Introducing Our New Gen Team Members at the 2025 National Symposium
We’re proud to highlight the talented individuals representing Amentum at this year’s National Space Symposium. Our NewGen team brings the drive, skill, and vision needed to shape the future of space exploration and national security.
To mark the 40th Annual Space Symposium, we spoke with eight outstanding new-generation leaders in space and defense. These innovators are breaking barriers, advancing technology, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Get to know these trailblazers as they demonstrate Amentum’s commitment to progress and set the stage for the next era of space and defense innovation.
Rudi DiAmco
Name and title
Rudi DiAmco, Missile Defense Space Enterprise Architecture (MDSEA) Events Synchronization Manager
Could you share a bit about your role and the passions that drive your work?
I am responsible for conducting critical event coordination and execution of Missile Defense Space Center (MDSC) flight/ground test events for the Missile Defense Agency. What drives me to work is and always has been to do my best, work to make things better, and learn.
What sparked your interest in a career in space/defense, and who or what has inspired you along the way?
The Air Force decided that for me at first, but I enjoyed being part of space operations as it constantly provides new challenges and learning opportunities.
What’s currently on your plate? Tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on.
We are working to improve and normalize event coordination and execution process(es), procedures and products, improving training/education/team knowledge, and ensuring our team has the right resources.
In your view, why is space exploration and our understanding of space so vital?
Space exploration is important for developing science, advancing technology, inspiring future generations, and tackling global concerns. Space capabilities are critical to the warfighter. While planning and executing operations, leaders should understand how space capabilities enhance their operations and how to integrate space forces.
What is one personal milestone or experience in your space career that you aspire to achieve?
Currently, I aspire to learn about new mission areas/technology, increase my knowledge/understanding, try to make progress, and do my best wherever I am.
What’s a surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
I am a decent artist/painter. It is sometimes a challenge to separate my creative side and logical side.
What advice would you offer recent graduates who are keen to embark on a career in space?
It’s never unicorns and rainbows wherever you go/land, but if you do your best, strive to improve, and continuously challenge yourself/learn new things, it is quite rewarding.
What do you enjoy most about being part of our vibrant Amentum team?
Even though I have only been with the team for a short period of time, I am pleased with having access to leadership and their willingness to take/make the time to be able to do so. It seems the Team walks the walk more than any other program/Task Order I have been a part of.
Sam White
Name and title
Sam White, Business Development Manager
Could you share a bit about your role and the passions that drive your work?
My role is all about bridging the gap between our clients and technical teams, with a focus on innovative solutions in space robotics, sensors, and applications of advanced technologies. My passion lies in transforming concepts into tangible realities.
What sparked your interest in a career in space/defense, and who or what has inspired you along the way?
When I was 6 years of age my parents took me to the Science Museum in London. In one of the galleries, there was a British Black Arrow rocket and a replica Eagle lander. That moment ignited a lifelong fascination I have since had with space.
Now, I am continually engaged by the fascinating technical challenges that space exploration presents and working to solve them.
What’s currently on your plate? Tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on.
In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing: Working on understanding how we can apply the skills we have developed in robotics for terrestrial use cases for in-space applications. Manufacture for Space: Exploring use cases for advanced manufacturing for the space sector using our robotics capability in:
- High-precision part placement
- TIG Welding
- Non-Destructive Testing
Intelligent Asset Management for Ground Stations: Utilizing technology to provide data insights and predictive maintenance for ground infrastructure, reducing downtime and improving reliability.
In your view, why is space exploration and our understanding of space so vital?
Space exploration is humanity’s next frontier. I believe it is one of the most important endeavors for expanding our knowledge and ensuring our long-term survival.
What is one personal milestone or experience in your space career that you aspire to achieve?
I would love to be a part of a team that pioneers the robotic establishment of a lunar base. This would be transformative, as it would facilitate rapid expansion across the universe.
What’s a surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
I launched a teddy bear into space in elementary school.
What advice would you offer recent graduates who are keen to embark on a career in space?
Embrace the journey of continuous learning. Space is a field of constant innovation and challenges. View setbacks as opportunities for growth, and never lose your passion for exploration.
What do you enjoy most about being part of our vibrant Amentum team?
