STAND. COM. REP. NO. 856

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 650

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, and 650, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems

 

G.M. No. 575

GEORGE ARIYOSHI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016;

 

G.M. No. 576

HENK ROGERS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014;

 

G.M. No. 577

HOYT DAVIDSON,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015;

 

G.M. No. 578

JAMES KERAVALA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014;

 

G.M. No. 579

LEWIS PEACH, JR.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015; and

 

G.M. No. 650

GALEN HO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2017,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds George Ariyoshi, Henk Rogers, Hoyt Davidson, James Keravala, Lewis Peach, Jr., and Galen Ho to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES).

 

GEORGE ARIYOSHI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of George Ariyoshi from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     For the past two decades, Mr. Ariyoshi has served as Senior Advisor to the Japan-U.S. Science, Technology and Space Applications Program, which helped develop and implement PISCES.

 

     Mr. Ariyoshi served as the Governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986.  In 1985, Japan honored Mr. Ariyoshi with its highest award, the Grand Cordon of the Sacred Treasure.  He also received Honorary Doctorates from six universities.

 

     Mr. Ariyoshi served as the President of the Bar Association of Hawaii.  Additionally, he is the Founder and former President of the Hawaii Bar Foundation, Pacific Basin Development Council, and Center for International Commercial Dispute Resolution.  Mr. Ariyoshi also worked as an Of Counsel attorney with Watanabe Ing and Komeiji LLP.

 

     Mr. Ariyoshi indicated in his personal statement that he plans to establish PISCES as a premier international center for the development, testing, validation, and implementation of innovative technologies that will enable pioneering robotic and human missions beyond low-Earth orbit.  Mr. Ariyoshi further expressed that he hopes to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, educators, and entrepreneurs that will lead humanity to the frontiers of space.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Ariyoshi's extensive contacts with Hawaii and international business communities, as well as his familiarity with the State's political, scientific, and educational sectors, will enable him to mobilize the resources that will be required to expand and diversify PISCES operations.

 


 

HENK ROGERS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Henk Rogers from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Mr. Rogers received a Computer Science degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     Mr. Rogers currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Planet Software, an intellectual property management firm that owns and manages computer games.  He is perhaps best known for bringing the video game Tetris to the United States and world market.  Mr. Rogers also works as an advisor to the University of Hawaii College of Engineering.

 

     Mr. Rogers serves as the Chairman of Avatar Reality; Blue Planet Foundation; and SEE-IT, a science and technology showcase that encourages students to pursue a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career.  Additionally, Mr. Rogers owns Puu Waawaa Ranch, an executive retreat that is becoming a model for sustainability and restoration of native Hawaiian flora.

 

     Mr. Rogers expressed to your Committee that he is very passionate about space exploration and colonization.  Mr. Rogers believes that bringing the space exploration business to Hawaii will create a high pay technology sector, which will strengthen the State's economy.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Rogers' background in running technology companies, as well as his contacts with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other space agencies will be useful for inspiring and motivating engineers, politicians, and members of the public to participate in the PISCES program.

 

HOYT DAVIDSON

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Hoyt Davidson from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and three individuals.

 

     Mr. Davidson received a Master of Business Administration degree in Management/Finance and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 

     Mr. Davidson is the Founder and Managing Partner of Near Earth LLC, a company that specializes in strategic and financial consulting for corporations and institutional investors, mergers and acquisitions, and equity private placements.  Prior to this position, Mr. Davidson served as the Managing Director of the Telecommunications Group for Investment Banking at Credit Suisse First Boston.

 

     Before his more recent professional endeavors, Mr. Davidson was the Co-Founder and Managing Director for the Space Finance Group of Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette.  He also worked as the Senior Research Engineer for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company.

 

     Through his work with Near Earth LLC, Mr. Davidson has advised the NASA Office of Chief Technologist on space commercialization matters.  He has also supported and raised capital for several space exploration related initiatives.

 

     Mr. Davidson is the recipient of the National Space Society's Space Finance Award for significant contributions to the space community.

 

     Mr. Davidson expressed to your Committee that supporting and enabling space exploration has been his lifetime passion and career.  He believes that the creation of a center of excellence like PISCES is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, companies, and space agencies from around the world to develop and test new technologies and systems on terrain that matches extra-terrestrial surfaces.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Davidson's sophisticated blend of technical and financial skills, as well as his continuing commitment to space exploration, will be important assets to the Board.

 

JAMES KERAVALA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of James Keravala from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Mr. Keravala received a Master of Science degree in Level Modules Spacecraft Engineering from Surrey University.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Physics from the Birkbeck College of London University.  Mr. Keravala is also a graduate of the International Space University.

 

     Mr. Keravala is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Shackleton Energy Company and serves on the faculty of Singularity University.  Mr. Keravala is the founder of StellarBrain and a delegate to IDEAS Think Tank.

 

     Mr. Keravala's professional experience also includes serving as the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of United Business Media, PLC; Chief Executive Officer Mentor of Space Awareness Services; Chief Executive Officer of the Space Project Leadership of Transplanetary Limited; Launch Services Manager of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited; and Director of Commercial Space Technologies.

 

     Mr. Keravala indicated in his personal statement that he has a deep understanding of the opportunities open to PISCES, as well as extensive ideas about how PISCES can serve the community.  Mr. Keravala stated that he has constant and extensive contact with the international space community and will continue to promote PISCES to ensure the participation of as many industrial partners as possible.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Keravala is qualified to serve on the Board due to his extensive experience with spacecraft systems, launch, operations, and international logistics.

 

LEWIS PEACH, JR.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Lewis Peach, Jr., from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Mr. Peach pursued his graduate studies in Aero-Astro Engineering at Stanford University.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

 

     Mr. Peach currently serves as a Senior Advisor/Consultant to NASA and the Partnership Outreach Manager for NASA's Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership.

 

     Previously, Mr. Peach served as the Vice President and Chief Engineer for Exploration and Technology at the Universities Space Research Association.  Mr. Peach also served as Director of Advanced Projects in NASA's Office of Space Flight, where he was responsible for advanced technology development and space flight projects, and Director of Advanced Programs in NASA's Office of Space Systems Development, where he was responsible for the development of advanced technology to meet NASA's future space transportation requirements.

 

     Mr. Peach indicated in his personal statement that he believes that PISCES will play a role in the human exploration and development of space, which will not only inspire future engineers and scientists, but will contribute to long term health and well-being, economic prosperity, and international collaboration.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Peach's vast knowledge and experience, including his key leadership positions at NASA, will be great assets to the Board.

 

GALEN HO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Galen Ho from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Mr. Ho performed his graduate studies at Ohio State University.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Oregon State University.

 

     Mr. Ho is currently the President of Galen Enterprise LLC.  Previously, Mr. Ho served as President of BAE Systems' Information and Electronic Systems Integration Sector.

 

     Mr. Ho served as an officer in the United States Air Force, where he received the Vietnam Combat Service and Air Force Meritorious Service Medals.

 

     Mr. Ho indicated in his personal statement that he has a special interest in developing a PISCES prototype site for a lunar robotic program.  Mr. Ho hopes to help PISCES progress their program to actual operations and involve his network of aerospace contacts on the U.S. mainland to leverage the program.

 

     Your Committee finds that with more than thirty-seven years of defense and aerospace experience, Mr. Ho has the professional skills and background required to serve on the PISCES Board of Directors.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair