Michael Simon has been a thought leader in the fields of aerospace and transportation for more than 30 years. For the past 15 years, Mike has focused his efforts on electrification of large transportation systems, including battery-electric vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and even rail vehicles using innovative linear motor technologies. From mid-2006 until early 2010, Mike assisted General Atomics (GA) in commercializing its advanced transportation and energy technologies, most recently as Director of Commercial Business Development for GA’s Electromagnetic Systems Division.
Prior to founding TransPower, Mike co-founded ISE Corporation in 1995, with colleague David Mazaika. From 1995 until 2005, as Chairman of the Board and Co-CEO, Mike directed all company financial, business development, and administrative matters. ISE achieved ten consecutive years of revenue growth over this period, and grew from a start-up operation to a fast-growing high-tech firm with 60 employees and more than $20 million in revenues by the time Mike departed in 2005. While at ISE, Mike also played a leading role in conceiving and designing ISE’s industry-leading products, co-inventing ISE’s gasoline hybrid and fuel cell hybrid drive systems.
Prior to founding ISE, Mike worked for eleven years at General Dynamics (GD) Space Systems Division. While at GD, Mike managed numerous NASA studies relating to lunar and Mars exploration, advanced concepts for the Space Station, Space Shuttle improvements, and future space transportation systems. He was also a key contributor to the formation of GD’s Commercial Atlas program, for which he received GD’s Extraordinary Achievement Award. In 1981-82, Mike worked at NASA Headquarters, where he participated in early planning for NASA’s Space Station program, which continues to this day. Mike received his M.S. in Engineering from Stanford University in 1981, following completion of a multi-disciplinary undergraduate program combining engineering, economics, and political science.
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