Shawn Usman is an astrophysicist and former intelligence official with over a decade of federal service in developing high-risk/high-reward technologies to support U.S. intelligence community operations. During his time in federal service Usman also developed several particle physics-based concepts to support U.S. national security interests. This included developing ideas to develop low size weight and power (SWaP) particle detection hardware for nuclear operations, mapping the Earth’s natural radioactivity, and neutral particle beam directed energy capabilities. He is is the Founder of Rhea Space Activity and a Senior Advisor to Space Fund.

During his time at RSA he has developed various technologies in the fields of infrared satellites, directed energy, artificial intelligence, LIDAR, astroparticle physics, small satellites, cislunar operations, intelligence collection, and autonomous underwater vehicles.