James Villarrubia

James Villarrubia

James is an accomplished CTO and applied AI expert. As the former Presidential Innovation Fellow for NASA Aeronautics, James led the development of sustainable, next-generation aviation and AI solutions. On behalf of NASA, he also co-hosted the Ecosystemic Futures podcast which delves into technological advancements poised to shape the future of society.  Prior to his role at NASA, James served as a tech executive and advisor for various startups, spanning healthcare, cryptography, workplace equity, and online education. His educational AI venture advanced to the semi-finals of the global IBM AI X-Prize Competition. James also brings a wealth of experience in policy and strategy, having worked in Washington, DC at the White House, DOJ, and DOD across three administrations. He holds multiple cryptography patents, a Master’s in Public Policy and a BS in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from MIT.