Research Leaders

Research Program 1 – Identification of Space Objects and Preservation of the Space Environment
Professor Craig Smith (Co-Leader)
Professor Craig Smith is the CEO and technical director for EOS Space Systems. He leads a multi-disciplinary team of science and engineering innovators developing lasers, beam directors, precision timing systems, sensors, and control systems for the laser tracking products. Professor Smith has also held positions within EOS as CEO EOS Technologies (the US subsidiary of EOS) and Head of Research and Development. 
Prior to joining EOS Professor Smith was a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Defence Force Academy. There he developed novel techniques for imaging-polarimetry and spectro-polarimetry at thermal IR wavelengths.  Professor Smith has lectured in Physics and Electronics.  He obtained Bachelors and PhD degrees in Physics from the University of Melbourne. 

Research Program 1 – Identification of Space Objects and Preservation of the Space Environment
Dr Steve Gower (Co-Leader)
Dr Steve Gower was recently Director – Research Collaborations and Partnerships at RMIT University and responsible for liaison with key stakeholders including state and federal governments, industry, universities, CRCs and research organisations both domestically and internationally. 

Steve was also responsible for the establishment of international research laboratories; research contracts; IP and commercialisation; and has served on numerous company boards and committees.

Research Program 2 – Orbit Determination and Predicting Behaviours of Space Objects
Dr Robert Norman
Dr Robert Norman is a Senior Research Fellow and member of the Satellite Positioning for Atmosphere, Climate and Environment (SPACE) Research Centre, and the Satellite Positioning and Navigation (SPAN) Laboratory at RMIT University.   Prior to joining RMIT, Dr Norman held research positions at La Trobe University before moving on to UK defence research agency QINETIC to work in the area of high frequency beyond line of sight communications.  Robert then returned to Australia to take up another research position at La Trobe involving Telstra and Lockheed Martin subsidiary RLM, working on the Jindalee Over the Horizon radar. 

Dr Norman’s current research interests are in laser signal propagation using geometrical optics and atmospheric density modelling using GNSS radio occultation.  In addition to leading the SERC research team at RMIT, Robert is primarily responsible for the atmospheric density modelling and ray tracing research streams.

Research Program 3 – Space Asset Management
Dr James Bennett
Dr James Bennett has over 5 years’ experience in Astrodynamics and over 10 years’ experience in industrial applied mathematics, after obtaining his PhD in Applied Mathematics from RMIT University.
James is a Western Pacific Laser Tracking Network (WPLTN) representative to the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) Governing Board.

His research interests include orbit determination and prediction, conjunction assessments, applied mathematics, debris object characterisation, optical and laser tracking, and singular and regular perturbation methods.

Research Program 4 – Space Segment
Dr Benjamin Sheard
Dr Benjamin Sheard has a Bachelor of Engineering, a Bachelor of Science and a PhD from the Australian National University. After completing his PhD he worked at the Albert-Einstein-Institute in Hanover, Germany for three years as a post-doctoral scientist working on laser interferometry for space based gravitational wave detection and for five years as a research scientist working on next generation geodesy missions, including the GRACE Follow-On Laser Ranging Interferometer. Before joining EOS Space Systems Ben worked for two and half years as a systems engineer on instrument performance and analysis as well as control systems engineering for satellite optical instruments at OHB System AG near Munich, Germany. He is currently developing an instrumented satellite payload to support testing the adaptive optics corrected laser system being developed by SERC.