Dr. Andrew Bellenkes is an internationally recognized authority in Human Factors, Flight Safety, Operational Risk Management, Human Systems Integration, and Biomedical Health Security Strategy. A native New Yorker, he earned a Ph.D. in Human Factors from the University of Illinois and graduated with Distinction from the U.S. Naval War College.

Over a distinguished career spanning more than four decades, Dr. Bellenkes has served as a senior U.S. Naval officer research scientist, human factors engineer, safety officer, and educator. His extensive military and civilian experience includes leadership roles in aviation safety, aircraft cockpit design, mishap investigation and prevention, operational risk management, and aerospace human performance. He has held key positions with the Naval Safety Center, Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet, U.S. Air Force Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, Grumman Aircraft Corporation, and Control Data Corporation.

An award-winning educator and internationally sought-after lecturer, Dr. Bellenkes has developed and taught numerous courses in aerospace human factors, aviation safety, human-systems integration, and health security. His work in biomedical health security has supported NATO, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.

A Past President and Fellow of leading aerospace professional organizations, Dr. Bellenkes received the Aerospace Medical Association’s prestigious Harry G. Moseley Award for outstanding contributions to flight safety.

Dr. Sarita Dara is an Aerospace Medicine specialist with 25 years of international experience across clinical practice, research, education, and regulation. Her expertise spans Aerospace Medicine, Human Factors Engineering, Occupational Medicine, Diving Medicine, and Public Health. She currently practices in New Zealand, contributing to aeromedical certification and aviation safety with CAA NZ.

She holds an MD in Aerospace Medicine, a PhD in Human Factors Engineering, and a Masters in Space Studies (ISU), and has undertaken Space Medicine training with the European Space Agency. Her professional interests include space medicine, human performance in challenging environments, and the application of human factors to complex sociotechnical systems.

Dr. Dara is actively involved in international collaboration, mentorship, and scientific outreach. She has served as a mentor for the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Space4Women programme, IAASM Affiliate Mentorship Program and WISANZ. She is a Reviewer for the Scientific Program Committee of the Aerospace Medical Association and also contributes as a reviewer for the journals of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance (AsMA) and Applied Ergonomics (IEA). She is also an Assessor for the Professional Assessment Board of the New Zealand Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Dr. Dara is an Academician since 2018 and is a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (USA), the Royal Aeronautical Society (UK), and the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine.

Prof.Dra Vânia E.R>Melhado , MD MSc PhD. Brazilian  physician with a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in medical education, emergency medicine, nephrology, and aerospace medicine. Postdoctoral training in Medicine and  worked for over 25 years in emergency care and more than 30 years in aviation medicine within major Brazilian airlines.

Aeromedical examiner accredited by the FAA, Transport Canada (TC), and EASA, and currently serves as Medical Director of an aeromedical certification clinic in Brazil. Dr. Melhado has been a faculty member at the Santa Casa de São Paulo Medical School for over 40 years, contributing extensively to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

Recognized as one of the pioneers of Aerospace Medicine in Brazil, she created the country’s only accredited Medical Residency Program in Aerospace Medicine since 2022, helping to establish and advance the specialty nationally through clinical practice, education, and international collaboration.

Also coordinates the postgraduate program in aerospace medicine since 2020.

Academician of IAASM, Presidente elected for 2027-2029 team of Ibero-American Association , FAAsma.

Prof.Thais Russomano, MD MSc PhD FRSA has +30 years’ experience in Aerospace Medicine, Space Physiology & Digital Health. She has an MD (Brazil), specialised in internal medicine, MSc in Aerospace Medicine (USA), PhD in Space Physiology (KCL,UK).

Thais is academically linked to universities worldwide, an Academician of IAASM and IAA (BoT), Board Member of companies, holds patents, has numerous publications, participated in ESA parabolic flights, ESA Topical Teams, NASA-funded projects, ISS research & acts as the CEO of InnovaSpace (UK).