Amentum’s strength lies in its people. We’re a team with diverse skills and expertise, united by a drive to tackle the world’s most complex challenges. The opportunity to learn and develop alongside this expertise while contributing to tangible improvements in the world makes every day rewarding.
John Hardy Brasfield
Name and title
John Hardy Brasfield, Client Account Lead, Space Solutions
Could you share a bit about your role and the passions that drive your work?
As a Client Account Lead, I am responsible for identifying and generating new business opportunities, developing strategic capture and account plans, fostering customer relationships, and shaping customer requirements and acquisition strategies for our Space Solutions Business Line. I would characterize myself as a “Space Nerd”, so to say I am passionate about being a part of the front-end BD support for how we expand our footprint in the Space industry would be an understatement. BD in the GovCon world provides a common, repeatable structure for how our customers acquire work, but with every new opportunity, I get to plug into a new experience – whether that is supporting human spaceflight or testing next-gen technology in nationally unique facilities, every day is something new and exciting.
What sparked your interest in a career in space/defense, and who or what has inspired you along the way?
Growing up in Tennessee probably doesn’t register as a hub for space/defense for most people. However, my hometown just happens to be right next to the USAF’s most advanced and largest complex of flight simulation test facilities in the world. In my role today, I am constantly inspired by the missions and customers we support. While the connection between my role in BD and our teams in operations isn’t exactly direct, it is extremely gratifying to hear about a successful launch or test campaign and know that, however small, I played a part in making that happen.
What’s currently on your plate? Tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on.
Honestly, a little bit of everything. I continue to support capture and proposal activities for several NASA opportunities that were assigned before I began the transition to my new role. I am working with some of our E&T International counterparts on how we can support a client for the ESA Launcher Services Challenge. I am also working with our Space Solutions BD Lead and Ops Lead to refine our account strategies and develop a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities.
In your view, why is space exploration and our understanding of space so vital?
We will eventually reach a point where we have fully explored the deepest trenches of our Oceans and uncovered the remnants of a lost civilization in the Amazon. Those end points are much closer in time. However, Space is it is the great expanse/final frontier/great unknown, whatever you want to call it, and we as a people are explorers – we are curious about what we don’t know or understand. Beyond what is in our nature to purely explore the unknown, I believe space is, and will continue to be, the arena for all our next leaps in technology, science, and on and on. You name it, and I think space, and our understanding of space, is going to be an integral part of who we are and what we will be.
What is one personal milestone or experience in your space career that you aspire to achieve?
The timeline for my professional career and the rise of the “next space age”, particularly the rise of commercial space, are almost the same. Given the experience we have supporting Civil and Military space programs, I would like to look back at my career and say that I leveraged those experiences to play an equally important role in commercial space. Maybe enough so that instead of going to a terrestrial destination for a long weekend, I would take a trip around the Earth in low earth orbit – now that would be an experience.
What’s a surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
I will eat a Caesar salad to be social, otherwise, I do not eat vegetables.
What advice would you offer recent graduates who are keen to embark on a career in space?
It is 2025, you don’t have to be an astronaut to have a career in space. There are more pathways today than ever before – explore your options.
What do you enjoy most about being part of our vibrant Amentum team?
I work in what some might consider a small office. At times, it feels like a small business where everything I need to do my job is one call/message away. It isn’t the office setting or location that creates that feeling, it is the fact that we are a global organization with a depth and breadth of unmatched capabilities, access to SMEs, and top-tier, passionate people.
Zachary Bouis
Name and title
Zachary Bouis, Mechanical Engineer
Could you share a bit about your role and the passions that drive your work?
I am a member of the mechanical team focused on space programs within the Innovative Aerospace Division (IAD). My primary function within the team is as a mechanical design engineer that works on designing space payloads from initial concepting, through detailed design, to production, and environmental testing. I’m driven by the passion of delivering innovative solutions to practical applications that increase the security of our nation while pushing the bounds of technology.
What sparked your interest in a career in space/defense, and who or what has inspired you along the way?
My interest in the space and defense industry sprouted from when I was growing up, I had a natural inclination of questioning everything. Particularly in physics, I always want to understand how and why things work the way that they do. My curiosity, on top of the endless unanswered questions there were and remain about space and our universe, piqued my interest in the space industry. Combining this with my love and pride for my country ultimately led me to the space & defense sector.
