Jim benson Chief Executive Officer, Benson Space Company

Keynote Presentation Topic

"You Have to Be Different"

He was born in 1945, the year before the Baby Boom officially started. He’s been slightly ahead of his time for 62 years. In the 50s and 60s new rockets and satellites were being tested every week, space related books, TV shows, and comics abounded. He joined the science fiction book club at age 10 in 1955. His membership card promised to keep his name in the club’s archive to be submitted to the first commercial space transportation company. He still has that card and he’s tired of waiting. He’s doing it himself after decades of success in the computer and aerospace fields. Jim will share his insights from the edge of adventure and his quest and tireless work to rekindle the hopes and dreams of everyday space travel for all of humanity. In pursuit of solutions of the ultimate challenge – that, of opening up to all, the infinite frontier, space, forever – requires, being different. According to Jim, “If you want to make a difference in this world, you have to be different.”

Biography

James William (Jim) Benson is Benson Space Company (BSC) founder, chairman and president.  Until recently, Jim Benson was the Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SpaceDev, a publicly traded space technology development company. Jim started the trend of successful computer entrepreneurs moving into the space sector when he founded SpaceDev in 1997. Prior to founding SpaceDev, Jim was founder and President of Compusearch Software Systems and ImageFast of McLean, Virginia. SpaceDev specializes in affordable, high-performance small satellites, safe, affordable hybrid-based propulsion systems, and space mechanisms. SpaceDev has over 200 employees in three states. SpaceDev developed the highly successful CHIPSat microsatellite for NASA, the rocket motors for Paul Allen's SpaceShipOne, and has successfully flown 2,000 mechanisms on over 200 missions. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Missouri, where he was 2005 Alumnus of the Year. Jim founded the non-profit Space Development Institute, and is a founding Board member of the Personal Spaceflight Federation.  More information available at www.bensonspace.com.