Tom Spilker

Tom Spilker has a diverse work experience in the space industry and geophysics. Tom started their career as a student at Kansas State University, where they majored in Computer Science and Geophysics. After graduating with high honors, they joined Allied Chemical's Petroleum Exploration Division and worked as an Exploration Geophysicist. Tom then moved on to Stanford University, where they pursued a Ph.D. in Engineering and collaborated with the Voyager Radio Science Team. Tom also gained experience at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, serving as a Principal Space Flight Mission Architect, working on various space missions. Tom later joined Solar System Science and Exploration as the owner, providing consulting services for space flight mission architectures and proposals. More recently, Tom has held senior positions at Above: Space Development Corp. (formerly Orbital Assembly Corp.) and currently serves as the CTO, Vice President of Engineering, and Chief Space Systems Architect.

Tom Spilker pursued their undergraduate education at Kansas State University between 1971 and 1975, earning a Bachelor's degree in Geophysics and Computer Science. Tom then went on to Stanford University from 1981 to 1990, where they obtained a Master's and Ph.D. degree. At Stanford, they focused on a diverse range of fields, including Electrical Engineering, Planetary Science, and Radio Physics.