Kellie Gerardi is an aerospace & defense professional and a popular science communicator. She is a bioastronautics researcher with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), where she has conducted numerous research campaigns in microgravity, including evaluating commercial spacesuits and conducting bioastronautics research with Project PoSSUM.

In 2021, IIAS announced a contract to fly Gerardi to space as a Payload Specialist on a dedicated research flight with Virgin Galactic. Her spaceflight will mark the world's first industry-sponsored researcher to fly to space on a commercial spacecraft, and Gerardi will be one of the first one hundred women in history to fly to space.

Gerardi serves on the Defense Council for the Truman National Security Project and is a Director of The Explorers Club. Her work to promote citizen-science and inspire women in STEM has garnered media attention across various platforms. She leads Mission Operations for Palantir Technologies and is the author of the book "Not Necessarily Rocket Science" and the children's book series "LUNA MUNA." Gerardi resides in Jupiter, Florida, with her husband and their daughter Delta V.

Space, Keynote, Science, Innovation, Women in Tech Aerospace Engineering, Security & Defense, Technology, STEM, Diversity & Inclusion, Women,