Mr. Cassady is a graduate of Purdue University, where he obtained a BS in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1981 and an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1983. He has 25 years experience in the field of propulsion and related mission and systems analysis, first at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory and later with Aerojet in Redmond, WA. He has authored over 40 technical papers dealing with various aspects of electric propulsion, attitude control systems, and mission analysis. Mr. Cassady led the project teams which developed two flight projects successfully flown and tested in space - the 26 kWe ESEX arcjet system and the EO-1 Pulsed Plasma Thruster system. In addition, he has served on a number of advisory groups for NASA and the Air Force.

Mr. Cassady is a member of a number of technical societies including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Astronomical Society, the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society and The Planetary Society. He currently serves as Vice President, Operations for the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society. His connections to Mars exploration date back to his early days at Rocket Research Company when he was known far and wide for his little green Subaru with the GO2MARS license plate.

Aerojet engines propelled the Gemini missions into space, and Aerojet's Apollo Space Propulsion System was instrumental in placing astronauts in orbit around the moon and bringing them home again. Aerojet also built the main descent engines on the Viking module in 1972, and has been a part of every Mars mission since, including the cruise and lander engines on the Phoenix Mars Lander.

To hear from Mr. Cassady and others helping to shape the future of Mars exploration, join us at the 11th Annual International Convention at the University of Colorado at Boulder, August 14-17, 2008.

REGISTER NOW FOR A SPECTACULAR CONVENTION!
WHERE: Back to where it all began in 1998: University Memorial Center, University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.
WHEN: August 14-17, 2008
REGISTRATION: Available online
HOTEL INFORMATION: Available online
SPEAKERS: We have an impressive list of knowledgeable, inspiring speakers already scheduled:

• J. Michael Straczynski (Creator of Babylon 5)
• Elon Musk (Founder and CEO of SpaceX)
• Dr. Jim Garvin (Chief Scientist, NASA Goddard)
• Dr. Carolyn Porco (Cassini Imaging Team Leader)
• Dr. Chris McKay (NASA Ames Research Center)
• Dr. Carol Stoker (NASA Ames Research Center)
• Dr. Bill Clancey (NASA Ames Research Center)
• Dr. Matt Mountain (Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute)
• Geoffrey Yoder (NASA - Director, Directorate Integration Office - Exploration Systems Mission Directorate)
• Joe Cassady (Aerojet: Director for Business Development in Emerging Space markets)
• George Whitesides (Executive Director, National Space Society)
• Dr. Robert Zubrin (President and Founder, The Mars Society)
• Brother Guy Consolmagno (Vatican Observatory; Curator, Vatican Meteorite Collection)
• Dr. Ted Peters (Co-Editor: Theology and Science; The CTNS Journal of Science and Religion)
• Dr. David Spires (Senior Instructor, University of Washington)
• Dr. Michael Simpson (President, International Space University)