What’s currently on your plate? Tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on.
I’m currently the lead mechanical engineer on a project that’s an exciting technical maturation project to design and develop an ESA payload for space. This consists of developing conceptual designs, designing demonstration units, coordinating amongst the mechanical team, across functional groups, and identifying and burning down any technical risks of the design. Additionally, I support environmental random vibration testing to qualify units for space flight.
In your view, why is space exploration and our understanding of space so vital?
Space is a vast medium that holds many mysteries and potential answers to things such as understanding the origins and reasons for our laws of physics that we understand today. I believe many ideas and discoveries are waiting to be found in the universe that could be the key to further understanding how and why things work the way that they do, not only throughout the vast universe but also here on Earth. These discoveries and understandings will allow us to innovate for a brighter future.
What is one personal milestone or experience in your space career that you aspire to achieve?
I would like to witness the launch of (a) payload design(s) that I had a large role in designing and have confirmation of performance and functionality of the payload. Payloads that I had a major role in designing, performing up in space and enhancing our national security is a milestone I strive to achieve.
What’s a surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
This year’s space symposium will be my first time visiting the Mountain West of the United States. (I’m excited!)
What advice would you offer recent graduates who are keen to embark on a career in space?
The advice that I would give to recent graduates interested in a career in space would be to find a particular area within the field that you are passionate about, that grabs your interest. It could be the aspect of exploration, the idea of using our current understanding to leverage technologies for defense/information, or anything in between. Dive deep into that interest and allow that to be your daily motivation in the technologies you advance and work on. Stay curious, explore the unknown, question the accepted, and leverage that curiosity into new and bright ideas.
What do you enjoy most about being part of our vibrant Amentum team?
The Amentum team is very diverse and experienced in different disciplines of the space and defense industry. Everyone is not only willing but is enthusiastic, about sharing their knowledge and experiences to improve the overall knowledge and cohesion of the team.
The thing I enjoy most about being part of the Amentum team is the accessibility and enthusiastic sharing of information amongst teams to allow team members to advance their knowledge, ideas, and careers.
Hollis Ford
Name and title
Hollis Ford, SW Test Engineer/MLV Lead
Could you share a bit about your role and the passions that drive your work?
I’m a software testing engineer/MLV lead for the ES-51 branch T&V team. Day-to-day tasks include analyzing fsw data, creating header and cpp files, compiling, and distributing data to the team. Constantly challenging myself to be better is one of the main drivers. I strive to be great at anything that I do.
What sparked your interest in a career in space/defense, and who or what has inspired you along the way?
I’ve always had an affinity for deep space exploration. Looking up to the stars as a kid, I’ve always wondered what deep space exploration would be like and what lies in the void of space. Friends, family, and mentors along the way keep me inspired in many ways. Very appreciate of the advice and guidance I received from them.
What’s currently on your plate? Tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on.
Currently, I’m amid a sprint for EUS testing of the eps, MPS, and TVC modules. Working on creating new tests to validate green run requirements from scratch. This involves creating new base classes, header files, CPP files, and csv files, then compiling and distributing the data back to the team. Every new FSW comes with its challenges, and this one is no different. I welcome it, though.
In your view, why is space exploration and our understanding of space so vital?
With so many possible worlds to explore, why not expand the knowledge of space exploration? Through it, we’ve invented some of the things we enjoy today. Memory foam, smart phones with cameras, etc. We’ve also learned so much about our planet and how to create ways to improve the quality of life.
What is one personal milestone or experience in your space career that you aspire to achieve?
Beyond stepping into more leadership roles, witnessing the first manned mission to Mars would be incredible. It could pave the way for deeper space exploration.
What’s a surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
I’m a decent pool player. I’ve been playing in a league for four years and have gained a lot of knowledge and skill. I’ve met some cool people from all walks of life as well. Interesting, you can tell a lot about of person from the way that they approach the game. I still have a long way to go, though.
What advice would you offer recent graduates who are keen to embark on a career in space?
