General Orbital is a company committed to delivering new Airship technologies to solve ever-growing needs within the communications, security, tourism and research markets. Founded in 2005, we have patents pending on our innovative vehicle designs. These new vehicles are a far more cost effective and felxible than satellites.
General Orbital has a leadership team with a unique and powerful combination of Aerospace, Communications, Space Law and Start-up experience.
A 20 year technology veteran who sees the incredible value inflatable technology has to revolutionize the aerospace and communications markets. Jeff is a leader committed to creating practical solutions to very difficult problems.
Prior to being brought on board to lead General Orbital, Mr. Klagenberg built a strong unique combination of Aerospace and start-up experience. His experience started at Lockheed working on Space Shuttle Payload operations and scientific research satellites for the Air Force. After this he led product organizations at software startups, such as Talarian , Reasoning and Siperian. He was also an executive consultant who helped several new and growing companies.
General Orbital was founded upon technology developed while he worked enabling airship assisted launch systems. He has spent over a decade pursuing new technologies to bring aerospace technology to the commercial market. He is a luminary in pragmatic technologies required to reach high-altitude and orbit.
Prior to founding General Orbital, Dr. Differ developed air and space flight technology for over a decade through projects at non-profit and for-profit organizations including the Space Frontier Foundation and JP Aerospace. In addition to this R&D experience, he has accumulated experience in software engineering, training, and project management.
As VP of Engineering, Cyprians O. Colbert is responsible for directing Engineering activities that will generate products that meet or exceed customer requirements demanded in the marketplace. His experience in leading engineering teams began while he was Director of Software Engineering & Co-Founder for KinetX, Inc. (an aerospace that provided engineering support to Motorola for the construction of Iridium). While at KinetX, Mr. Colbert expanded the company’s customer base by developing an automated control system that was used by Lockheed-Martin in support of their A2100 commercial bus.
Following Mr. Colbert’s stay at KinetX, Inc., he joined C3I Operations (C3IO), Inc. as VP of Product Development & Co-Founder. While at C3IO, Mr. Colbert continued to support Lockheed-Martin by delivering automated control centers (Telkom and KoreaSat) in support of their A2100 commercial bus. He also expanded the Lockheed-Martin contract by supporting Lockheed-Martin in partnership to build and deliver the primary and backup ground control software for the following systems: Astrolink, NSAT and NOMS.
After delivering all the contracted systems to Lockheed-Martin, Mr. Colbert joined Spectrum Astro, Inc., later acquired by General Dynamics. While at Spectrum Astro, Mr. Colbert served as the Flight Software (FSW) Responsible Engineering Authority (REA) and Cost Account Manager (CAM) for the GLAST and GEOEYE programs. After General Dynamic’s acquisition of Spectrum Astro, Mr. Colbert’s position was renamed to Sr. Technical Manager – Software Engineering.
Mr. Dula received his undergraduate degree in chemistry and mathematics in 1970. He went on to receive a Juris Doctorate in civil law from Tulane University in 1975. Today he is a member of the American Bar Association.
Art has also participated in the following professional activities:
- Legal Advisor to the U.S. Congress, Space Stations and the Law
- Consultant to NASA on the Space Shuttle payload contract (outside legal review)
- Past Chairman, Aerospace Law Committee
- Past Chairman, Section on Science & Technology International Institute of Space Law
- American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (Associate Fellow)
- American Arbitration Association (Commercial Arbitrator)
- Visiting Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
- Adjunct Professor of Law University of Houston
Mr. Dula was admitted to practice before: the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Texas State and Federal Courts. He is registered with the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and Office of Defense Trade Controls.
Mr. Hamilton is an 11 year veteran of the U.S. Space program. He has served in both the training and mission operations aspects of the NASA Space Shuttle program. In the training division he was a systems expert assigned to train the Guidance, Control, and Propulsion systems to Astronaut crew members for the STS-83, 94, 88, and 103 missions and was assigned as a Training Team Lead for STS-107.
Most recently he has worked in Mission Operations as a Booster Systems flight controller involved in the real time support of space shuttle missions.
He is a recognized expert in spacecraft flight systems and manned space flight.
Prior to coming to NASA, Mr. Hamilton served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot flying the E-6A Mercury, and is still active in the Navy Reserves.
Bill is an experienced entrepreneur committed to helping global technology companies to build effective alliance channel development and sales operations.
Bill has collaborated on innovative business practices from large companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, ESRI, Nokia Inc., IBM, Informatica and smaller companies such as Platon Data Technology, Adcomplete LLP and Liquid Communications System.
Prior to joining General Orbital, Bill worked with DataFlux Inc (a division of SAS Institute) where he helped to initiate and execute the company’s channel development strategy. He has held management roles with StartUpStreet.com and the Council for Entrepreneurial Development both of which focused on providing advisory, education and support resources for early stage technology companies.