Bios

Vince has clear memories of his father working late nights at home on the Apollo lunar rover in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s while working at Boeing. In second grade Vince’s class was gathered around a small black and white television set in 1972 watching Harrison “Jack” Schmitt collect samples while walking on the Moon. Like so many people of his era, Vince decided his future was in Space. Fast forwarding about forty years finds Vince and his business partner Melissa talking with Jack Schmitt, himself at the Lunar Exploration and Analysis Group Conference in 2017 about their work! Along the way Vince worked in aerospace in various capacities from small aircraft maintenance to building rockets. After a lifetime of effort, Vince met one of his long-term goals of completing his Mechanical Engineering degree at Saint Martin’s University in 2017. Vince founded Off Planet Research in 2015.

Melissa Roth is one of the co-owners and lead researchers at Off Planet Research. With a background in mechanical engineering, Melissa works with clients to ensure researchers and engineers get the best simulant for their experiments and testing. She has spoken at numerous conferences about OPR's research projects, the challenges and benefits of operating in lunar regolith, and how to leverage the ice discovered in the polar regions. She is a member of the LEAG Commercial Advisory Board and the lead for LSIC’s Extreme Environment Regolith/Surface Interface subgroup.

Lauren has a wide variety of skills, all of which apply directly to human factors, ergonomics, prosthetics and orthotics, and human space exploration.  With degrees in Engineering and CHID, along with a certificate as a Prosthetics Technician,  she has a jack-of-all-trades job history including working as an Engineering Liaison in Aerospace, and in Research and Development. Although peripherally involved in the conception of Off Planet Research, she officially joined Off Planet Research in 2018 where she uses her knowledge and skill set to continue to work toward ensuring a safe launch of the human race to the Moon and into outer space.

Ryan Reed has always been passionate about protection. He has devoted his career to the advancement of technologies that protect, from renewable energy, to lightweight composite armor, and now to the safety and security of our current and future space assets. Ryan has spent over 14 years in the Aerospace and Defense industry growing from a respected Engineer into a seasoned Executive. He has a proven track record of success within multiple start-ups and in every case has guiding them toward significant growth in short periods of time. In addition to his many business accomplishments, Ryan holds a Master Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington and has multiple academic publications to his record. Ryan joined the executive team of Off Planet Research in 2019.

Rob has over 35 years of aerospace experience, the majority of which has been spent in the Commercial Space Industry. Beginning at McDonnell Douglas and the then-new commercial Delta II program, he has held several leadership positions in the development of commercial space programs, ranging from director of Launch Services Acquisition for Hughes Space and Communications, vice president of business development at Space X and Boeing Satellite Systems International, to president of the Sea Launch Company. He has an enduring passion for space applications and exploration and a profound respect for those committed to its continued advancement. Rob became the Commercial Advisor for Off Planet Research in 2019.