Dr. John Wensveen is the President of the International Space University (ISU) in Strasbourg, France. As the eighth President of ISU, John leads the premier global institution dedicated to the advancement of space exploration and the education of future leaders in the space industry. Under his leadership, ISU fosters international collaboration, drives innovation, and prepares the next generation of space professionals to tackle the challenges of an evolving and dynamic field. His vision for ISU is to strengthen its role as a catalyst for groundbreaking research and global partnerships that extend humanity's reach into space.

Prior to his role at ISU, John served as the Chief Innovation Officer at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and the Executive Director of the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In this capacity, he spearheaded a multimillion-dollar public-private partnership that significantly enhanced the entrepreneurial ecosystem in South Florida by attracting top-tier entrepreneurs, advanced technologies, and substantial investment capital. John's leadership was instrumental in establishing the center as a leading innovation hub, and he also served as an official advisor to the Mayor of Broward County on matters of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, he was an Official Member of the Forbes Technology Council.

John has a rich background in academic leadership, having held several key positions across various institutions. He served as Vice Provost of Academic Schools at Miami Dade College, where he provided strategic direction for the College’s professional education programs and developed significant corporate and governmental partnerships. Earlier in his career, he was Professor and Head of the School of Aviation & Transportation Technology at Purdue University, Dean of the School of Aviation at Dowling College, and Professor of Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

In addition to his extensive academic career, John has held various industry leadership roles, including Partner/EVP at Mango Aviation Partners, Global Head of Airline Advisory Services at Radixx International, President of Airline Visions, Executive Consultant at InterVISTAS, Senior Director at Marriott Vacation Club International, Vice President of International Affairs at MAXjet Airways, Director of Strategy and Communications at Corporate Visions, and Manager of Pacific Rim Flight Operations & Passenger Services at Canada 3000 Airlines.

John is a TEDx speaker, an External Instructor at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a Certified Instructor at the Turkish Aviation Academy (Turkish Airlines), a frequent media contributor, an expert witness, and the author of two leading industry books, including a best-seller: Air Transportation: A Global Management Perspective and Wheels Up: Airline Business Plan Development.

John earned his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in International Air Transport and Business from Cardiff University (United Kingdom) and a B.A. in Geography and Transportation Land Use Planning from the University of Victoria (Canada).