15:15–15:20
Impulse

Bruno Sainjon has been the Chairman and CEO of ONERA since May 30th, 2014.

In December 2015, he was elected Chairman of EREA, the Association of European Research Establishments in Aeronautics, for 2016-2017.

In April 2020, he has been elected Chairman of ESRE, the European Space Research Establishments. In November 2021 and October 2023, respectively elected Vice-Chairman and Chairman of IFAR, the International Forum for Aviation Research.

Before joining ONERA, Bruno Sainjon held several positions within DGA, beginning by Missiles and Space, as a technical expert and then in charge of Missile Space and Nuclear programmes.

From 1996 to 1997, he was Director in the Prime Minister Services for the preparation of the Football World Cup in France.

He then became Councillor for Economical, Financial and Budget Affairs of the Minister of Defence.

In 2000, he joined SNPE as Director for Strategy and Development for Energetics Materials. Then, he was elected Chairman and CEO of CELERG and CELERG International.

In 2003, he became Deputy Director for Technologies and Sensitive Transfers at Secretariat General de la Defense Nationale (SGDN, under Prime Minister authority).

Back to DGA in 2005, he occupied several high responsibilities functions and became Directeur des Systèmes d’Armes (Armament Systems Director) in January 2009, then Director of Operations in DGA in charge of all armament programmes (ships, land vehicles, aircraft, satellites …) from end 2009 to

mid-2014.

In recognition for his services to the nation, Bruno Sainjon was awarded two of the most prestigious French national distinctions, namely the “Legion d’honneur” and “Ordre national du mérite”, with the rank of commander in both orders.

15:20–16:00
Discussion

Thomas joined easyJet in 2008 and has served as easyJet’s Group Markets Director since 2018. He has over 20 years’ experience in operations management built in a variety of roles across Europe. Danish, born and educated in Switzerland, Thomas began his career with Tetra Pak working his way up to Regional Manager of the East Med where he developed and succeeded in implementing ambitious growth and profitability improvement plans. Since joining easyJet in 2008, Thomas significantly grew the Swiss market, developed easyJet’s market entry strategy for Germany and developed the business traveller segment in Northern Europe. Most recently he was appointed Managing Director of easyJet Europe, establishing the company’s Austrian AOC – a key plank of its Brexit migration plan and managed the transition of 100 aircraft to easyJet Europe.

15:20–16:00
Discussion

Tom is the former COO of eVTOL startup BETA Technologies, where he collaborated with Mark Page on the design of the BETA Alia eVTOL. Before that, he was an early executive (Director of Sales and Marketing) at Tesla, putting in place much of the innovative market facing infrastructure for the company. His experience at BETA and Tesla taught him what it takes to build successful startups; he is thrilled to be doing the same at JetZero.

15:20–16:00
Discussion

Mr. Robert A. Pearce is the associate administrator for NASA ARMD. Pearce manages the agency’s aeronautics research portfolio and guides its strategic direction, including research in quiet supersonic flight over land, urban air mobility, autonomy, highly efficient advanced air vehicle concepts, electrified aircraft propulsion, advanced materials, airspace operations and safety, integration and flight demonstrations of aviation systems, and the nurturing and development of transformative concepts for aviation.

Pearce served as acting associate administrator from August 2019. Prior to that he was ARMD’s deputy associate administrator for strategy, where he led aeronautics research mission strategic planning to guide the content, strategic progress and relevance of ARMD’s research portfolio, and led review and evaluation of ARMD’s budget and approval process.

His first position in ARMD was as director for strategy, architecture and analysis, where he established a strategic systems analysis capability focused on understanding the system-level impacts of NASA’s programs, the potential for integrated solutions, and the development of high-leverage options for new investment and partnership.

From 2003 until July 2010, Pearce was the deputy director of the FAA-led Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO). The JPDO was an interagency office tasked with developing and facilitating the implementation of a national plan to transform the air transportation system to meet the long-term transportation needs of the nation.

Prior to the JPDO, Pearce held various strategic and program management positions within NASA. In the mid-1990s he led the development of key national policy documents including the National Science and Technology Council’s “Goals for a National Partnership in Aeronautics Research and Technology” and the “Transportation Science and Technology Strategy.” These two documents provided a substantial basis for NASA’s expanded investment in aviation safety and airspace systems.

He began his career as a design engineer at the Grumman Corporation, working on such projects as the Navy’s F-14 Tomcat fighter and DARPA’s X-29 Forward Swept Wing Demonstrator. Pearce also has experience from the Department of Transportation’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center where he made contributions in the area of advanced concepts for intercity transportation systems.

Pearce has received NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal for sustained excellence in planning and advocating innovative aeronautics programs in conjunction with the White House and other federal agencies. He received NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal for outstanding leadership of the JPDO in support of the transformation of the nation’s air transportation system. Pearce has also received NASA’s Cooperative External Achievement Award and several Exceptional Performance and Group Achievement Awards.

He earned a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Syracuse University, and a master’s of science degree in technology and policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

15:20–16:00
Discussion

Klaus has served as Lilium’s Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director since October 2022. He joined Lilium following a 30-year career at Airbus, where he spent the last decade leading the A320 Family and A320neo programs to become the most successful large commercial aircraft of all time. His first roles at Airbus from 1992 to 2000 focused on composites production and A320 Family engineering. From 2003 to 2008, he worked in the A320 Family Program in various management positions. He was also Senior Vice President Cabin & Cargo, responsible for the Interiors of all Airbus aircraft, ranging from A318 to A380, from 2008 to 2010. Before joining Airbus, Klaus spent eight years as an officer in the German Federal Armed Forces and completed academic studies in mechanical engineering.

15:20–16:00
Discussion

Lars Wagner has held the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at MTU Aero Engines AG since January 2023. His responsibilities include technology & engineering, human resources, strategy, corporate communications, and legal affairs. In his other role as Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Wagner has also been in charge of MTU’s sustainability organization since May 2022. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Wagner had served as the Executive Board member responsible for technology since January 2018. With a degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering and an MBA, he was named MTU’s Executive Vice President, OEM Operations in July 2015. Wagner previously held a number of management positions at Airbus, including international postings, most recently in Hamburg.