Whether you're interested in collaborating, exploring a speaking engagement, or just want to connect, I'm always open to new conversations. Feel free to email me at steve@dynamicflowlab.com. You can also find me on LinkedIn.
I am truly honored to deliver the keynote at the In-Space Physical AI Workshop on November 6 - 7.
We stand at the edge of a new frontier—where AI and robotics will redefine how humanity expands beyond Earth.
The choices we make now will shape economies, technologies, and societies for generations to come.
Thrilled to join the leaders and visionaries pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space and beyond.
🔗 Register now: https://luma.com/ixae1s05
At this impactful MIT System Dynamics seminar, I shared a space with brilliant minds and presented an analysis of aviation safety exploring the complex relationship between human decision-making and aircraft energy management. By framing the cockpit as a system of competing energy stocks, I examined why nearly half of all fatal accidents result from energy mismanagement, specifically focusing on "Controlled Flight Into Terrain" (CFIT). Through a series of case studies involving commercial airlines, emergency medical helicopters, and high-stakes VIP transport, I illustrated how factors such as mission pressure, cognitive bias, and flawed mental models can lead pilots to misperceive their environment or override life-saving technology. My talk demonstrated how System Dynamics serves as a powerful tool for modeling these human-machine interactions to identify potential instabilities and prevent future catastrophes.
I was honored to speak at this event, alongside an incredible community of innovators and explorers, as we discussed how today’s breakthroughs are shaping humanity’s future in space.
I dove into the potential and challenges of the emerging cis-lunar economy. My presentation examined current constraints and proposed innovative solutions, including breakthroughs in launch vehicle technologies, edge computing, and satellite maneuverability. I also discussed Blue Ring, a highly maneuverable spacecraft designed for multiple missions across diverse orbits, central to Blue Origin’s strategy. I also discussed how Blue Ring's capabilities, combined with radiation-tolerant edge computing and robust data storage, are crucial for fostering a sustainable and economically viable cis-lunar ecosystem.
What do you get when you bring together systems thinkers, changemakers, and practitioners tackling the world’s hardest problems?
You get the Systems Practice Forum at the International System Dynamics Conference 2025— and it was a thrill to be speaking next to these brilliant minds!
I was excited to be part of the launch of Stardust Odyssey, a groundbreaking platform revolutionizing space and STEM education, making it accessible to students and educators worldwide. As a representative of Blue Origin’s Club for the Future, I’m thrilled to see such innovative collaboration among industry leaders.
I was honored and thrilled to be invited as a Keynote Speaker at this IEEE Sensors in Spotlight event at Northeastern University on May 16, 2025. At this event, we discussed a challenge the aerospace industry has been battling over 100 years: stall! At the center of this story is the Angle of Attack sensor: how can a system designed to save lives also cause so much heartache and misery?
I had the privilege of being a guest speaker at MIT’s Complex Adaptive Systems 2025, taking on one of aviation’s most perplexing and persistent problems: airplane stalls. For over a century, stalls have contributed to thousands of fatalities, despite every possible improvement—better aircraft designs, safety systems, pilot training, you name it.
In my talk, I exposed the hidden flaw lurking in our approach all along. I traced the industry’s diligent, decades-long effort to prevent stalls—from setting requirements to rigorous testing of systems and pilots—and explained why those efforts fell short in the real world. After 100+ years of frustration, we've finally cracked the code and fixed the flaw. It’s a story of how systems engineering and real-world dynamics collided to unravel a century-old challenge, and I was thrilled to share it with the audience.
I was thrilled to be invited to speak about my work in System Dynamics at the literal birthplace of the field—MIT. I presented a System Dynamics model capturing the feedback loops between pilot behavior and airplane systems. The model reveals how an inherent instability in the pilot-airplane system can cause pilots to fall into an “error trap” during stall events, leading to incorrect inputs even when systems function properly. I also explored the psychological factors driving pilots to override their training in high-stress situations. My key message emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in how we design and implement stall prevention strategies—ones accounting for real human behavior, not idealized responses.
I had the opportunity to speak at the University of North Dakota’s Space Operations Summit—an inspiring event focused on the future of space exploration. I shared Blue Origin’s vision of enabling millions of people to live and work in space, and talked about the incredible work happening across our programs. It was especially meaningful to reflect on what it’s like leading a team of brilliant engineers, scientists, and researchers who are helping build the road to space.
At the International System Dynamics Conference, I gave a talk on using System Dynamics to better understand pilot responses in emergency scenarios, focusing on helicopter tail rotor failures. I shared models illustrating how pilots operate within a larger system and explored why many fail to respond effectively in real emergencies, even with proper training. I also examined several real-life case studies of tail rotor failure accidents and used System Dynamics to describe the pilot decision-making process in those critical moments. Drawing from real-world data and personal experience, I demonstrated how system-based thinking can improve training design and ultimately save lives.
In 2023, I was invited to speak at The International Workshop on AI-Powered Space, hosted by Rice University and NASA at the Ion in Houston. I shared Blue Origin’s vision for how AI, Digital Twins, and the Digital Thread can help accelerate our mission to enable millions of people to live and work in space. It was a great opportunity to connect with experts from across industry and academia, and to explore the future of AI-driven space exploration.
