach to space exploration offers access to lunar infrastructure, preeminent faculty and instrumentation facilities at ASU. Unprecedented cost savings are realized from mission infrastructure bundled as a service, and economies of scale through the ride sharing model.
- Apophis Pathfinder: The Milo Institute at ASU has designed a dedicated mission that will perform the first ever close flyby of asteroid (99942) Apophis approximately one year in advance of the April 2029 Earth flyby. The mission will use a pair of small spacecraft to provide initial reconnaissance data, to inform and influence planning for additional missions to (99942) Apophis in 2029 and beyond. Science objectives include more precise estimates of mass and density, shape, geology, composition, and orbit parameters – while helping to inform planetary defense strategies.
Capacity Building
The Milo Institute at ASU deploy capacity building programs to build the space ecosystem for international partners. The skills gained through workforce development programs are foundational workforce skills that will be transferable across many Earth-based sectors.
- Milo Mission Academy: The Milo Institute has partnered with the NASA L’SPACE Program team to provide the Lunar Exploration Academy providing a team-based experience that helps participants gain knowledge about the practices, protocols, and procedures it takes to support exploration on the Moon and Mars. The team also deploys the Climate Action Academy, which teaches teams how to leverage data from orbiting satellites to provide actionable strategies for Planet Earth.
Thunderbird School of Global Management
As Clinical Professor and Director, David oversees space programming at Thunderbird including Executive Masters in Global Management and Executive Education Certificate in Space Leadership, Business, and Diplomacy.
Executive Masters
The Executive Masters in Global Management: Space Leadership, Business, and Policy (EMGM-Space) is a one-year program designed to equip and empower a new generation of professionals seeking executive management expertise in the space sector.
Executive Certificate
The Executive Certificate in Space Leadership, Business, and Policy, is a flexible 3, 4, or 5-day program that can be delivered internationally. Taught by globally recognized space leaders and distinguished academic faculty, participants will learn from experts and practitioners how to discover growth opportunities in the space industry.
Space Diplomacy
David has pioneered a Space Diplomacy initiative at ASU. Among its objectives, the program seeks to ensure the United States, and its close allies, are the partner of choice for nations and organizations with mature space flight heritage as well as from those with relatively new, and perhaps growing, space agencies and/or ecosystems. He oversees an Ambassador Corps for the Milo Institute and has engaged over 150+ organizations in 40+ countries, establishing trust relationships with representatives in governments, universities, companies, and NGOs. He has established policies, procedures, and legal frameworks necessary to engage in international collaboration, with agreements executed in 14 countries.
Other Experience
See David's CV for more detail
David played a pivotal role in Arizona State University's public-facing response during the pandemic, demonstrating leadership in complex environments. He designed and led operations for Arizona's largest mass vaccination site, hailed as "a model for the nation" by US President Biden. Prior to coming to ASU, David spent nearly 15 years in the government services sector where he refined his ability to drive strategic growth for Science and Technology. He led the growth of a non-profit organization to $60 million in annual revenue. He launched the Aegis Advanced Technologies division, focused on nanotechnology, directed energy, materials, and sensors. Under David's leadership, the Science and Technology (S&T) revenue at Aegis increased 300% to $10M+, driven by a record number of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) awards. His leadership positioned Aegis as a leader in directed energy diagnostics.
He holds 6 patents and is author or co-author on 40+ journal articles, book chapters, and technical publications.
Philanthropic
Part of David’s personal mission includes working to enhance the wellbeing of marginalized populations. Contributions have included the launch of a non-profit organization to advance education outcomes in Indigenous Communities in Arizona, mentoring future leaders on the job, tutoring at inner city schools, creating a mentoring program in collaboration with a police department, supporting adoption agencies, participating in outreach efforts to international communities, and providing strategic guidance to charitable organizations.
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| TGM 594 | Conference and Workshop |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| TGM 560 | Space/Global Future Leaders |
Director and CEO, ASU Research Enterprise (ASURE), January 2019 – July 2021
- Led the public-facing operations for ASU's COVID Response team, overseeing a team that deployed testing at 72 locations across Arizona and New Mexico. Designed and built Arizona’s first mass vaccination site in just six days. The site at State Farm Stadium was hailed by President Biden as a "model for the nation," showcasing operational excellence and agility in response to the public health crisis.
