Dr. Michael Nayak

Experience

1. XPRIZEChief Technology Officercurrent2026 — presentUnited States
2. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)Program Manager2022 — 2026Washington, District of Columbia, United States
3. Air Force Test CenterAssistant Director of Operations, Test2019 — 2022Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
4. United States Air Force Test Pilot SchoolFlight Test Engineer2019 — 2020Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
5. United States Antarctic Program (USAP)Principal Investigator, LANDIT2017 — 2018South Pole, Antarctica
6. Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing SiteChief of Research2016 — 2018Maui County, Hawaii, United States

Education

1. United States Air Force Test Pilot SchoolMaster of Science - MS, Flight Test Engineering2019
2. University of California, Santa CruzDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Earth and Planetary Science2014 — 2016
3. University of California, Santa CruzMaster of Science (M.Sc.), Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences2013 — 2014
4. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityMaster of Engineering (M.Eng.), Aerospace2009 — 2010
5. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityBachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Aerospace2005 — 2009

Skills & more

From Dr.'s professional profile.

Same school

Also attended University of California, Santa Cruz46

CSChristine SamsAssistant Controller at Crosslink CapitalAFAnne FoorInvestor at Khosla VenturesMMMichelle ModestInvestor at Alpha PartnersMJMichael JenningsVenture Partner at Rally Ventures Management, LlcJDJason DemantPartner & Head of Networks at GTMfundCSCamila Sgai FrancoProduct Fellow at Mighty Capital

+ 40 more

Also attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University13

SSSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsJBJames B. HeckerGeneral USAF (ret.) at NEW VISTA CAPITALLLLance LandrumLieutenant General USAF (ret.) at NEW VISTA CAPITALJLJohn LeeVenture Partner at Zero Infinity PartnersSKSusan KilrainSpace Shuttle Pilot at New North VenturesSLSam LevineManaging Partner at Black Mountain Investment Group

+ 7 more

Shared employers

Also worked at XPRIZE20

PDPeter DiamandisPartner at Bold Capital PartnersJGJohn GedmarkAdvisor at Commonweal VenturesRBRyan BethencourtManaging Partner at Sustainable Food VenturesDBDave BlundinGeneral Partner at Vestigo VenturesWFWesley FriedmanPrincipal at 8VCABAmir BanifatemiManaging Partner at K5 Ventures

+ 14 more

Also worked at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)18

HHHouman HaghighiPartner, Business & Corporate Development at Menlo VenturesBABrandon AlexanderEntrepreneur In Residence at Crosslink CapitalTSTaylor SargentPartner at Industrious VenturesRRameshPrincipal Scientist at Rebellion VenturesAKAmy KruseVenture Partner at Prime Movers LabEBEric BielkeDirector (former Temasek) / Investor at Fathom

+ 12 more