🏆   Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE · $1M NOAA Bonus Prize Winner

Stephen
Huber

STEM Education Leader & Director of Innovation empowering K–12 students with real-world experiences in space, ocean science, and robotics.

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10+
Years of Experience
$1M
XPRIZE Award Won
1
Space Patent Held
K–12
Students Impacted
Stephen Huber
🏅
Patent Holder ISS Experiment Platform
About Me

Bringing Extreme STEM to the Classroom

I'm a visionary STEM education leader with over 10 years of experience designing and directing programs that give K–12 students access to cutting-edge science and engineering—from experiments aboard the International Space Station to deep-ocean research deployments.

As Director of Innovation at Valley Christian Schools in San Jose, CA, I lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams comprising students, faculty, and industry professionals. I cultivate partnerships with NASA, MBARI, and leading technology companies to create authentic research experiences that go far beyond the textbook.

My career spans aerospace, oceanographic research, competition robotics, IoT engineering, and humanitarian work in active conflict zones—giving me a uniquely broad perspective on what it means to build teams that solve real-world problems under pressure.

Space & ISS Programs Ocean Science Robotics XPRIZE Competitions Makerspaces Grant Strategy NASA Partnership MBARI
View Full Resume Work With Me
Experience

Professional Background

A decade of leading innovation at the intersection of education, engineering, and exploration.

Core Competencies

  • STEM Curriculum & Program Design
  • Strategic Partnerships & Grants
  • Cross-Functional Team Leadership
  • Engineering & Prototyping
  • Robotics & Aerospace Systems
  • Budget & Operations Management
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Project & Program Management
  • International Operations

Education

B.S. Business Administration & Management
LeTourneau University
2004 – 2007
Mechanical Engineering Studies
Cal Poly Pomona
2002 – 2004

Awards & Patents

🏆
Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE — $1M NOAA Bonus Prize Winner
🔬
Patent: Configurable Platform for Conducting Experiments in Space
📜
Certification: GIS on the Web
July 2023 – Present
Director of Innovation – Research & Development
Valley Christian Schools · San Jose, CA
  • Lead strategic vision for all innovation & R&D programs across the school system.
  • Direct multi-disciplinary engineering teams—students, faculty, and industry professionals.
  • Cultivate partnerships with NASA, MBARI, and leading technology companies.
  • Manage program budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
July 2019 – July 2023
Director of Operations, Research & Development
Valley Christian School · San Jose, CA
  • Created and expanded "Extreme STEM" programs in space & ocean research.
  • Led engineering teams in multi-million-dollar international competitions.
  • Developed sustainable business models for long-term program viability.
Oct 2016 – Present
Program Manager / Lead Engineer
The Quest Institute · San Jose, CA
  • Manage three concurrent programs: ISS platform, Shell XPRIZE, & MBARI deployment.
  • Architected the flagship hardware platform for ISS student science experiments.
  • Collaborate with aerospace and oceanographic engineers for safety-critical design.
July 2018 – July 2019
Associate Director of Research & Development
Valley Christian School · San Jose, CA
  • Supported launch & growth of innovation programs bridging classroom and engineering.
  • Coordinated with aerospace and ocean science partners on experiment platforms.
July 2014 – Dec 2018
Founder
UpPump Inc. · San Jose, CA
  • Founded social enterprise: IoT remote monitoring for hand-pump wells in developing nations.
  • Designed predictive maintenance systems for uninterrupted clean water access.
Oct 2012 – Aug 2014
Country Director, South Sudan
Radler Foundation · Juba, South Sudan
  • Managed water, medical, and leadership programs across East Africa in a conflict zone.
  • Built strategic partnerships with NGOs, donors, and government leaders.
May 2008 – Oct 2012
Operations Manager / Project Manager
Radler Foundation · South Sudan
  • First expatriate to establish clean water drilling operations in the region.
  • Designed and installed the largest solar power system in South Sudan at the time.
  • Successfully registered the organization as an NGO with the South Sudanese government.
⬇ Download Full Resume (PDF)
Portfolio

Signature Programs & Projects

A selection of landmark initiatives spanning space exploration, ocean science, competition robotics, and humanitarian engineering.

Quest on ISS
Space · ISS

International Space Station Student Experiment Platform

Architected a patented, configurable hardware platform enabling K–12 students to design and conduct real science experiments aboard the ISS—transforming classrooms into NASA-grade research labs.

