TTA Spring Meeting Speakers

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Mike Mullane, Astronaut

Presentation

         Countdown to Leadership, Teamwork and Safety:

Astronaut Mike Mullane will use the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster to develop the causes and dangers of ‘Normalization of Deviance’, defined as the accumulation of risk through repeated deviances from safety best-practices until that behavior becomes a ‘new normal’ for the individual or the team.  The results of this process are ‘predictable surprises’ which can result in injuries and fatalities.  Mullane will also develop hard-hitting lessons on safety responsibility and accountability through the telling of a story from his Air Force flying career in which he was forced into a last second ejection from a crashing fighter aircraft.

Biography

Colonel Mullane was born September 10, 1945 in Wichita Falls, Texas but spent much of his youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he currently resides.  Upon his graduation from West Point in 1967, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force.  As a Weapon Systems Operator aboard RF-4C Phantom aircraft, he completed 134 combat missions in Vietnam.  He holds a Master's of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is also a graduate of the Air Force Flight Test Engineer School at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Mullane was selected as a Mission Specialist in 1978 in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts.  He completed three space missions aboard the Shuttles Discovery (STS-41D) and Atlantis (STS-27 & 36) before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990.

Mullane has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal.

Since his retirement from NASA, Colonel Mullane has written an award-winning children's book, Liftoff! An Astronaut's Dream, and a popular space-fact book, Do Your Ears Pop In Space?  His memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, has been reviewed in the New York Times and on the Jon Stewart Daily Show.  It has also been featured on Barnes and Noble’s 2010 recommended summer reading list.

Mullane has held a lifelong passion for mountain climbing.  Since age 60 he has summited Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, as well as Mt. Rainier and forty of Colorado’s 14,000 ft. peaks.

Colonel Mullane has established himself as an acclaimed professional speaker on the topics of teamwork, leadership and safety.  He has educated, entertained, inspired and thrilled tens of thousands of people from every walk of business and government with his incredibly unique programs.

Ron Galloway, Author and Futurist

Presentation

AI In The Transformer Industry: Clear & To The Point

This session examines how AI technologies, particularly large language models and autonomous agents, apply to the small-scale transformer manufacturing sector. Companies in this industry often work with inductors, switches, adhesives, and raw materials, where consistency and precision are vital. By clarifying the core concepts behind these advanced AI tools, this presentation establishes a foundational understanding of how intelligence gleaned from vast data sets can be harnessed to improve manufacturing processes.

We will explore specific examples of how AI and generative AI can enhance efficiency and innovation in producing transformers and related components. These models can streamline design iterations, predict material performance under various conditions, and optimize production lines in real time. Generative AI further allows for the simulation of novel solutions that address complex design or supply chain challenges, potentially reducing costs and minimizing waste.

In addition, the presentation outlines practical considerations for implementing AI in a manufacturing setting. Topics include effective data collection, model training, workforce readiness, and the ethical implications of AI-driven decision-making. By concluding with actionable insights and guidance for future adoption, the session aims to equip industry professionals with a clear road map for integrating AI strategies into existing workflows.

Biography

Ron Galloway is a technology researcher and author. His books include “AI: Clear & To The Point and “Tech Terms For Trustees.” He graduated Georgia Tech in 1984 and was an analyst at Smith Barney until 2006 when he started his own technology company, Method Research. He has been programming in the AI language Prolog for 37 years.

Print coverage of his work includes The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Investors Business Daily. He has appeared on CNN, CNBC, the BBC, and PBS and was made fun of on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show. His business film “Why WalMart Works” was the first film to ever premiere in the U.S. Capitol Building. 

He has 2 children and a dog named Netflix.