ExcaliburAlmaz

Arthur (“Art”) Dula was among the first westerners to gain direct access to Russian space facilities, where he had the vision and expertise to see the continued value in re-usable re-entry vehicles developed and tested in orbital flight by NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM). It was this vision that led to Excalibur Almaz being established.

Mr. Dula has over 30 years experience as an attorney specializing in aerospace, export control and intellectual property law. He has acted as a consultant to NASA on the Space Shuttle payload contract and as an advisor to the U.S. Congress on legal issues concerning space stations. He is also a past Chairman of the American Bar Association’s Section on Science & Technology and Aerospace Law Committee.

Prior to founding Excalibur Almaz in 2005, Mr. Dula served as Director and General Counsel to companies including Eagle Aerospace, Inc., which contracted to NASA and other aerospace companies; Space Services, Inc., which launched the first private U.S. space vehicle; and SPACEHAB, Inc., which builds the SPACEHAB modules for the U.S. Space Shuttle. He also served as a Director and President of Space Commerce Corporation, the first U.S.-Russian aerospace joint venture.

Mr. Dula is a former Director and current member of the Board of Governors of the National Space Society and a recipient of the society’s Space Pioneer Award.

In addition, he is literary executor for the writer Robert A. Heinlein and serves as Trustee of the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust, which offers annual awards to individuals for significant commercial accomplishments in aerospace, and to aerospace students in international contests.

Mr. Dula has lectured on space law at the University of Houston, and was a Visiting Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Akron. His numerous publications include "Private Sector Activities in Space," published by Jurimetrics Journal in 1983. He holds a J.D. degree from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern New Mexico University.

J. Buckner Hightower has a wealth of experience in the aerospace sector, with particular expertise in Russia, having worked with aerospace organizations in the Soviet Union and Russian Federation since 1988. In addition, he has more than twenty-five years experience in capital formation and financial consulting.

This combination of aerospace expertise, capital formation and financial experience, and long-standing association with Russia put Mr. Hightower in a unique position to knowledgeably and proficiently act as Excalibur Almaz’s primary liaison with the international financial community.

Before joining Excalibur Almaz in 2005, he previously served as Vice-President and CFO of Space Commerce Corporation, which formed the historic first Soviet-American joint venture in aerospace.

As President of Aerospace Marketing Group, Inc., he led the first American team to conduct aerospace product sales activities in the Soviet National Pavilions at the 1989 and 1991 Paris Air Shows.

Mr. Hightower is a member of the Board of Trustees for The International Space University and Trustee of the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust, which makes annual awards to individuals for significant commercial accomplishments in aerospace, and to aerospace students in international contests.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Bohdan “Bo” Bejmuk is a highly experienced aerospace consultant with in-depth knowledge of space systems and launch vehicles, having spent over 35 years working in the industry.

In June 2009 he was appointed to the White House Review of U.S. Space Flight Plans Committee, and is also Chair of the Standing Review Board for NASA’s Constellation program.

Mr. Bejmuk previously served as Space Shuttle Orbiter Program Director at the Boeing Company, responsible for all Orbiter Engineering efforts in support of the Shuttle Program. During Space Shuttle development and early operations he served as the Program Manager for the Shuttle’s System Engineering and Integration.

His past experience also includes serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Engineer of Sea Launch, an international joint venture. In this role he directed all aspects of development for the company, leading the efforts of several thousand American, Russian, Ukrainian and Norwegian engineers and shipyard workers. Once the development phase was completed, Mr. Bejmuk became manager of Sea Launch operations at Home Port in Long Beach, California and at the launch region in the Pacific Ocean.

Earlier in his career he held various positions of responsibility at Rockwell International and, prior to that, Martin Marietta.

Mr. Bejmuk has received numerous honors, including Membership in the International Academy of Astronautics, the Lloyd V. Berkner Award, Aviation Week 1999 Laurels Award, the Rockwell International Presidents Award, and Eminent Engineer, awarded by the California Institute of Technology. He is also a two time recipient of the National Public Service Medal from NASA.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado. He speaks English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, Polish, and Spanish.

Dr. Jonathan Clark is one of America’s leading experts in space medicine and has over 30 years experience as a medical professional.

He is a member of NASA’s Constellation Program EVA Systems Standing Review Board and was on the NASA Spacecraft Survival Integrated Investigation Team from 2004-2007.

He serves as the Space Medicine Advisor to the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) at Baylor College of Medicine and is on the faculty at Baylor Center for Space Medicine (CSM).

Dr. Clark worked at NASA at Johnson Space Center from 1997 to 2005 where he was a Space Shuttle Crew Surgeon and served 26 years on active duty with the U.S. Navy.

Dr. Clark is a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association and the American College of Preventive Medicine. He has an academic appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.

