Space Workforce 2030@HCC: Movie & Inspiration!

 Jeffrey D. Grant was sector vice president and general manager of Space Systems at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, from 2011-2018, a provider of manned and unmanned aircraft, space systems and advanced technologies critical to our nation’s security.  In this role, Grant led the division which provided space solutions for civil, military and restricted customers. 

Prior to this appointment, Grant was vice president of National Systems for Space Systems. His primary responsibilities were the acquisition and execution of all space programs for restricted customers, which includes the design, build, launch and operations of major systems. He also was responsible for new business with these customers as well as the evolution of existing systems, including capabilities enhancements and technology insertion. 
Grant also served previously as the vice president of Business Development at Northrop Grumman’s former Space Technology sector. In that role, he led the business development function, overseeing Space Technology’s strategy formulation, program development, marketing and discretionary investment. 

Grant joined Northrop Grumman via the acquisition of TRW in December 2002. Prior to his joining TRW in February 2002, he held a variety of government and private sector positions. Most recently, he was vice president and chief technical officer for Astrolink International, LLC. Astrolink was an international joint venture to develop and operate a global, broadband telecommunications satellite system. 

Before joining the private sector, Grant served for 21 years at the United States Central Intelligence Agency in positions at the CIA/National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Directorate of Science and Technology, and Directorate of Intelligence, Office of Scientific Intelligence. In his most recent assignment at the NRO, he served as director, Office of Plans and Analysis. During his 18 years at the NRO, Grant also served as a program director for a satellite, launch and ground segment development. In addition, he was the chief systems engineer on two space intelligence collection projects involving spacecraft in both geosynchronous and low earth orbits. Grant also led an advanced technology division to develop and test advanced imagery, communication and data processing technologies. 
Grant received a Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA’s Intelligence Medal of Merit, the CIA’s Engineer of the Year, and recognized as an NRO Pioneer in June 2023. Grant currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Space Foundation, the Board of Trustees at the Aerospace Corporation and the Board of Directors at the Anser Corporation. 

Heather R. Laychak has more than 20 years of experience in human resources (HR) in both for‑profit and nonprofit companies across multiple industries, including aerospace and defense, academia, retail, and entertainment. She is currently the vice president and chief people officer at The Aerospace Corporation, an independent, nonprofit corporation based in El Segundo, California. The only federally funded research and development center for national security space, Aerospace performs objective technical analyses and assessments for a variety of U.S. government, civil, and commercial customers.

As a strategic advisor to the chief executive officer and executive leadership team, Laychak is responsible for developing and executing the corporation’s HR strategy to achieve business, people, and organizational objectives. She has oversight for all areas of human resources, including talent acquisition; diversity, equity, and inclusion; people learning and development; employee and labor relations; workforce planning and analytics; total rewards; people strategy and management; and organizational development. Laychak also serves as the management liaison for the Compensation and Personnel Committee of the Board of Trustees, responsible for trustee, corporate officer, and company-wide compensation and benefits, executive incentive plan management, officer succession planning, workforce engagement, and cultural climate.

Prior to joining Aerospace, Laychak served as the senior director of talent management at Mattel, Inc., where she was responsible for talent acquisition, talent management, and diversity and inclusion after supporting the global transformation of the company’s finance and strategic planning functions.

Before joining Mattel, she held a number of strategic HR leadership positions at Northrop Grumman, including director of human resources for the Space Systems Division; director of organizational effectiveness for the Aerospace Systems Sector; and corporate director of talent acquisition with accountability for the corporate headquarters move from Century City, California, to Falls Church, Virginia. During her tenure at Northrop Grumman, Laychak was a key contributor to business unit, sector, and company strategic planning, with significant involvement in business realignment, organization restructuring, and mergers.

Before Northrop Grumman, she was the vice president of human resources and academic dean for the School of Health Studies at Robert Morris University.

EDUCATION

Laychak earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Loyola University. She has certifications in crisis management, change management, and organization design.