Come in with an open mind and patience. The knowledge base of the space program is so massive, there’s no possible way to know everything so give yourself some grace. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Regardless of how difficult the task is, have fun with it. Always remember your “why” to keep you aligned with your goals and stay focused when life gets challenging.
What do you enjoy most about being part of our vibrant Amentum team?
I enjoy the team-oriented aspect of working here. Working with people filled to the brim with knowledge and happy to help makes the challenging aspects much easier.
Amanda Valdez
Name and title
Amanda Valdez, Senior Technical Writer
Could you share a bit about your role and the passions that drive your work?
My role is to help enhance engineer documents for the war fighter. My passion is for helping create those mission critical documents that the war fighter may need in a time of duty.
What sparked your interest in a career in space/defense, and who or what has inspired you along the way?
My father and his military career truly inspired me to want to help our country in ways other than joining our military.
What’s currently on your plate? Tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on.
Currently I am helping maintain and update 12 different projects that are touching mission critical manuals that go out to the war fighter.
In your view, why is space exploration and our understanding of space so vital?
Space exploration and our understanding is of great importance to me. Space is truly the final frontier. Being able to master space in multi-domain operations will ensure we keep an edge in creating or exploiting relative advantages over our adversaries.
What is one personal milestone or experience in your space career that you aspire to achieve?
I aspire to manage my technical writer team and truly see how our technical manuals help the war fighters out in the field.
What’s a surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
I gave birth during Typhoon Hagibis in Japan in 2019.
What advice would you offer recent graduates who are keen to embark on a career in space?
I would advise recent graduates who are interested in a space career to just make the jump. Space is exploring the unknown so take the chance to explore the unknown of what a space career has to offer. There will never be a better time than right now!
What do you enjoy most about being part of our vibrant Amentum team?
Being a part of the Amentum team has truly motivated me to push myself to try new things and ask questions in my career! The culture and positive environment have truly made coming to work every day rewarding and fulfilling.
Katy Coe
Name and title
Katy Coe, Client Account Lead, Space Solutions
Could you share a bit about your role and the passions that drive your work?
I work in Business Development, so my primary responsibility is to drive growth for our company. I love to dig into new opportunities, engage with clients to understand their goals and challenges, and set the stage for our operational teams to deliver impactful solutions. Everybody strives for a career where they can make a difference, and I am fortunate to feel that in this role.
What sparked your interest in a career in space/defense, and who or what has inspired you along the way?
I grew up with a lot of family that work in the space and defense industry, so it’s always been something that I could see myself doing. I even went to Space Camp at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL, when I was 9 years old. Since working in the industry myself, I’m continuously inspired by my colleagues, some of whom have devoted their entire careers to space and have been a part of so many iconic milestones.
What’s currently on your plate?
Tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on. That’s top secret! All jokes aside, as a Client Account Lead, I’m focused on strengthening and expanding our NASA customer base. Currently, I’m working on several exciting projects to deliver tailored solutions to meet NASA’s unique needs.
In your view, why is space exploration and our understanding of space so vital?
There is so much that we can learn from space that benefits humanity here on Earth. A quick Google search will show that many everyday devices, such as the cameras in our smartphones, were initially developed to solve problems in space. As we shift our focus to longer duration spaceflight, numerous new technologies are currently being developed that have the potential revolutionize entire industries.
What is one personal milestone or experience in your space career that you aspire to achieve?
Like many others, I am excited about NASA returning astronauts to the Moon and continuing to Mars. From a Business Development standpoint, I aspire to help identify innovative and out-of-the-box ways for Amentum to be a part of these incredible milestones. Contributing to such historic missions in any capacity would be a significant personal achievement.
What’s a surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
I work in a highly technical industry, but I don’t have a technical background. I hold a master’s degree in Marketing and previously worked as a Business Consultant specializing in Data Analytics. Many people assume you need to be an engineer or scientist to work in the space industry, but there are many diverse roles and opportunities out there.
What advice would you offer recent graduates who are keen to embark on a career in space?
I encourage anyone interested in working in this industry to go for it! The space sector is one of the fastest growing industries, and there are so many opportunities available. Once you land your first job, find a good mentor and actively grow your network. This industry is filled with experts who are willing and eager to help develop young professionals.
