Leadership

Dr. Kam Ghaffarian

Executive Chairman

Kam Ghaffarian is a visionary entrepreneur and engineer whose mission to advance the state of humanity and human knowledge has led him to create companies transforming the space and energy sectors.

He leverages his 35+ years of experience in innovation and building world-class teams with groundbreaking deep-tech companies that are expanding the commercial space economy, creating clean energy solutions, putting Kam at the forefront of several next-generation technologies making a positive impact on the world. His companies have worked with NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, among others, on some of their most sensitive and technical advanced projects to support national interests, expand the economy, and improve the state of humanity.

Charlie Bengston

CEO

Charlie Bengston has spent most of his 30+ year career in the aerospace industry supporting NASA, DoD and NOAA missions. He has held numerous engineering and management positions in support of NASA and DoD customers over his career with first-hand knowledge of the complete satellite mission end-to-end development life cycle, project and contract management. Before coming to PTX Mr. Bengston served as ASRC Federal’s Engineering, Aerospace and Mission System operating group president responsible for the execution of all ASRC’s GSFC and NOAA contracts supporting code 400 and 500 including the following prime contracts: Software Engineering Services (SES – code 580), Multi-Discipline Engineering & Technology Services (METS-code 590), Electrical Systems Engineering Services (ESES-code 560), Wallops Engineering Services Contract (WESC-code 500), Program Analysis And Control (PAAC – code 400) and Engineering Mission Operations Support Services (EMOSS– NOAA/NESDIS) and Fairbanks Communications Data Acquisition Station contract (FCDAS – NOAA/NESDIS)

Dr. Pete Pappano

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Dr. Pete Pappano has a proven track record of taking concepts from lab-scale to commercial deployment. At PTX he oversees all research and development activities and is responsible for implementing disruptive technologies focused on energy and supply chain security.

Prior to PTX, while at X-energy as VP of Fuel Production he grew the fuel portfolio from nothing to a multi-hundred-million-dollar subsidiary (TRISO-X) that has broken ground on the nation’s first NRC Cat II regulated coated particle fuel facility for advanced SMRs. Pete has extensive experience in graphite fabrication and analysis, with a focus on graphite for advanced SMRs and energy storage. While at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pete developed novel TRISO-particle based fuel fabrication processes, managed nuclear grade graphite irradiation experiments, and produced fuel elements for nuclear thermal propulsion programs. He began his career as a Product Engineer with SGL carbon where he developed novel processes to upgrade waste graphite powder into value added products.

Dr. Pappano holds a Ph.D. in Fuel Science from Penn State University.

Dustin Berra

Chief Growth Officer

Over 23 years of experience in aerospace program development, with a strong track record of securing mission-critical programs for high-tech industry partners in Civil, DoD, Energy, and Commercial Space markets. Led key capture efforts and contributed to the growth of the IBX portfolio, securing over $3B in funding and contracts for advanced technology R&D, engineering services, and systems integration for affiliated companies, including Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines, Quantum Space, and X-energy.

Caroline Massey

VP Civil Space

With 30 years at NASA, including roles as Program Manager and Senior Contract Officer, developed contract and partnership strategies, fostered partner relationships, negotiated, and executed contracts across all business lines, managing an annual portfolio valued at $1.4 billion.

Kathryn J. Gaulke

VP of Operations

Kathryn J. Gaulke is a seasoned aerospace and operations executive with over 35 years of experience leading high-stakes space flight missions and government contracting operations. As Vice President of Operations at PTX, she brings deep expertise in engineering, program management, and organizational leadership honed through decades of work with NASA and top-tier federal contractors. At NASA, Kathryn held pivotal roles on the Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions and in satellite servicing and mission operations at Goddard and Ames Research Centers. Her leadership has spanned multi-million-dollar programs, including managing the $320M ROME contract at Goddard and the PESS II contract at NASA Ames, where she oversaw complex R&D efforts across aerospace systems, AI&T, and Unmanned Aerial Systems.

A recipient of NASA’s Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year award, she is known for her strategic agility, talent development, and ability to integrate engineering innovation with operational excellence. Kathryn holds a BSME from the University of Maryland and an MS in Organization Development from Pepperdine University.

Diana Simpson

VP of Contracts

Diana Simpson is PTX’s Vice President of Contracts. As the VP of Contracts, Diana is responsible for leading the contracts, procurement, and compliance functions at PTX. Diana has been at PTX for over a year and has held numerous leadership roles focused on executing contracts, procurement and operational risk management strategy. She is a seasoned contracts and compliance executive with over 30 years of experience advancing operational excellence, regulatory integrity, and strategic growth across the federal contracting sector. She has led multi-billion-dollar portfolios, developed enterprise compliance frameworks, and driven transformational initiatives supporting defense and civil missions.

Donald Finnegan

VP of Program Development

Donald Finnegan is a business and technology executive who specializes in strategies harmonizing processes, people and technology to maximize a company’s growth, profitability and value.

Mr. Finnegan brings his 43+ years of experience to his position of Vice President Program Development at PTX where he is responsible for the capture, operations, and growth of engineering services contracts supporting the DoD and Federal Civilian Agencies.

Prior to joining PTX in April of 2022, Mr. Finnegan served in executive management and business development roles at ASRC Federal. In his Capture Management role there, he won over $3B of engineering services contracts over a 17-year period.

Mr. Finnegan holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland.