2021 Executive Committee Gale E. Burkett is the founder and CEO of GB Tech, Inc., which provides science and engineering professionals to government and industry. GB Tech serves clients in the aerospace, energy, homeland security, healthcare, and education sectors. In his role as chief executive officer, Burkett oversees new market development, acquisitions, longterm strategic direction, and the overall vision of the company. Under his leadership, GB Tech has earned numerous awards and recognition. Burkett devotes a large portion of his time and energy to civic and community affairs. He currently serves on the board of directors of several organizations including privately held and non-profit organizations.
Todd Caliva serves as chief executive officer of HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake. He has nearly 28 years of experience, including a decade at the multi-facility level. He has been with HCA in Houston since 1997. In prior roles, Caliva served as chief executive officer of HCA-affiliated West Houston Medical Center and East Houston Regional Medical Center and chief operating officer of HCA-affiliated The Woman’s Hospital of Texas. His robust community involvement includes co-chairing the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) Cardiac Care Committee, an organization that is committed to improve the overall care for heart attack patients across the region; serving as the president/chairman of the Educational Foundation of the Southeast Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, as well as currently serving as regent of the Southeast Texas Chapter. Caliva earned a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s of science in marketing from the University of Houston. He is the proud parent of two daughters, Sophie and Cara. Fernando De La Peña LLaca is president / CEO of Aexa Aerospace, LLC. He has 20 years of successful leadership in technology and engineering companies. A United States citizen, his lifelong passion for space exploration, combined with Aexa’s leading-edge expertise, plays a key role in his support for NASA. As an undergraduate engineering student, De La Peña Llaca completed and patented a spacecraft engine propelled by anti-matter, and received additional patents, for example, a space launcher employing magnetic levitation. He received a Discovery Channel Prize in 2010 for his work developing the Mexican Space Agency. He is also a recipient of the Small Business Champion of the Year Award from the Small Business Administration. De La Peña Llaca is the former president of the National Contract Management Association, NCMA Space City Houston chapter at NASA Johnson Space Center. NCMA is the world’s leading professional resource in the field of contract management. He is the former chairman of the Johnson Space Center Small Business Council. De La Peña Llaca also is the former chair of the Communications Committee of the Johnson Space Center National Management Association. He serves on the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership Board of Directors, and he also served as the aerospace liaison of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. De La Peña Llaca was elected this year as chief of the Infragard Defense Industrial Base SIG, a partnership between the FBI and members of the private sector.
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