Dr. Michael Cortrite, Senior Consultant
Michael brings over four decades of leadership and management expertise, blending practical experience with academic insight, making him an integral part of our team. During his 30-year career with the Los Angeles-area police department, Michael progressed through roles as a police officer, supervisor, and manager, gaining extensive experience in team leadership, operations management, and problem-solving. For the past 23 years, he has taught leadership and management at the California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) and holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership from UCLA. An active researcher with the Management as a Liberal Art Research Institute (MLARI) and a certified life coach, Michael specializes in leadership development, helping individuals unlock their potential and lead with impact. He is also deeply committed to fostering inclusivity through tolerance education programs at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.
Philip E. Rosen, Consultant
Philip E. Rosen is an accomplished independent researcher specializing in technological civilizations, astrophysics, and astrobiology. Since 2021, following a successful 29-year career in the energy industry with Chevron Corporation and affiliated companies, he has made significant contributions to our understanding of human space exploration, technological civilization development, messaging extra-terrestrial intelligence, and climate change. His career as an energy engineer encompassed refining, petrochemicals, energy technology, and technical writing, equipping him with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Rosen holds a M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has co-authored several influential peer-reviewed journal publications, leveraging his background in engineering to offer unique perspectives in his current research. His work is a testament to the synergy of engineering and astrophysics, contributing to both scientific understanding and practical applications.
Dr. Stuart Tylor, Consultant
Stuart is an astrophysicist affiliated with the SETI Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from Brigham Young University, and his research spans a wide range of topics, including exoplanet parameter distributions and their implications for planet formation and evolution. As an expert in observational astrophysics, Stuart conducts extra-solar transit photometry and oversees global telescope setups and operations to expand the database of exoplanet measurements. His work also includes projects on the atmospheric propagation of light, cosmic rays, gamma rays, nuclear physics, muon-catalyzed fusion, low-rate fusion in condensed matter systems, and atomic physics. His interdisciplinary expertise bridges multiple domains of science, advancing knowledge in both fundamental and applied physics.
A passionate advocate for public engagement, Dr. Taylor actively discusses topics such as planets, the possibility of life in the universe, intelligent life on exoplanets, and the profound role of science in shaping humanity’s future. His dedication to both research and outreach highlights his commitment to expanding scientific understanding and inspiring curiosity about the cosmos.