Our Executive Mentors

ANITA SENGUPTA, PHD

Dr. Anita Sengupta is CEO and Founder of Hydroplane Ltd. and an Associate Professor of Astronautical Engineering at the University of Southern California .

Dr. Sengupta is an aerospace engineer, rocket scientist, and pilot who has developed technologies that have enabled the exploration of Mars, asteroids, and deep space for 20 years. Her career began with the launch of vehicles and communication satellites at Boeing Space and Communications. She then worked for NASA for 16 years where her engineering projects included her PhD research on developing the ion propulsion system for the Dawn Mission (currently in the main asteroid belt), the supersonic parachute that landed the Curiosity rover on Mars, and the Cold Atom Laboratory an atomic physics facility now on board the International Space Station.

After leaving NASA, she led the development of the hyperloop as Senior Vice President of systems engineering at Virgin Hyperloop, a technology that can enable ground-based travel in excess of airline speed. In 2018 she became a co-founder of Airspace Experience Technologies, which is developing an electric, vertical takeoff and landing urban aerial mobility system. In 2020 she founded her second company, Hydroplane Ltd., to develop an aviation specific hydrogen fuel cell powerplant. Hydroplane Ltd is developing the technology under a contract with the US Air Force Agility Prime Program.

Dr. Sengupta received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California, where she is also a Research Associate Professor of Astronautics and Space Technology specializing in interplanetary entry system and green transportation technology. In her spare time she is an instrument rated pilot and member of the Civil Air Patrol and is active in Disaster Relief and Search and Rescue Missions. In her free time she is a mountain biker, motorcyclist, scuba diver, snowboarder, and Sci-Fi fan.