SSCR3616

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3616

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 856, 857, 858

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 856, 857, and 858, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Board Of Directors Of The Pacific International Space Center For Exploration Systems

G.M. No. 856

KIM BINSTED,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

G.M. No. 857

KRIS ZACNY,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019; and

G.M. No. 858

PATRICK SULLIVAN,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the resumes submitted by the nominees and finds Dr. Kim Binsted, Dr. Kris Zacny, and Dr. Patrick Sullivan to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems.

KIM BINSTED

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Dr. Kim Binsted from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Binsted's experience as a professor in the Information and Computer Sciences Department at the University of Hawaii, as well as her extensive work on collaborative projects with NASA, qualify her for nomination to the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems. Your Committee notes that Dr. Binsted's research focuses on artificial intelligence, human-computer interfaces, and long-duration human space exploration. She has served in a principal role on numerous collaborative projects between the University of Hawaii and NASA in the area of human space exploration. Your Committee finds that Dr. Binsted's extensive leadership experience with and broad knowledge of space-related research and development programs will be a great asset to the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems.

KRIS ZACNY

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Dr. Kris Zacny from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Zacny's extensive experience and expertise in the fields of robotics and engineering qualify him for nomination to the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems. Your Committee notes that Dr. Zacny is currently Vice President and Director of Exploration Technology Group at Honeybee Robotics. Dr. Zacny's professional expertise includes robotic terrestrial and extraterrestrial drilling, excavation, sample handling and processing, geotechnical systems, and sensors. Dr. Zacny has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on more than seventy NASA and Department of Defense funded projects. Your Committee finds that Dr. Zacny's extensive research experience in robotics and engineering, and broad knowledge of federally funded space-related research and development programs will be great assets to the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems.

PATRICK SULLIVAN

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Dr. Patrick Sullivan from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Sullivan's experience as an entrepreneur and technology developer qualifies him for nomination to the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems. Your Committee notes that Dr. Sullivan founded Oceanit – a self-funded research and development technology incubator that has developed extensive technical infrastructure in Hawaii. Dr. Sullivan has significant experience on boards and commissions, including former board seats on the Ocean Research Advisory Panel, Parker Ranch, and the High Technology Development Corporation. Your Committee finds that Dr. Sullivan's extensive entrepreneurial, business, and scientific experiences will be great assets to the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair