A to B Robotics Team
Jeremiah Heaton - President
Jeremiah is a serial entrepreneur and advocate for industrial, commercial and environmental safety. He holds multiple United States Patents and has developed life saving technologies for the industrial and transportation sectors. Jeremiah earned a Bachelors of Science in Social Policy from Longwood University and MBA from Western Governors University.
Dr. James Baker
Dr. James Baker earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Vanderbilt in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning in Genetic Algorithms) with a minor in Electrical Engineering, after graduating Magna Cum Laude with honors in research (Astrophysics) from prestigious King University with a triple major in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. As a computer software R&D scientist for Bell Labs during the Cold War, he personally designed custom neural networks to automate tracking and identification of deep-sea “targets of interest”. With that resolved, he was hired by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he designed and lead numerous “proof-of-principle” research projects, applied Machine Learning to automatic sensor understanding for autonomous robotics guidance control systems, and was assigned to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, ITER, project as an software designer. His programming experience spans over 40 years; includes fluency in over 20 languages; has 25+ publications (peer-reviewed articles, journals, book chapters, etc.); given invited presentations to MIT, George Mason, Carnegie Mellon, and various international conferences; and currently serves as a Professor on the Virginia Governor’s Cyber Security Advisory Board.
Sawsan Gad
Sawsan Gad is a Geospatial Data Scientist with nine years of experience in sectors of Development Data, Disaster Risk Management (DRM), and Monitoring and Supervision for Fragile and Post-conflict Countries at the World Bank Group, UNDP, and the Egyptian Ministry of State for Administrative Development. She is also a co-founder of HarassMap.org, an online platform for combatting sexual harassment. Her project was featured in the UNESCO 2020 Best Apps Created by Women for Women. Sawsan holds an M.A. in Demographic and Social Analysis from the University of California, Irvine (2008), and is a current Ph.D. student of Earth Systems and Geoinformation Science at George Mason University.
John Y. Ford, IV
John Ford’s international exposure began as a contractor with the US State Department in Cairo, Egypt in 1985 and has expanded more than 30 years of military and civilian service on four continents. Through several military and civilian contingency and combat operations, Mr. Ford has established a worldwide network of logistical experts covering ground, air, and seaport operations.
From 2007 to 2012 John was assigned with the US Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (the command in charge of the wholescale movement of military personnel and equipment both into and out of combat zones). John coordinated the movement and tracking of thousands of containers and heavy military equipment by sea, land, and rail in association with two of the world’s largest commercial carriers. From 2013 to 2015 as a private contractor based in Afghanistan, John utilized the latest SAP management and tracking software to coordinate the redeployment of large Army units as well the movement of hundreds of tons of non-appropriated funded goods supporting Service members in the entire theater.
Mr. Ford also brings over 20 years of security and law enforcement experience ensuring the safety and security of both personnel, equipment, and bases within the United States and abroad.