AFFILIATIONS

Laychak currently serves on the board of directors for Analytics Services, Inc. (ANSER). She is a Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow and formerly served as a board member for the National Kidney Foundation, Southern California Chapter, and on the American Red Cross Auxiliary Board, Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Kamlesh (Kam) Lulla has dedicated his heart and soul to exploring the unknown and being a positive role model to the next generation of explorers. Lulla's passion, enthusiasm, and open mind are what make him successful in the various roles he has filled at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.  

A renowned scientist and research leader who has been instrumental in shaping our understanding of Earth and the solar system, Lulla has received numerous awards from the U.S. government, universities, cultural organizations, and societies. He has trained astronauts, helped develop the Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs’ observational science capabilities, and published over 200 technical papers on vital research topics such as climate change science. Most recently, Lulla took on a new position as Johnson’s senior technical advisor in the Biomedical Research and Environmental Science Division.

Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi is the president of Houston Community College Central. He began his term as president of Central College on February 1, 2017 after serving in the capacity of interim college president, provost and the vice president of academics and student development at Morton College. Prior to Morton College, Dr. Siddiqi served five years at City Colleges of Chicago as the Executive Director of Manufacturing and Skills Programs. Dr. Siddiqi tenure in higher education is marked by successful workforce development programs, enrollment growth specifically for minority student  populations, development of new academic and non-academic programs, implementation of internationalization of curriculum, and building sustainable partnerships with government agencies, peer institutions, and community-based organizations. Under his leadership, Morton College was included in the list of top producers of Fulbright U.S. Scholars. 

Dr. Siddiqi has an impressive blended experience encompassing large multinational corporations to public community colleges. Prior to higher education career, Dr. Siddiqi worked in corporate sector for almost 15 years. During his tenure, Dr. Siddiqi assumed multiple organizational roles and successfully oversaw the completion of multimillion-dollar projects in countries around the globe. His global, multicultural experience has informed and influenced his approach toward the global education. Active in the community, Dr. Siddiqi serves on the board of directors of the Career and Recovery Resources, South Main Alliance, Rotary Club of Hermann Park, and Bridging The Digital Divide. Also, he currently serves on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Global Education and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Commission on International Education. He has recently served on the board of the Association of Talent Development (ATD) Houston Chapter and Executive Committee of the NAACP Houston Branch. Dr. Siddiqi received his Ed.D. in Adult Education and Higher Education with major in Human Resource Development from Northern Illinois University; a Master of Business Administration from Northern Alabama University; and a Master in Industrial Technology from Illinois Institute of Technology. He is a graduate of Institute for Educational Management (IEM) and Seminar for New Presidents at Harvard University, Executive Leadership Program at Cornell, and Leadership Development Program at the National University of Singapore. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Siddiqi has taught a variety of graduate level courses at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Benedictine University, University of Houston -Downtown and Governors State University. He has also presented at national and international conferences.

Dr. Ravi Brahmbhatt is an experienced servant leader, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role as a higher education administrator and faculty member. He is deeply committed to delivering proven entrepreneurship and innovation programs that create viable economic opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. With a tech, media, food, and digital entrepreneurship background, Ravi has seamlessly transitioned into education and continues to make a significant impact.

As a passionate change driver and problem solver, Ravi remains actively engaged in Texas's startup and entrepreneurial community. His dedication to fostering innovation and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs is evident in his various leadership roles. Currently serving as the Director of Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Houston Community College, Ravi has co-authored and led the development of workforce degree plans and certifications focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. His outstanding programs have garnered national and regional recognition, earning him prestigious awards.

Ravi's commitment to education and entrepreneurship extends beyond his role at HCC. He serves as the Education Chair for TiE Houston, a global organization that fosters entrepreneurship. Additionally, he holds a leadership position in TiE University's leadership team, further amplifying his impact on a global scale. He is a Board Advisor to the Houston Regional Veteran Chamber of Commerce and Innovation Spark - Local STEM Education non-profit. Ravi actively mentors businesses through organizations like SCORE, UH SURE and EforAll, providing valuable guidance and support to emerging entrepreneurs.

Recognized for his expertise and contributions, Ravi serves on multiple regional and international boards dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and driving economic growth. Through these positions, he leverages his knowledge and networks to create an environment that nurtures entrepreneurial talent and promotes innovation.