He is on the Executive Council of the Aerospace Medical Association and is a member of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety.

He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, his Medical Degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., and his Master’s Degree in public health from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

He completed residency at Bethesda Naval Hospital and is board certified in Neurology and Aerospace Medicine. His interests are in neurologic effects in extreme environments and crew survival in space.

Stephen K. Eisele directs Excalibur Almaz's global sales activities, including business partnerships and sponsorships with U.S. and International accounts and clients and with the entertainment industry to help foster creative partnerships for future projects. Mr. Eisele joined Excalibur Almaz in 2007 and brought his expertise in space systems, government and international commerce, and economics.

In addition to his work with Excalibur Almaz, Mr. Eisele consulted for the X PRIZE Foundation in 2007, assisting with marketing and sales for the annual X PRIZE Cup.

From 2003-2006, Mr. Eisele worked as a Senior Analyst for DFI International in Washington, DC, managing and researching numerous projects for Fortune 100 aerospace and defense firms. In addition, he was involved in issue advocacy on Capitol Hill, working on behalf of industry to help secure robust funding for aeronautics and aerospace initiatives including directing a trade association known as the Coalition to Support Aeronautics Research (CSAR). Prior to his tenure at DFI, Mr. Eisele worked on the staff of the Majority Leader of U.S. House of Representatives, developing foreign policy briefs for Congressional leadership members. His time on the Hill provided a unique experience to learn the inner-workings of the US Congress as well as exposure to Space policy and law.

Mr. Eisele holds a BA in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA in International Economics and Strategic Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) as well as a Master's Certificate from the International Space University. Mr. Eisele received the William C. Foster Award from SAIS, "for sound scholarship and a record of leadership and distinguished service." His publications include "Luna Gaia: A Closed Loop Habitat for the Moon," (co-author), International Space University Press 2006.

Valery Ivanovich Tokarev is a Colonel in the Russian Air Force and a Test Cosmonaut at the Yuri. A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Mr. Tokarev flew on STS-96 (mission 2A.1) from May 27 to June 6, 1999. During the 10-day mission, the crew of Discovery delivered 4 tons of logistics and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) in preparation for the arrival of the first crew to live on the station. The mission was accomplished in 153 Earth orbits, traveling 4 million miles in 235 hours and 13 minutes.

He was the Soyuz Commander and Flight Engineer 1 on Expedition-12 crew from September 2005 to April 2006. During the six-month tour of duty aboard the ISS, the crew conducted two spacewalks and relocated their Soyuz spacecraft twice, becoming the first ISS crew to dock to every Russian docking port on the complex. They also became the first two-person crew to conduct a spacewalk in both Russian and U.S. spacesuits. The mission was accomplished in 189 days, 19 hours and 53 minutes, and included over 11 hours of Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA, or spacewalks).

Mr. Tokarev has been awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation, in addition to receiving many other orders and medals in his native Russia.

Mr. Tokarev is a graduate of the Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School of pilots and navigators, as well as of the Gagarin Military Aviation Academy. He also holds a Master's Degree in State Administration from the National Economy Academy affiliated with the Russian Federation President’s Administration.

From 1973 to 1976 Mr. Tokarev served in military units of the Air Force as pilot, senior pilot, flight leader, and deputy flight squadron-leader. In 1981-1982 he studied in the Test Pilot Training center affiliated with Chkalov State Research Test Institute. He became familiar with 46 types of aircraft and has logged over 3000 flight hours.

Jon Zelon has over 29 years experience in spaceflight hardware engineering and management.

Prior to joining Excalibur Almaz, he served as Chief Engineer, Manager of Aerospace Programs and Crew Exploration Vehicle Program Manager for the ARES Corporation.

Mr. Zelon has also previously served as Senior Manager at Boeing, where he was responsible for the development of NASA International Space Station (ISS) flight hardware used to transport and store mission-critical orbital replacement units.

Mr. Zelon also served as Boeing's Director of the Houston-based Shuttle Payload Systems Engineering and Cargo Integration department. His management experience includes responsibility for hardware development and analysis organizations. He was an active member in the certification of flight readiness process for many space shuttle and ISS missions.

Mr. Zelon has been recognized by NASA and the aerospace community for his many technical and managerial achievements, including the Boeing President's Award, numerous NASA technical group achievement awards, and his recent nomination for the Rotary Stellar Achievement Award.

He mentored the Clear Lake City High School team that won the 10th Annual International Space Settlement Design Competition held at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., for its design of a human settlement on the planet Mars.

Mr. Zelon holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Pepperdine University, a Master of Science Degree in Engineering from K. Western University, as well as Bachelors Degrees in Industrial Design and Industrial Engineering from California State University at Long Beach and Southern Illinois University respectively.