Send us a text Join guest host Aaron Prather and Capt. Barbara Bell, U.S. Navy (Ret.), as she shares her remarkable journey — from entering the U.S. Naval Academy to serving as a Naval Aviator and Flight Test Officer, and now shaping the next generation as a professor of Leadership and Ethics at the Naval Academy. Together, they explore the lessons learned in the cockpit and the classroom, and how navigating turbulence — both in flight and in life — can inspire stronger, more resilient ...

Send us a text Join Nora and Bill as they talk with Lt. Alteri about his amazing experiences in the Navy. Lieutenant Santino Alteri is a native of Watertown, New York. He earned a BA in Criminal Justice from Alvernia University (PA) and an MBA from Salem International University (WV). He received his commission as a Surface Warfare Officer from OCS (RI) and reported to USS Chafee (DDG 90) in Hawaii as both the Electrical and Key Management Infrastructure Officer. He served on several deploym...

Send us a text Join Bill and Nora as they talk with Cmdr. Kilrain about her career and how she got into STEM. Commander Susan Kilrain is a renowned astronaut, a distinguished navy test pilot, and author. She is the youngest person, and one of only three women, to pilot the space shuttle. She served 20 years in the Navy, paving the way for women. She has flown more than 3,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft, and she was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. Susan flew as pilo...

Send us a text Dr. Alexander Stimpson, Ph.D. Dr. Stimpson received his Ph.D. and S.M. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a B.S. from the University of Florida in Biological Engineering. His background is in applied artificial intelligence, human-automation interaction, human cognitive modeling, and supervisory control systems. He has worked extensively in autonomous systems, with experience across undersea, surface, ground, rail, and air domain...

Send us a text Dr. Stephen H. Rapp was born in Huntingdon, PA, USA. He was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Finance. He became a Marine Officer specializing in armor, amphibious assault and space defense. He supported combat operations in Beirut and Grenada and participated in combat during Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He attended the Naval Postgraduate School graduating with a Master of Science...

Send us a text Join Nora and Bill with their guest, CDR Ian Underwood. They discuss Ian's journey in STEM where he embraces his wanderlust and leaves college to enlist and then comes back later to finish his degree. He relates how real-world experience doing hard and dirty jobs helped him find his path where now he leads teams of people to keep the critical infrastructure of Navy bases operating every day. Biography Commander Underwood is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, and ...

Send us a text Join Bill and Nora with their guest, Grant Vermeer. They discuss Grant's journey in the cyber world of the Navy through the Naval Academy and beyond. Plus, hear how Grant was successful in college basketball while doing a rigorous STEM degree. Biography Grant is a graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory and the great class of 2017 from the United States Naval Academy. During his time at the Naval Academy, Grant was a cyber operations major and a four-year ...

Send us a text Join Bill and Nora as they talk with their guest, Dan Skane, about how he was influenced by his Father and Grandfather. Dan Skane is an executive level manager with proven expertise leading multi-disciplined engineering teams in developing innovative solutions and rapidly delivering cost effective operational capability for the Department of Defense and Naval Aviation. He started his career as an Aerospace Engineer, and later became a program manager working on a variety of Na...

Send us a text Join Nora and Bill as they talk with their guest, Dr. John Cordle, about his path from an interest in dinosaurs to nuclear propulsion and being the Captain of a ship. Dr. Cordle is the senior Human Factors Engineer at Commander Naval Surface Forces. He is a retired Navy Captain (nuclear trained) who had Command of USS SAN JACINTO and USS OSCAR AUSTIN. He is the principal advisor to the Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic for Human Factors and Human Systems Integration (HFE/...

Send us a text Join Nora and Bill as they talk with their guest, Ana Borja, about how she got into a human factors career. Ana Borja has over 25 years of experience as a Human Factors Engineer and works at the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command as the Human Systems Integration (HSI) Technical Warrant Holder. She has served as a Senior Research Scientist at the Space & Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, conducting analysis to develop warfighter-centric and innovative Naval syste...

Send us a text Join Bill and Nora as they talk with their guest, Deklan Hoff, about how the Marines work with the Army and Navy. Deklan Hoff spent 4 years on Active duty in the Marine Corps as a Chemical Biological Radioactive Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Specialist. He is now pursuing a career as a Contractor for the Navy as a Program Analyst in the civilian sector. Throughout his career he has led multiple teams in hazardous environments, including time spent training with Pentagon Force protect...

Send us a text Join Nora and Bill with their guest, Tyler Truslow. Tyler works at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) where he leads all K-12 and college programs for STEM engagement. Tyler started at NSWCDD as USNA/ROTC STEM intern. He is very involved with the local community, which includes leading a STEM Cohort for Dahlgren Heritage Museum.

Send us a text Join Bill and Nora with their guest Alan Dean. Alan was employed at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) of the Naval Sea Systems Command from 1974 through 2017. His final assignment was to serve as the Head, Workforce Directorate for the NAVSEA Warfare Centers. Prior to that appointment, he served as the Deputy NAVSEA Warfare Center Workforce Executive and Branch Head for the Surface Anti-Submarine Warfare Program from 2003 to 2007 and for the SLBM ...

Send us a text Join Bill with his guest, Dr. Tan Deleon, as they take things underwater. Dr. Tanimu "Tan" Deleon has a Master of Science in Computer Engineering and a Philosophy Doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Deleon has almost two decades of experience in research and development, information technology, submarine design & manufacturing, and human factors. Dr. Deleon has presented at conferences, symposiums, invited talks, and published in peer reviewed journa...

Send us a text Join Nora and Bill as they learn how turning trash into treasure leads to designing technology that fits people. Today we talk to our guest, Daniel Wallace. Daniel Wallace is recently semi-retired from the Navy and was the Technical Warrant Holder for Displays and Human Factors Engineering for the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for 12 years. In his role as a Technical Warrant holder, he was responsible to assist acquisition programs in balancing operational, te...

Send us a text Join Bill and Nora as they talk with their guest, John J. Pennella, about the exciting things he did for the Navy during his 45-year career. Biography: John Pennella retired from a 45-year career with the Federal Government and the private sector. Graduating with degrees in engineering from both George Washington University and the University of Connecticut, he pursued a career in engineering inspired by his love of mathematics and science along with his desire t...

Send us a text Join Bill as he talks with his guest, Jose Vazquez, about his career in the military and civilian side of the Navy. Biography: Jose Vazquez’s public sector career includes nearly 15 years leading technology development programs that advance capabilities for U.S. soldiers and first responders. The commercialization of more than a dozen defense and security products reflects Jose Vazquez ’s ability to combine product innovation and usability. As a director at both the Offic...

Send us a text 'The Following Seas,' powered by ASTM International, setting sail with your co-hosts Bill and Nora. Take time to get to know your hosts and what to expect in future episodes.