About Us

Our mission: To advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity.

In 1983, a small group of visionary leaders in Colorado Springs saw a need to establish an organization that could, in a non-partisan, objective and fair manner, bring together the various sectors of America's developing space community and serve as a credible source of information for a broad audience - from space professionals to the general public. The Space Foundation was founded March 21, 1983, as an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization "to foster, develop and promote, among the citizens of the United States of America and among other people of the world ... a greater understanding and awareness ... of the practical and theoretical utilization of space ... for the benefit of civilization and the fostering of peaceful and prosperous world."

As the global space community has evolved, so has the Space Foundation - embracing all facets of space - commercial (including telecommunications and other satellite-based services), civil, and national security. In fact, the Foundation is one of few space-related organizations that embraces the totality of this community rather than focusing on a narrowly defined niche.

Since its founding, the Space Foundation has become one of the world's premier nonprofit organizations supporting space activities, space professionals and education. The Foundation's education programs have touched teachers in most U.S. states, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and Germany. It conducts the premier event for space professionals anywhere in the world today: the National Space Symposium.

Iain Probert
Vice President, Education, Space Foundation

As vice president, Mr. Probert gives leadership to the education team, its mission and community outreach. Probert implements the Space Foundation's flagship seven-week Space Across the Curriculum courses, which allows teachers to participate in intensive, weeklong, graduate-level training in residence in Colorado Springs, Colo. Working with U.S. military installations, higher education institutions and partner aerospace companies, Probert and the Space Foundation's education team lead the teachers through an immersion program that includes weightlessness training, rocketry, remote sensing and more. Probert works directly with Space Foundation volunteers, sponsors, and speakers in support of a multitude of education related events and activities. In addition, he is responsible for data collection and analysis associated with all education programs.

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Probert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electronic and computer engineering from Thames University. After relocating to the United States in 1994, he worked for the Boy Scouts of America for more than 12 years in multiple locations. Locally, he was responsible for Learning for Life, a career exploration and K-12 and special needs character education program. Probert's extensive budget and large event management experience includes directing multi-million dollar camp and educational retreat center facilities in multi-regional locations. He also served as key faculty in numerous national Boy Scouts of America adult training schools in the areas of administration, program and facilities.

Bryan DeBates
Director-Education, Space Foundation

Mr. DeBates serves as the director-education, for the Space Foundation. He administrates the development and implementation of the Space Foundation's education programs that support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. These responsibilities include establishing project goals and developing education programs to support the efforts of classroom educators and Space Foundation education partners. He directs the Space Foundation's education programs including the Space Across the Curriculum courses, the NEW HORIZONS Space Education program, and the student science program Science, Technology, and Academic Readiness for Space or S.T.A.R.S. DeBates also ensures that the programs follow the Space Foundation's mission, "To advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity."

Prior to his position at the Space Foundation, DeBates taught 5th grade at Timberwilde Elementary in San Antonio, Texas, and Title I math and reading at Ipswich Elementary in Ipswich, S.D.  DeBates has been honored for his achievements in education through numerous awards, including Time Warner Cable's National Crystal Apple Award, the Air Force Association's Alamo Chapter Teacher of the Year, and the Christa McAuliffe Memorial Award. He was selected by Texas A&M as a recipient of the Educator's Shape the Future Award, and was cited in the U.S. Congressional Record for his achievements in education. DeBates was also inducted into the inaugural class of Teacher Liaison Officers by the Space Foundation. He has participated in the Zero-G Weightless Flights of Discovery.

He earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern State University and a Master's in Education degree in space science education leadership from Regis University.

Robert 'Bobby' Gagnon
Sace Education Specialist, Space Foundation

Mr. Gagnon serves as a space education specialist for the Space Foundation. He is responsible for the development and implementation of curriculum and education programs that support Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). These responsibilities include curriculum design, development of unit and daily lesson plans, technology integration, teaching strategies, teacher and student presentations, and other cross-curriculum collaboration efforts. He conducts a number of student and teacher workshops including the Space Foundation's Space Across the Curriculum courses and the Science, Technology, and Academic Readiness for Space (S.T.A.R.S.) student science enrichment program. Gagnon also facilitates the Teacher Liaison program, which is designed to bring top science teachers together from across the country.  Additionally, he works to promote space education efforts through school faculty presentations and at local, state, and national conferences including the National Space Symposium.