- Oversaw the vaccination operation that administered 1.3 million doses across six locations. This feat involved a personnel pipeline of over 2,000 clinicians and mission-critical functions, supported by over 27,000 volunteers.
- Developed an innovation challenge patterned after the grand challenge model, with 40% of the teams receiving follow-on funding. This initiative led to projects with government, national labs, and industry partners.
- Developed critical messaging and provided thought leadership for an innovative organization existing at the leading edge of transformation, highlighting the ability to mature technology to provide positive impact for customers.
Program Manager of Strategic Programs, Arizona State University, June 2018 – January 2019
- Created sustainable models for a diverse range of programs across the university. One of the notable programs he spearheaded was advancing operations for Arizona State University Research Enterprise (ASURE). In January 2019, he transitioned to ASURE to continue supporting and enhancing its operations.
- Demonstrated strategic vision and commitment to operational excellence, which played a pivotal role in establishing sustainable frameworks for various university programs.
- Leveraged experience and understanding of the university ecosystem to ensure program operations were streamlined, efficient, and aligned with the institution's long-term goals.
Director, CFD Research Corporation, April 2014 – 2018
- Increased annual contract awards by 300% and doubled the proposal win rate through a first principles approach to strategy, capture management, project execution, and customer engagement during the project.
- Launched and managed a Startup Accelerator program designed to commercialize technologies originating from government R&D funding; engaged engineers and scientists in Stage Gate, and Agile processes.
- Led multidisciplinary technical teams developing new battery technology, fuel cell, computational materials, energetics and semiconductors; responsible for catalyzing strategic innovation, technical leadership, project management, and business development.
- Developed Processes and Tools for project management and proposal development, implemented effective Change Management practices to bring cohesiveness and focus on increasing revenue.
Executive Manager / Director / Sr. Scientist, Aegis Technologies Group, 2005 – 2014
- Provided transformational research, development, and business leadership to catalyze business focused on nanotechnology and materials science.
- Launched a R&D division with P&L accountability, IP management, and implementing strategic innovation process.
- Awarded $10M+ in government contracts in the defense sector to develop innovative technology.
- Led a multi-disciplinary team of engineering and scientific staff working in materials science, energy, nanophotonic devices, and terahertz technologies.
- Forged partnerships with government, university, and industry.
- Led an R&D team achieving the 2014 International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA) Technical Achievement Award for novel measurement techniques in harsh environments.
NSF Industry/University Center for Biosurfaces (I/UCB) Research Associate, The University of Memphis, 2001 - 2004
- Guided research efforts for a biomaterials research laboratory focused on the analytical detection of biopolymer defects. Responsibilities included project coordination and research on the development of analytical methods.
- Successfully developed a fee-for-service analytical process that has become widely adopted within the orthopedic manufacturing community, demonstrating the ability to translate research into real-world impact.
Research Associate, The University of Tennessee Space Institute, 2002 – 2004
- Advanced a telemedicine tool designed to measure visual acuity in preverbal children, developed image processing algorithms and control systems to detect the need for follow-up eye care.
- Contributed to development of an automated device that addresses the challenges of assessing visual acuity in children who are not yet able to verbalize their experiences.
Manager of Research and Development, iScreen LLC, 1999 – 2002
- Managed research and development efforts for a small startup providing a telemedicine tool to measure visual acuity in preverbal children.
- Navigated the process of obtaining Class II device approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), providing technical support during clinical trials, technician training, and comprehensive documentation.
Manager of Research and Development, Federal Electro Optics, 1997 – 1999
- Led mechanical engineering and software development in support of a custom LASIK system for research.
- Created comprehensive software control system, integrating and subsystems, including UV laser, mechanical and optical components.
- Patented innovation that improved patient outcomes and advanced the field of vision correction technology.
Research Associate, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1995
- Performed collaborative research focused on investigating the effects of radiation on fiber optics for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program. This research initiative sought to advance the understanding of radiation-induced phenomena in optical fibers, a component of the ITER's diagnostic systems, which are essential for monitoring and controlling the complex fusion processes.
- Contributed to the development of strategies to mitigate the impact of radiation on fiber optic performance applying expertise in optics, materials science, and radiation effects.