Board of Trustees

Scott D. Fouse, Chair

Fouse is the owner of Fouse Consulting Services, LLC, (based in Scottsdale, AZ) which helps companies harness advanced technology to enable future products and processes. Previously he was VP of the Advanced Technology Center at Lockheed Martin Space. In this role, he was responsible for leading approximately 500 scientists and engineers performing research and development in space science and a variety of space systems-related technologies and capabilities. Prior to ATC Scott served as Director of the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL) and earlier served as Chief Technology Officer of ATL. Before joining Lockheed Martin, Scott was President and CEO of ISX Corporation, a 50-person company that specialized in creating and transitioning advanced IT systems to operational use. Scott was a leader in the DARPA "Command Post of the Future" project, which created a significant advance in C2 Systems and was the primary C2 system for Iraq at the Corp. Division, Brigade and Battalion echelons. From 2003 - 2007 Scott was a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. In that position he supported a number of studies, directorate reviews, and chaired a study on Experimentation to support Disruptive Innovation. Scott has a BS in Physics from the University of Central Florida and a MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.

William K. Hartmann, Ph.D.

Hartmann is a founder and Senior Scientist of the Planetary Science Institute. He and Don Davis (see below) are known for developing, at PSI, the current theory of the origin of the Moon by a large planetesimal impact into the forming Earth. Hartmann's current work involves development of the "PSI isochron system" of counting impact craters to infer ages of various planetary surface units. Hartmann holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy and M.S. in Geology from the University of Arizona. He was the first winner of the Carl Sagan Award from the American Astronomical Society, a winner of the G.K. Gilbert award from the Geological Society of America, and a co-winner of the Runcorn-Florensky medal from the European Geophysical Union. In addition to his planetary work, he is known for his astronomical paintings and popular writing, including textbooks, popular science, and two published novels.

William Craig, Ph.D., Vice-Chair

Alison Nordt, Ph.D.

Dr. Alison Nordt is the Director for Space Science and Instrumentation at Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Center. She is responsible for developing and operating missions that provide observational data to advance space science knowledge. Her work involves maturing technology to support current and future space-based telescopes and instruments. She is currently the Principal Investigator for TechMAST (Technology Maturation for Astrophysics Space Telescopes) and several related internal research and development efforts. Previously, Dr. Nordt was the senior manager for Astrophysics and held several roles on the NIRCam (Near Infrared Camera for the James Webb Space Telescope) program including Program Manager, Integrated Product Team Lead and Certified Principal Engineer.

Dr. Nordt has an extensive background in structures, opto-mechanical systems and instrument development which includes engineering experience with design and analysis and hands-on hardware experience through integration and test. She also has diverse program management experience through the program lifecycle from capture through end item product delivery. Dr. Nordt holds Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. She is an AIAA Associate Fellow.

Alison and her husband have a teenage daughter and son. She enjoys sailing, flying, soccer, alpine skiing, windsurfing and SCUBA diving.

Arun A. Seraphin, Ph.D.

Dr. Arun A. Seraphin is the Deputy Director of the Emerging Technologies Institute at the National Defense Industrial Association, a nonpartisan institute focused on technologies that are critical to the future of national defense. He provides research and analyses to inform the development and integration of emerging technologies and policies to support defense missions.

From 2001 to 2010, and 2014 to 2021, Dr. Seraphin was a Professional Staff Member on the staff of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, assisting Senators in their oversight of DOD policies and programs, including issues related to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, additive manufacturing, cloud computing, and robotics. He also worked on policies to expand Pentagon partnerships with Silicon Valley technology companies, small businesses, and universities.

From 2010 to 2014, Dr. Seraphin served as the Principal Assistant Director for National Security and International Affairs at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). During this time, he served as the deputy director of the OSTP National Security and International Affairs division. He was on detail to OSTP from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) where he was the Special Assistant for Policy Initiatives to the Director of DARPA.

Dr. Seraphin has worked on the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science’s Subcommittee on Research as a professional staff member. He has also worked in the Science and Technology Division of the Institute for Defense Analyses.

Dr. Seraphin earned a Ph.D. in Electronic Materials from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he performed research on silicon nanotechnology. He also holds bachelor’s degrees in Political Science with a concentration in American Government and Engineering Science with a concentration in Materials Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Seraphin is the son of Indian immigrants, and was born and raised on Long Island, NY. He currently resides in Virginia with his wife and five school-aged children.

Mark V. Sykes, Ph.D., J.D.

Sykes is the C.E.O. and Director of the Planetary Science Institute. He studies asteroids, comets and interplanetary dust, using both ground-based and space-based telescopes, primarily in the thermal infrared. He is the discoverer of cometary dust trails and many extended structures arising from asteroid collisions within the zodiacal cloud.

Mark is the former Chair of the Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) of the American Astronomical Society and was made a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his science advocacy. He has been honored by the designation of Minor Planet 4438 Sykes and has also been honored with the 2016 Masursky Award by the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society for outstanding service to planetary science and exploration. 

Mark received his Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences in 1986 and J.D. in 1998 from the University of Arizona (and is admitted to the Arizona Bar). He is also a professional musician and has performed more than 30 seasons with the Arizona Opera Company's chorus. He is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Trustee Emeritus

Donald R. Davis, Ph.D.

Davis is a Founder and Senior Scientist of the Planetary Science Institute. He served on the PSI Board of Trustees for 15 years and now enjoys status as a Trustee Emeritus. In addition to his leadership of the Institute as co-founder and Director for more than 30 years, he has made many contributions to planetary science including advancing our knowledge of asteroids and of the origin of the Moon.