TEAM

Fiona Murray is the Faculty Director of Mission Innovation Experimental (MIx), the Associate Dean of Innovation and Inclusion at the MIT School of Management and the William Porter (1967) Professor of Entrepreneurship. She is also Faculty Director of the MIT Office of Innovation HQ, and MIT Legatum Center. Fiona is an associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. She received her BA ’89 and MA ‘90 from the University of Oxford in chemistry. She subsequently moved to the United States and earned an AM ’92 and PhD ’96 from Harvard University in applied sciences.  Professor Murray also serves on the NATO Innovation Fund Board of Directors.

Sertac Karaman is the Faculty Director of Mission Innovation Experimental (MIx) and a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is the Director of the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS) – interdepartmental research center committed to advancing research and education in the analytical information and decision sciences. He has obtained B.S. degrees in mechanical engineering and in computer engineering from the Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, in 2007; an S.M. degree in mechanical engineering from MIT in 2009; and a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and computer science also from MIT in 2012. His research interests lie in the broad areas of robotics and control theory. In particular, he studies the applications of probability theory, stochastic processes, stochastic geometry, formal methods, and optimization for the design and analysis of high-performance cyber-physical systems. The application areas of his research include driverless cars, unmanned aerial vehicles, distributed aerial surveillance systems, air traffic control, certification and verification of control systems software, and many others.

Gene R. Keselman is the Executive Director of MIx. In this role he works to develop overall strategy and to pilot new programs to enhance the Initiative’s goal of enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship across the MIT campus and around the world through evidence-based educational programs, infrastructure, and communities.  He is also a Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Managing Director of MIT Proto Ventures and a Colonel (Select) in the United States Air Force Reserve.

Dr. AJ (Alfonso) Perez is a 3x MIT engineering alum, a professional founder, and ESG investor. Most recently, AJ graduated with his PhD in Mechanical Engineering and with distinction as the first PhD institute wide to complete the MIT Sloan Sustainability certificate. Dr. Perez was recently selected as an inaugural sustainable design fellow by the MIT Morningside Academy of Design to pursue large scale composite additive manufacturing for MIT HAUS and the recipient of the Chandler Fellowship to pursue innovative recycling research at MIT HAUS toward improving the health of the planet. Dr. Perez holds a BS 2013 in Mechanical Engineering, Masters of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing 2014, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering 2023 from MIT.

Katy Person is Senior Program Manager at MIT Mission Innovation X, where she runs a self-sustaining research program investigating the journey of dual-use startups. Her research has been cited in the FY23 NDAA and November 2019 Interim Report from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Katy has served as a US Army officer, including tours with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) – Forward, DEVCOM (previously RDECOM), and the 10th Mountain Division, where she received two Bronze Star Medals for her service in Afghanistan.

Keenan Blatt is currently a Senior Program Manager at MIT, where he oversees the development and integration of programs pertinent to global security and innovation strategies, liaising with NATO and other partners. He has over eight years of project and program management experience within diverse sectors, including defense, academia, and software development.  Keenan is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Technology Commercialization, studying technology validation, go-to-market strategy and tech transition at The University of Texas at Austin. His past experience also includes roles as an Intelligence Analyst with the Army National Guard and managing a portfolio of research projects at UT-Austin sponsored by Army Futures Command. His technical skills are complemented by strong capabilities in team leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

A research affiliate at MIx, Jonathan ‘JMill’ Miller focuses on the best practices of frontier technology commercialization. Jonathan conducted applied research and development in robotics and telehealth on behalf of the US Government and then became a startup founder, advisor, and angel investor. Jonathan instructs on behalf of MIT, hosts the video podcast ‘Tough Tech Today‘, and manages WFS Group’s Research and Ventures activities.

Matt Altieri serves as Administrative Assistant for MIT Mission Innovation X (MIx) and MIT Proto Ventures, where he collaborates closely with directors, providing dilligent support to enhance the initiatives’ overarching objectives of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He does this through superb operational efficiency to help realize strategic goals.