Chris is a technologist and entrepreneur, and a leading voice on the convergence of space exploration, human-centric design, and the "maker" culture. Through decades of experience on technology-intense projects in the aerospace industry, he has developed a passion for technology both professionally and personally.

His passion has been fueled by projects such as planning human missions to the Moon, training astronauts on US and Russian spacesuits, and using virtual reality to improve the systems engineering process. As a leader in NASA's Open Innovation Program, he founded collaboration events such as the International Space Apps Challenge, facilitated several makerspaces, and promoted open source technology development from within NASA's walls. Chris also has firsthand experience as an explorer, working and surviving in extreme conditions as a NEEMO-13 crewmember underwater aboard the Aquarius Habitat. In his current role of the Informatics Subsystem lead for NASA's next spacesuit design (xEMU), he has found ways to reach beyond the traditional role of an engineering team lead, to initiate student-led think-tanks, and spin off a significant R&D effort to develop an in-helmet spacesuit display, targeted for lunar exploration.

Outside of his role in aerospace, Chris co-founded re:3D Inc., a manufacturing company that pushes the limits of 3D printing at the human scale. He hopes that disrupting this fast-moving technology will improve lives around the world. He also has a keen interest in the emerging culture clash between autonomous vehicles and human drivers, and the role that virtual and augmented reality will have in human-to-computer interfaces. Chris sees emerging, exponential technologies as having enormous potential for improving life on (and off) our planet.

Chris holds a degree in Computer Engineering from Clarkson University and lives in Houston, TX. He currently works for NASA leading a team to develop an informatics system for the xEMU.