Our Team
Nicol Verheem
Founder, CEO
Nicol Verheem is a Technical Oscar® and Emmy® award winning Electronic Engineer, serial Entrepreneur and also a seasoned startup Investor. Nicol has served on the executive management team of a multi-national public company, started and scaled venture backed startups, and also bootstrapped startups from scratch. He successfully exited his last startup Teradek, with great returns to all investors.
Rodney Grubbs
Guru: Space Imaging
Rodney Grubbs had a 35-year career in film, television, and imaging in space at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. He was the Artemis Imagery Integration Lead for NASA’s return to humans landing on the Moon.He has Emeritus status with NASA and chairs the Motion Imagery & Applications Working Group, in the Space Internetworking Services Area of the Committee for Space Data Systems. He has been a Principal Investigator on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS), including the first ever live HDTV and UHD programs from a spacecraft.
Gabe Phan
Director of Software Engineering
Gabe Phan has been working in a startup environment for most of his career. He has built several teams and the company's infrastructure from scratch. He has worked in several industries including telecomms, video and gaming. At GE Security, he played a key role in transforming their legacy products into modern IP based products. At Teradek, he architected the software to make the company an industry leader. At Intellivision, he was responsible for all the firmware for a new gaming console and controllers.
Stephen Long
Consulting Senior Scientist, Systems Engineer, and Advanced Concepts Architect
Stephen is a Sr. Scientist and Advanced Concepts Engineer that has served leadership roles in the DoD, Intelligence Community, and in private industry. He has degrees in Communications (Television and Film Directing), Audio and Television Engineering, and Physics from American University. He's a world-class expert for Motion Imagery, Metadata systems and is a community leader across Motion Intelligence, MASINT, GEOINT, and C4ISR / BMC2 Integration disciplines.
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John Plumb
Advisor
John Plumb, the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, oversaw space war-fighting and integrated deterrence across space, nuclear, cyber, missile defense, and WMD countermeasures. With nearly 30 years in national security, he served as a US Navy submarine officer and held leadership roles in the Senate, Pentagon, and National Security Council. He has also worked at Rand Corporation and Aerospace Corporation. Dr. Plumb holds a B.S. in Physics, a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, and multiple service awards.
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Greg Gillinger
ISR Subject Matter Expert
Greg is a Retired USAF Col with 25+ years of ISR experience in the cyber and space domains. He previously served as Director of Intelligence, 14th Air Force Vandenberg Base, Chief of the ISR Directorate in the Combined Space Operations Center, and National Security Council Director during the Obama Administration. Earlier in his career Greg also helped develop GSSAP intelligence requirements that are now operational today.
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Nathan Carlson
Director of Operations
Nathan has experience working in engineering operations in the automotive industry and logistics operations in the ecommerce industry. His wide breadth of experience across operational disciplines led him to TRL11, where he is responsible for all project management, supply chain, and other operations activities. He has a Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
An Ly
Senior Electrical Engineer
An has over 20 years of experience in mixed-signal and digital design, including PCB, FPGA, MPSoC, and RFSoC development. He has worked on cameras, nano-satellites, and RF digital subsystems, with expertise in avionics products meeting MIL-STD-461, DO-160, DO-254, and DO-178 standards. An has led engineering teams as both a manager and a technical lead. He holds a BSEE from UCLA, an MSEE from Syracuse University, and attended USC's MBA.PM program.
Ryan Barber
Principal Software Engineer
Ryan , Principal Engineer at TRL11, specializes in video compression, real-time 3D rendering, and precision timing systems. He leads the development of VIP-Only and VIP-Alt-PNT technologies for space domain awareness. Formerly Head of Software Engineering at Brandywine Communications and Director of Software at Teradek, Ryan combines leadership with hands-on expertise, actively contributing to code and cross-functional design.
Connor Lemp
Software Engineer
Connor Lemp is a dedicated software engineer with 5 years of experience and a degree in Mathematics. With a genuine love for problem-solving and a strong curiosity for exploring new technologies, Connor approaches software development with an open mind and a desire to learn. He strives to design and implement robust software solutions, continuously seeking opportunities for growth and improvement.
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Greg Vitous
Embedded Linux Guru
Greg is a Software Engineer with 4 years of experience in machine learning, parallel CPU/GPU processing, real-time systems, and Linux development. With a Master’s in Machine Learning from Georgia Institute of Technology, Greg blends academic foundations and hands-on expertise to solve complex technical challenges. At TRL11, he develops secure, intelligent systems and optimizes platform performance, delivering robust, scalable solutions to meet the demands of an evolving industry.
