Yvonne Cagle Keynote Speaker

NASA Astronaut, Aerospace Surgeon and Inventor
Former Colonel, U.S. Air Force
Consulting professor for Stanford University’s Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and its Department of Electrical Engineering

Yvonne Cagle's Biography

Dr. Yvonne Darlene Cagle is an Aerospace Surgeon, entrepreneur and consulting professor for Stanford University’s department of cardiovascular medicine and its department of electrical engineering, who was recently honor at Expo 2020 in Dubai. In addition, Dr. Cagle also has served as a certified senior aviation medical examiner for the FAA and a qualified advanced cardiac life support instructor. Dr. Cagle has served as the innovative liaison for Google, Singularity University, and other Silicon Valley tech industries. Dr. Cagle has globally established groundbreaking work in fitness, STEAM outreach, space sustainability.

Dr. Cagle holds adjunct professorships with Stanford University, UC Davis, and UTMB, Galveston. Dr. Cagle was a Visiting Professor at and earned an honorary Ph.D. from Fordham University and while investigating mitigating neurocognitive countermeasures to optimize long duration space crew behavioral health and performance.

After earning her undergraduate degree from San Francisco State University, Dr. Cagle earned an M.D. from the University of Washington. She completed an internship at Highland General Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and a residency in family practice at Ghent Family Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA.

A retired Colonel of the US Air Force, Dr. Cagle is a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, United States Air Force Air Staff Exceptional Physician Commendation and National Technical Association Distinguished Scientist Award, Dr. Cagle began her medical career as a certified flight surgeon. She was actively involved in mission support of aircraft providing medical support and rescue in a variety of aeromedical missions.

Dr. Cagle has contributed ongoing data to the longitudinal study on astronaut health and served as a consultant for space telemedicine. She was a member of the NASA Working Group and traveled to Russia to establish international medical standards and procedures for astronauts.

Your Personal Moonshot: Finding Your Professional Passion and Going for Your Dreams

She has spent her career at the intersection of space exploration, medicine and emerging technology, helping shape how humans live, work and perform in some of the most demanding environments imaginable.
She translates complex developments in aerospace medicine, innovation and human performance into practical insights that help leaders prepare for the future of technology, health and exploration.
She combines experience as a NASA aerospace surgeon, military physician and technology advisor, bringing audiences a rare perspective on leadership, resilience and decision-making in high-stakes environments.
She has helped advance international collaboration in space medicine and astronaut health, contributing to the development of standards, systems and technologies that support long-duration human missions.
Her presentations help organisations understand the opportunities created by scientific innovation, embrace future-focused thinking and unlock the human potential required to thrive in an era of rapid technological change.