Doug McCuistion, former director of the Mars Exploration Program for NASA, will be the keynote speaker during Siemens 2013 Automation Summit, June 24-27, in New Orleans, La. McCuistion will describe the daunting challenge that the Mars Exploration Program presented, and how he and his staff took a “project-by-project” approach to achieving one of the most monumental space exploration feats of the century.

McCuistion has held positions in Earth and Space Science at NASA headquarters, the Goddard Space Flight Center, and the U.S. Navy. At headquarters he was the director of Flight Programs for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise. At Goddard, he worked on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, Geosynchronous Operations Environmental Satellite, Landsat, NEXUS (a James Webb Space Telescope precursor), and as a deputy director in the Information Systems engineering division.  

McCuistion has been recognized with the rank of Meritorious Senior Executive, and awarded two NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, and various NASA, Navy, as well as other-Agency individual and group achievement awards. Today he is a consultant with Stinger, Ghaffarian Technologies in Greenbelt, MD.

To design and build the Mars Rover “Curiosity,” the engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory used Siemens PLM software, the same technology employed by companies worldwide to develop cars, planes, golf clubs, vacuum cleaners, machinery, tolling, digital cameras and much more.

New technologies, in the form of hardware, software and services will be discussed widely during Automation Summit, providing engineering and operational professionals, automation and operations management and senior-level executives with end user learning opportunities covering the complete spectrum of automation--from process and discrete to motion control and drives.

This year's Summit will also play host to a manufacturing renaissance track session, featuring IndustryWeek keynote speakers and a panel discussion about trends in automation, technology, productivity and energy efficiency that are driving competitiveness and growth in the manufacturing sector.

The conference will also offer 50 breakout sessions of best practice sharing, free hands-on training, networking opportunities, and the opportunity to provide product input and prioritization for future Siemens product enhancements.

Track sessions will include topics such as energy and asset management, improving productivity through the application of automation technology, maintenance and operations, novel approaches to problem resolution, and safety and industrial security.

Siemens will also announce its Customer Excellence Awards, recognizing the company’s top end user, OEM, and solution partner for the innovative application of Siemens products and solutions.