What do you enjoy most about being part of our vibrant Amentum team?
I love learning about all the amazing work we do across our company, especially in Space Solutions! My role allows me to travel frequently and engage with our operations teams at various sites that are working on exciting projects. Everyone I meet is incredibly passionate about the work that they do and always eager to share.
Mackenzie Sloan
Name and title
Mackenzie Sloan, Electrical Engineer and a Software Team Lead
Could you share a bit about your role and the passions that drive your work?
I work at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on the Space Launch System (SLS) for the Artemis Program. At KSC, we integrate, test, and launch. My team is specifically responsible for the Flight Termination System. My tasks ranged from requirements verification and leading test operations to ensuring its success on launch day with console support. In addition to hardware operations, I am the Software Team Lead for our ground support equipment.
On a macro level, the passions that drive my work are the mission. We are sending the first woman and the first person of color to the moon, and as a woman in STEM, it is such an honor. I come from a place of being the only female out of a class of 30 or more – every woman I saw that was a professor, professional, or leader gave me the confidence to follow my interests. Women are essential to the next level of human adventure and are overdue to go to the Moon and beyond.
From day to day, the system I work on is responsible for public safety. I find staying motivated natural when considering the consequences of failure. To get safety, systems need to work correctly; to get functioning systems, you need to pay attention to details, get clarification when things don’t seem right, and perform honest work.
What sparked your interest in a career in space/defense, and who or what has inspired you along the way?
As far back as I can remember, I’ve said I want to work at NASA because the answers to life to me have always been “up”. It started with the answer to, “What do you want to do this weekend?” Just look up. Growing up, my best friend lived on a golf course in a rural area. Every summer weekend, we would spend our nights going as far back on the golf course as we could so that the stars would look the brightest—our metric of a “good night” was how we could discern the Milky Way. We would be enamored by the night sky, exploring details about the structures of the universe, identifying planets or constellations, and talking about the role we could play in it all.
Throughout my aerospace career, I have met and worked alongside some truly incredible people, and I am very fortunate to have a hard-working mother who has always believed in my abilities and encouraged my interests and pursuits.
What’s currently on your plate? Tell us about the exciting projects you’re working on.
I have a few gratifying projects that I’ve been working on. My primary focus has been on my new role as a software team lead. We’re designing the software for our ground system to support the ML-2 missions that will help build the first Lunar Space Station! It’s also an incredible experience to be training for console support for our next mission – Artemis II.
In your view, why is space exploration and our understanding of space so vital?
Like Jim Lovelle of the Apollo 8 crew said, “We went to the moon to discover the moon and we discovered the Earth”. I think it’s strange to observe space as being something different than us when we are composed of the same parts. As Carl Sagan said, “We are made of star-stuff”. I believe it is important to expand beyond to get a better understanding of ourselves and gain more insight into the rules that govern our universe. Using only the Earth to make conclusions about science is like looking at an acorn to make sense of an oak tree.
What is one personal milestone or experience in your space career that you aspire to achieve?
I’m looking forward to helping to get boots on the moon again— each successful launch and console support is a huge personal milestone.
I aspire to work closely with astronauts. I’ve always had a huge interest in the “human experience” as a whole and would love to research ways to bridge the gaps between humans and the technology that we leverage to do great things.
What’s a surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
I think something about me that people may not expect is my love for people and their stories. Engineers are frequently stigmatized as anti-social people, and while I’m not the most extraverted person, I love collaboration. I believe that no one person can know everything, so the most important thing that we can do is connect and share ideas. Technology is great for the rapid sharing of ideas, but it is vital that we don’t sacrifice face-to-face connections in the meantime.
What advice would you offer recent graduates who are keen to embark on a career in space?
If you want to work in aerospace (on the Engineering side), I recommend falling in love with learning, taking on projects to enhance technical skills, and trying to connect with people in the industry. Also, it is a growing sector, so if what you want to do doesn’t exist yet, there is plenty of space to create it!
What do you enjoy most about being part of our vibrant Amentum team?
I’m very proud to be part of Amentum since we are front lining the operations part of the Artemis program. The work can sometimes be difficult and hazardous, but the emphasis on safety and the encouragement to keep learning give me the confidence to succeed.
