Brig Gen (ret) Duane Deal

General Deal is director of National Security Space Programs at the Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University. His major responsibilities include space programs management, sponsor engagement, business development, and fiscal responsibility for the laboratory’s national security space operations and programs. Deal recently retired as a brigadier general from the United States Air Force where he last served as commander, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. Deal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics, a Master of Science degree in systems management, and a Master of Science Degree in counseling/psychology.

Alan Bean, NASA Astronaut

As a NASA astronaut and the fourth person to walk on the Moon, Alan Bean is dedicated to inspiring people to be the best they can be, so their family can be the best it can be, and their company can be the best it can be. He most recently appeared in the 2007 documentary, "In the Shadow of the Moon," where he recounted his experience in the Apollo program.

The Apollo program was an impossible dream come true, but no more important than the dreams we all have in our hearts right now. With this conviction, Alan will take each person in the audience along with him as Lunar Module Pilot on the flight of Apollo 12 and along the way present some thoughts and ideas that will help each individual reach for their own professional and personal stars.

Captain Bean knows about reaching for the stars, organizationally and individually. In 1973, he was the Commander of Skylab Mission II (SL III), where he lived 59 days in space, orbiting 270 miles above Earth. Under his leadership, his crew accomplished 150% of their pre-mission goals —a record unsurpassed before or since.

Alan has appeared as himself in movies and television, including "Rocket's Red Glare" with Robert Wagner. Actor Dave Foley portrayed Alan in the Tom Hanks epic miniseries for HBO, "From the Earth to the Moon." During his career as an astronaut, Alan helped establish 11 world records in aeronautics and astronautics. He was awarded two NASA Distinguished Service Medals. He also has received the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal, and many other national and international honors.

As a NASA Astronaut, Bean learned that people do not have to be extra gifted or extra talented to do something great. No matter what their level of achievement may have been in the past, with extra effort and dedication they can be great in the future. Organizations and individuals are almost always significantly better than they know or believe. The saving of the Apollo 13 crew after their oxygen tank exploded is a perfect example.