Oewaves

Lute Maleki, Ph.D.

President & CEO

Prior to joining OEwaves as President & CEO, Dr. Lute Maleki was a Senior Research Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) where he created and grew the Quantum Sciences and Technologies Group over a period of 23 years. In that capacity, Dr. Maleki was responsible for the multi-million dollar budget of the group, and the management of one of the largest technical groups at JPL that was internationally recognized as a leader in atomic clocks, frequency standards, and an array of photonic and quantum sensors. Dr. Maleki engaged in the development of atomic clocks based on ion traps and laser cooled trapped atoms; development of sensors based on atom wave interferometers; study and development of ultra-stable photonic oscillators, the opto-electronic oscillator (OEO), and photonic signal distribution systems; study and development of whispering gallery mode microresonators and their applications in RF-photonic systems; and tests of fundamental physics with clocks. Dr. Maleki's group at JPL achieved the highest stability with an atomic standard, demonstrated the highest stability photonic link for analogue signal distribution, and applied whispering gallery mode microresonators as novel, ultra-high sensitivity filters, modulators, and sensors. He is an inventor on over 20 U.S. Patents and applications, including the OEO, and has authored and co-authored over 100 refereed publications, and over 200 conference proceedings. He serves on the technical committees of major international conferences devoted to frequency and timing, and optical sciences and engineering. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and a Fellow of the Optical Society of America. He served as the Associate Editor for Frequency Control, Atomic and Optical, and IEEE Transactions on UFFC.  Dr. Maleki was awarded the distinguished IEEE I.I. Rabi Award for his scientific and technical leadership in atomic frequency standards, and the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal for the development of atomic clocks and oscillators supporting the U.S. space program. Dr. Maleki holds a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics.

Julie M. Schoenfeld

Founder

A founder of OEwaves, Mrs. Julie Schoenfeld served as the President and CEO of the company from its inception in 2000 to February of 2007. During this time, she raised the financing, built the executive team, and provided the leadership to grow OEwaves. She is currently the President and CEO of Perfect Market, Inc. Prior to 2000, Mrs. Schoenfeld served as the President and CEO of Net Effect Systems, Inc. In her 18-month tenure as CEO of Net Effect, she raised two rounds of financing from Greylock Management, Trinity Ventures and TL Ventures; built a world-class management team; launched the company and product; became a recognized industry spokesperson; and sold the company to Ask Jeeves, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASKJ) for over $288M. Before Net Effect, Mrs. Schoenfeld was VP of Worldwide Sales for Stream International, where she grew sales from $30M to over $200M in 3 years. She has held sales and marketing positions for various companies including Hewlett-Packard, where she worked in product management and helped launch the industry leading network management product, Open View. Mrs. Schoenfeld holds a B.S. in Engineering from Tufts University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

David J. Seidel, Ph.D.

VP of Engineering and Product Development

Dr. David J. Seidel joined OEwaves from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). During his time with JPL, Dr. Seidel served as Project Manager for the Laser Cooling and Atomic Physics Experiments office, which was responsible for the development of several instruments to be deployed aboard the International Space Station as well as the Primary Atomic Reference Clock in Space (PARCS) program. During his eighteen year tenure with JPL, Dr. Seidel conducted basic research, performed system engineering functions, and served as a Project Technologist for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna project (LISA). Dr. Seidel earned an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside.

Vladimir Ilchenko, Ph.D.

Chief Scientist

Dr. Vladimir Ilchenko is a world-recognized pioneer and expert in whispering-gallery mode resonators and related technologies. Dr. Ilchenko joined OEwaves in 2001 from a position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) where he served as a senior member of the technical staff in the Quantum Sciences and Technology Group. In 1987, Dr. Ilchenko and his colleagues at Moscow State University invented the ultra-high-Q solid optical microresonator with whispering-gallery modes, initiating a new field of R&D that is now pursued in dozens of academic labs and several technology startups around the world. From 1987 to 1998, he worked as a Research Associate and Associate Professor, respectively, in the physics department at Moscow State University. Since 1998, Dr. Ilchenko has focused on developing practical devices based on whispering-gallery mode resonator technology at JPL, and later, at OEwaves. He is a member of the Optical Society of America (OSA), the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), and he co-chairs the annual SPIE Conference on Laser Resonators, Microresonators and Beam Control. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers and numerous international conference presentations, and is the inventor of 38, granted, and several pending, U.S. Patents. Dr. Ilchenko earned his M.S. (1983) and Ph.D. (1986) degrees in Quantum Radiophysics from Moscow State University.

Debra Coler

VP of Contracts and Administration

Debra Coler joined OEwaves in 2002 from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). While at JPL, Mrs. Coler served as a member of the Business Management Team for the Tracking Systems and Applications section 335. As such, she was assigned to the Quantum Sciences and Technology Group, handling the contract administration. From 1988 to 1999, she served as the Business Manager and Controller for a municipality in Idaho. Prior to 1988, Mrs. Coler was an accountant for Hewlett Packard. Mrs. Coler has a BS degree in Business Management and Accounting, and is accredited in Government Contracting and Export Control. She is also a member of the Administrative Committee (ADCOM) for the IEEE Society, Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control.

Alfred Paiz

VP of Business Development

Alfred Paiz joined OEwaves in November 2009 as Vice President of Business Development. He brings forth 40-years of experience in Aerospace and National Laboratory business development, program management, and research and engineering. His core capabilities include program/engineering management with experience in engineering operations, business development, strategic partnership development, and research and product development. Mr. Paiz has worked at various aerospace companies as a general operations manager and has built high-performance teams, opened new markets, executed core programs, and has developed strong customer relationships. Prior to joining OEwaves, Mr. Paiz was employed by Northrop Grumman Space Systems and the Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) where his duties included program development of various DoD restricted programs. He served with the US Army Military Intelligence and holds a BSEE from California State University Long Beach.

Ivan Ivankovich

Chief Financial Officer

Ivan Ivankovich brings more than 22 years of finance and operations managment experience. His primary focus is working with early to mid-stage technology companies as well as supporting the financial and operational requirements of venture firms and private equity groups and their portfolio companies. His industry experience includes technology, telecommunications, Internet services, online advertising, and digital media. Mr. Ivankovich also has business transaction experience, both, on the buy and sell side participating in the diligence, negotiation, and transition/integration of companies. He has particular expertise in financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, financial modeling, cash management, and financial and operational processes. In addition to his role as the senior finance executive for various early and later stage companies, Mr. Ivankovich served as CFO of YellowPages.com and Vice President of Portfolio Operations with Platinum Equity, a global acquisition firm specializing in the operation of technology companies. While at Platinum Equity, Mr. Ivankovich’s primary responsibility was the management and operational supervision of its portfolio companies. Additionally, he led the transition of acquired companies into stand-alone entities and has served as interim CFO implementing critical financial and operational infrastructures and processes. Mr. Ivankovich started his career with Ernst & Young, joining their audit practice in Los Angeles. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the California Society of CPA's.