Lexy Ackerman
Lead Technical Program Manager
Lexy is an experienced engineering-based Program Manager with 7 years of work experience in New Product Development as a Sr. Design Engineer, Lead Mechanical Engineer, and Lead Technical Program Manager. She has previously worked in the automotive sector within the Power Electronics division, owning all inverter designs, and at the vehicle level, overseeing a government-contracted program. Currently, she leads the New Product Development Programs at TRL11.
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Saidjahon Mamirov
Embedded Software Engineer
Saidjahon, an Embedded Software Engineer with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Mathematics from Saint Mary’s College of California, has been key at TRL11 in developing innovative products like SAVER and Triclops. He has participated in four pivotal missions, notably leading SAVER’s integration with a host satellite flight computer. Saidjahon is committed to advancing TRL11’s resilient full-motion imagery systems for harsh space environments, driving progress in space-based imaging technology.
John Milian
Electronics Engineer
John is a dedicated electrical engineer with a drive to design innovative and efficient solutions that bridge functionality and reliability. His expertise involves fast prototyping, testing, and robust high-speed PCB design for harsh environments, with a focus on delivering cutting-edge technology for complex applications. John approaches challenging problems with an open mind and a commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Joseph Melucci
Embedded Software Engineer
Joseph is a graduate from the University of California, Irvine. He has a Bachelors in Computer Science and has experience working as a Software Engineer in industry. Recently, he was a Software Engineer Intern at Meta on a Machine Learning team. During university, he specialized in Data Management and built multiple full-stack applications using languages and frameworks such as Java, Apache Tomcat, Bootstrap, Javascript, Python, and more.
Bryson Pierce
Aerospace Mechanical Engineer
Bryson is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from UC San Diego with a specialization in Control and Robotics and a passion for space.He's interested in the digital side of mechanical engineering, he focuses on the intersection between mechanical systems, embedded controls, and computational analysis. With a proven track record of innovative problem-solving, he consistently strives to create new, cutting-edge aerospace solutions.
Trevin Powell
Aerospace Mechanical Engineer
Trevin is a Mechanical Engineer with a drive to make a positive impact on the world. He has engineering experience with several different companies doing automation, rapid prototyping, testing, design for manufacture, and product development. He also has many years of experience building and repairing various electronic and mechanical structures/devices during his personal time. He is an effective problem solver because of his experience, determination, and pursuit of knowledge.
Aneesh Goel
Business Developoment Manager
Aneesh is a graduate from Berkeley with a degree in Economics and a minor in Earth & Planetary Science. During his time in college, he started a student-run course on NewSpace Entrepreneurship, co-founded the NewSpace at Berkeley, served as the President of Berkeley Venture Capital and was an Investment Associate for the MBA Fund Courtyard Ventures. He has also interned previously in the space industry.. Aneesh is excited to lead TRL11’s business strategy, development, and product strategy.
Timothy Maki
Business Development Manager
Timothy is an Army Veteran with over 13 years leading small to medium organizations all over in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With a wide range of experiences working with international military and governmental partners, he is excited to bring a desire for excellence and good to TRL11 by supporting and building partnerships in the Colorado Space Industry on both the commercial and government sides.
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Mario Mushamel
Electronics Engineer
With a degree in Computer Engineering, Mario Mushamel has a versatile background covering both software and hardware aspects. His skill set spans semiconductor testing, software development, and hardware design, allowing him to contribute effectively to projects that require a holistic approach. His experience in component testing, research, and previous internship positions have allowed him to refine his ability to ensure product excellence.
Pearl Bhatnagar
Business Operations Associate
Pearl is a UC Berkeley graduate in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Data Science. During her time at Berkeley, she was deeply involved in the aerospace community. From leading NewSpace at Berkeley as Chief Operations Officer to driving groundbreaking research on MAVEN and SWEAP, where she developed advanced Python tools for satellite data analysis, Pearl seamlessly blends strategic vision with technical expertise. At TRL11, Pearl channels her passion for space exploration into shaping impactful strategies and driving innovation across the industry.
Stephen Kakuda
AI/ML Vision Embedded Programmer
Stephen graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor's in Computer Science, specializing in intelligent systems. He previously interned at Collins Aerospace on their AI team, prototyping custom AI tools, and has personal experience working with a variety machine learning systems. With a passion for problem solving, he practically applies his programming and math skills towards developing computer vision solutions.
Graham Avers
Test Engineer
Graham is a mechanical engineer with a lifelong passion for space exploration and innovation. His expertise spans advanced robotics, custom automation, and space engineering. During his time at NASA, he led the development and successful flight of a small low-cost inertial positioning system designed for both local and interplanetary travel. At TRL11, Graham oversees the company's testing efforts, ensuring our products operate seamlessly in the extreme conditions of space.
Kanchi Shah
HR Generalist