Prior to joining the Space Foundation, Gagnon taught 4th grade at Explorer Elementary and 3rd grade at Longfellow Elementary, both in Colorado Springs. He has been honored for achievement in the field of education with a variety of awards, including a Challenger in Education award presented by the University of Northern Colorado and "Teacher of the Year" nomination from Academy District 20.  Gagnon was inducted as a Teacher Liaison Officer for Flight 5-08, and has participated in the Zero-G Weightless Flights of Discovery. He was also invited by NASA and the Space Foundation to visit Kennedy Space Center for a special tour of the facility prior to the launch of STS 118, which sent the first educator astronaut, Barbara Morgan, into space.

Gagnon earned a bachelor's degree in psychology/elementary education from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction degree with an emphasis in space studies from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Allison Reilly
Space Education Specialist, Space Foundation

Ms. Reilly serves as a space education specialist for the Space Foundation. She is responsible for the development and implementation of curriculum and education programs that support Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. These responsibilities include curriculum design, developing unit and daily lesson plans, and conducting teacher and student workshops. Reilly also acts as the liaison for curriculum development between the Space Foundation and Colorado Springs School District 11 for the Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy middle school.

Prior to working for the Space Foundation, Reilly was the director of education at Space Center Houston, the official Visitors Center of Johnson Space Center.  She directed all aspects of the Education Department and established and maintained the educational mission and objectives for the education staff.  Programs included the Space Exploration Educator's Conference (SEEC), several Distance Learning programs, Educator Workshops, Space Day Camps and an International Space School engineering challenge.   During her time as education director the Department won a Telly Award for Best Electronic Fieldtrip: "Just Where is that Zero G Room?", the NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award for the Space Exploration Educators Conference, and the Texas Association for Partners in Education Best STEM Business Partnership for the BP Physics Challenge. Benjamin also taught middle school science in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) for five years. During her time in HISD she successfully implemented a CAL (Champions of Active Learning) grant to research the ecology of Brays Bayou for seven weeks with two colleagues and 410 eighth graders, and was a co-founder of the Johnston Community Academy (JCA), a 12- week community program to help "at-risk" students that was funded through a Houston A+ Challenge grant.   

Reilly earned a bachelor's degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University.

Chrys Rheinbolt
Education Programs Administrator, Space Foundation

Mrs. Rheinbolt serves as the education programs coordinator. She has been employed with the Space Foundation since 2004. She is responsible for the logistics, coordination, and completion of education programs and projects including the Space Across the Curriculum courses, Space in the Classroom, student programs, workshops, conferences and other events, meetings, forums, and special projects.

Prior to her position with the Space Foundation, Rheinbolt was a stay-at-home mother. She received her associate's degree from Fullerton Community College and attended Santa Ana College, Fire Program. She moved from California to Colorado with her husband and completed her training to obtain a Colorado State Firefighter Certificate.

Natalie Olmsted
Education Programs Coordinator, Space Foundation

Mrs. Olmsted is the education programs coordinator. She is responsible for the logistics, coordination, and completion of all education programs and projects including the Space Across the Curriculum courses, Space Career Fair, Space in the Classroom, student programs, workshops, conferences and other events, meetings, forums, and special projects. She provides advance and onsite assistance to all staff regarding the logistics of their participation. This includes coordinating hotel reservations, transportation, presentations, and audiovisual support.

Previously, Olmsted was the special assistant for programs and policy, a position she assumed when joining the Space Foundation team in 2004. Her responsibilities included serving as the principal speaker coordinator for the Foundation's acclaimed industry trade events, including the flagship National Space Symposium. Prior to joining the Space Foundation, Olmsted worked at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in the accounting department.