Patent Holder NASA Partnership K–12
Shell Ocean Discovery
Ocean Science · XPRIZE

Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE — $1M NOAA Bonus Prize

Led a student competition team to defeat international professional teams, winning the prestigious $1M NOAA Bonus Prize for autonomous deep-ocean mapping using cutting-edge underwater technology.

$1M Award International Competition Student-Led, Professional Mentorship
MBARI Recovery
Ocean Science · MBARI

MBARI Deep-Ocean STEM Deployment

Pioneered a deep-ocean STEM platform deployed on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's cabled observatory, giving students unprecedented access to live deep-sea data from the Pacific Ocean floor.

MBARI Partnership 900m Depth Tele-operated ROV
Robotics Control Panel
Robotics · Competition

Advanced Robotics Competition Programs

Built and scaled a fully custom K–12 robotics program spanning design, fabrication, and competition strategy—producing an industry-grade robotics kit and program that is accessible to high school students.

Competition Strategy Engineering Design Industry-Grade Software
EDM Makerspace
Innovation Center · Makerspace

School Innovation Lab — Design & Build-Out

Designed, equipped, and launched a full-scale school innovation center and makerspace— selecting tools, developing safety protocols, training staff, and creating the curriculum framework that brings it to life.

Space Planning Equipment Spec Staff Training
UpPump
IoT · Social Enterprise

UpPump — Remote Well Monitoring System

Founded UpPump Inc. to develop IoT-enabled predictive maintenance for hand-pump water wells in Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring uninterrupted clean water access for underserved communities.

Founder IoT / Hardware Impact Engineering
Consulting Services

How I Can Help Your School

I partner with K–12 schools, districts, and educational organizations to design, launch, and sustain programs that give students genuinely world-class STEM experiences.

🚀

Space Program Development

Design and launch student-driven space science programs—from experiment design to real deployment on the International Space Station.

  • ISS experiment platform design & integration
  • NASA partnership navigation
  • Student research curriculum
  • Flight hardware safety compliance
🌊

Ocean Science Programs

Build ocean research programs connecting students with real-world marine science through partnerships, ROVs, and live ocean data systems.

  • MBARI & oceanographic partnerships
  • Underwater ROV programs
  • Deep-ocean data curriculum
  • XPRIZE competition coaching
🤖

Robotics & Competition Coaching

Stand up or strengthen your robotics program with competition-proven strategy, engineering mentorship, and team culture development.

  • Competition program build-out
  • Design & fabrication mentorship
  • Season strategy & scouting
  • Coach & mentor training
🏆

XPRIZE & STEM Competition Strategy

Leverage first-hand experience winning a $1M international XPRIZE to help your team compete—and win—at the highest levels.

  • Team formation & readiness assessment
  • Technical proposal writing
  • Competition engineering roadmap
  • Fundraising & sponsor outreach
🛠️

Innovation Center & Makerspace Consulting

Plan, design, and launch a world-class makerspace or innovation lab—from initial concept through grand opening and ongoing programming.

  • Space planning & layout design
  • Equipment selection & procurement
  • Safety protocols & staff training
  • Curriculum & program framework
📋

STEM Program Strategy & Grant Support

Build the strategic foundation—vision, partnerships, funding models, and metrics— that make STEM programs sustainable for years to come.

  • Program vision & roadmap development
  • Industry partnership strategy
  • Grant identification & writing support
  • Revenue model & sustainability planning

Ready to build something extraordinary?

Whether you're starting from scratch or scaling what you have, let's talk about what's possible for your students.

Schedule a Consultation
Contact

Let's Connect

Have a program challenge to solve? Interested in consulting? I'd love to hear about your school's vision and explore how we might work together.

Get in Touch

I work with schools, districts, and educational organizations across the country. Reach out to discuss your needs — no obligation, just a conversation.

✉️
Email stephen.rffsudan@gmail.com
📍
Location San Jose, CA (Available Nationwide)
💼
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/huberstephen
Typical Engagement Types
  • ✓   Program Assessment & Strategy Sessions
  • ✓   Workshop / Professional Development Days
  • ✓   Multi-Month Launch Engagements
  • ✓   Ongoing Advisory Retainers
  • ✓   Speaking Engagements & Keynotes

Send a Message

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