Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aerospace Education Competitions (AEC)

Barbara Kennedy is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO of Aerospace Education Competitions (AEC). Barbara has two decades of leadership experience spanning from agriculture & hospitality management, to US Department of Defense program management. She is a former horse trainer, civil engineer for NASA, and public speaker. Barbara has extensive experience supporting STEM education activities through AEC’s Space Settlement Design Competitions; Women in Aviation International’s Girl’s in Aviation Days; and Society of Women Engineer’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Days. Barbara was selected by Women in Aviation International as one of thirty-one mid-career women from around the world to participate in the inaugural cohort of WAI & Harvard’s Women in Leadership course in 2023. Barbara is excited to bring her passion for public speaking, leadership development and STEM.

AEC Board, President

AEC Board, Vice President

Ty White is an award winning Chemistry, Math and Biology teacher who got involved bringing students to ISSDC in 2018.  After seeing what this event meant to his students and how it affected their perception of STEM-Identity, he got more involved in organizing the Southwest Regional Qualifier, and then started collaborating with others to create more events.  Ty has a real passion for making events accessible to all students, as everyone deserves an opportunity to participate and to develop their skills working with others.  

AEC Board, Secretary

Jenny is the CEO for the Space Science and Engineering Foundation and has been involved with Space Design Competitions (SDC's) for over 10 years. Coming from a teaching background, she was wowed by the transformative experience for the students, and absolutely blown away by the commitment of the competition alumni in running the events. If you've not yet been to an SDC, you have a treat in store!

AEC Board, Treasurer

Jack Gafford is currently a senior systems engineer living in Houston Texas working for a major aerospace company contracted to design, build and operate manned spaceflight platforms for NASA.  Jack has spent over 39 years involved with the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, Constellation, and Commercial Crew Transportation Programs.  Jack has progressed his career through aerodynamic analysis, flight trajectory design, system verification; logistics support equipment development projects and system engineering and integration disciplines.   Jack also enjoys volunteering for high school design competitions, amateur radio, automobile restorations, woodworking and miscellaneous general handyman projects.


Click here to read in the Journal of Space Safety Engineering Jack’s research on the International Space Settlement Design Competition

At-large Bord Member

Hannah Rens is currently a systems engineer based on the Space Coast, working on a Commercial Crew platform. Hannah’s work has included vehicle life span, serving as an anomaly manager on console during her spacecraft’s missions, subsystem engineering. Hannah was a 4-time regional and 2-time International Space Settlement Design Competition participant and is honored to serve on the board supporting the organization that helped her discover her passion for human spaceflight. 

Technical Programs Manager

Sydney Bertrand is the Technical Programs and Game Design Manager at Aerospace Education Competitions. She earned her degree in Visualization with a minor in Game Design and Development from Texas A&M University, where she developed a strong interest in how immersive, interactive experiences can transform the way students learn. Drawn to the intersection of technology, design, and education, Sydney believes that students growing up in a digital world benefit most from opportunities to engage with complex ideas through hands-on, experiential challenges. Her time working in the Office of Research Development at Texas A&M and her involvement with Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., an organization dedicated to advancing education, health awareness, and leadership, further shaped her commitment to creating learning environments that empower and inspire young people.

Sydney is especially passionate about designing systems that encourage collaboration, creativity, and confidence among students. She strives to create experiences where participants walk away feeling capable of pursuing whatever path they choose, whether in STEM, design, leadership, or beyond. 

Outside of her work, Sydney enjoys practicing art, cooking, exploring new places, and spending time with friends and family. All of these activities continue to fuel her creativity and love for building meaningful, engaging experiences for others.

Chief Development Officer

Tammy L. Lutz serves as the Chief Development Officer for Aerospace Education Competitions, where she plays a key role in building collaborative partnerships, expanding program visibility, and supporting outreach efforts that impact students across the country.

Tammy brings valuable nonprofit and STEM‑education experience to AEC, having previously worked as an Executive Assistant for the Buzz Aldrin ShareSpace Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing space education and inspiring young learners. Her background in leadership, organizing, and advocacy, paired with her deep passion for youth empowerment, strengthens her commitment to supporting STEM‑focused programs and creating meaningful opportunities for future innovators.

Driven by her belief that every student deserves the chance to discover their potential, Tammy dedicates her work to helping young minds explore new pathways, dream boldly, and engage with real‑world aerospace and engineering experiences.

Outside of her nonprofit work, Tammy enjoys family time,  gardening, traveling, creative projects, and treasured moments with her adorable granddaughter who continues to inspire her dedication to building a brighter future for the next generation.

Tammy looks forward to helping AEC reach even more young learners and inspire the leaders, thinkers, and innovators of tomorrow.