J. MICHELLE EDWARDS, PHD
Neuroscientist
Dr. Edwards earned her doctorate in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Medical Branch. She has worked in a variety of fields with over 10 years as a Safety and Reliability engineer with NASA. She Is an author of several scientific articles on human health risk, including an overview of Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema (SIPE). Michelle is passionate about how staying active and eating right can help reduce the health risks associated with aging. A reformed couch potato, Michelle ran her first marathon at age 40 and moved on to triathlons a few years later. She has since become a 4x IRONMAN, completed over a dozen 70.3s, as well as sprint and Olympic triathlons.
BILL BURKE
Head Race Director
Bill is America’s preeminent race organizer of triathlon, cycling, and road racing events. Bill has produced more than 1,100 events around the globe including 3 Olympic Triathlon Trials events, 3 ITU World Championships, 12 ITU World Cup Events, 3 5150 World Championships, Toyota US Open Triathlon Championship, multiple events for IRONMAN, Life Time Fitness’s New York City Triathlon, Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Bay to Breakers, and numerous other running and cycling events with as many as 30,000 participants.
CAPT AUSTIN JACKSON
Military Advisor
CAPT Austin Jackson has dedicated over 22 years fighting for our nation as a Navy SEAL, while also pursuing the human limits within endurance sports performance. He's served more than twelve combat deployments throughout the Middle East and Africa, represented DoD special programs in the National Capital Region, led the Selection, Training and Performance program for Naval Special Warfare Development Group, directed all Special Forces Operations in the Pacific theater, and applied an operational lens to Defense Innovation and Research firms' initiatives aimed at progressing human performance benefits for the warfighter. Austin has risen to the top 1% of the SEAL community echelon and is a 3-time IRONMAN World Championship finisher.