Brian Rishikof

Brian is a co-founder and CEO of Odyssey. He has been committed to spaceflight since his earliest memories watching people set foot on the Moon for the first time on a grainy, black-and-white TV. Brian holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and a Master of Science in Space Physics from the University of Houston (Clear Lake). He earned his undergraduate degree at McGill University in Montréal, Canada in Mechanical Engineering with an Aeronautics option, and completed the International Space University Space Studies Program in Toronto. Brian’s technical career was focused on Guidance, Navigation and Control, trajectory optimization, and aerospace software development, working on projects such as the Iridium spacecraft constellation, the Automated Transfer Vehicle Program (with NASA), Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Program, Commercial Cargo Program, the Orion Program, and many others. He has been recognized for this work with the Silver Snoopy, the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, and the NASA Space Flight Awareness Flight Safety Award. Brian has been an invited speaker at the 2011 Apple World Wide Developer Conference for flying the first “Space App” and iPhone to the ISS, the 2012 TEDxISU at the Florida Institute of Technology, NASA JSC Leadership professional development program, the International Space University, and the University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering department, among others. At Odyssey, Brian is part of the collaborative leadership team managing diverse projects, and guiding strategy, new business, and hiring, making sure all team members are happy, effective, and engaged – and having the time of his life. Outside of work, Brian loves spending time with his family, traveling, supporting STE(A)M education, and “paying forward” the help, support, and counseling he received throughout his career.