Speakers
The Kolbe Center aims to equip Catholic evangelists with a decisive advantage in the third millennium by rooting their apologetics in the true Catholic doctrine of creation, supported by sound arguments from theology, philosophy and natural science.
Mr. Hugh Owen
Hugh Owen is the convert son of Sir David Owen, a former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and Secretary General of International Planned Parenthood Federation. Hugh attended Princeton University where, at the age of 18, he was baptized, confirmed and made his first Holy Communion in the Princeton University Chapel on the Easter Vigil, in 1972. Hugh's wife Maria was a member of the first class of women at Princeton. She and Hugh were married in 1973 and Maria made her profession of faith in the Catholic Church in 1975. Hugh received a B.A. in honors in history from New York University, and a M.S. in education in supervision and administration from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. He also received a permanent license to be a principal or superintendent of schools in the state of New York. Between 1977 and 1991, Hugh worked as a teacher and administrator of several independent schools and served as a school evaluator for the Middle States Association and as a member of the executive committee of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. For the past 25 years, Hugh has dedicated his life to the service of the Church as a writer, editor, teacher, and lecturer. Hugh has written numerous books and articles on Catholic and secular topics. His books and articles have been published by the Catholic Distance University, Human Life International, Seton Home School, The Apostolate for Family Consecration, Latin Mass Magazine, The Social Justice Review, The Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Journal of Canada, 1 Peter 5, LifeSiteNews, and many other websites and publications. For thirteen years, Hugh was in charge of religious education for St. John Bosco Parish in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia. For the past twenty-three years he has served as the founder and director of the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation in Mt. Jackson, Virginia, and was recently made a member of the newly-founded John Paul II Academy for Human Life and the Family. Hugh and Maria have nine children (including a daughter who is a Benedictine nun) and twenty grandchildren (so far!).Hugh Owen on Gloria TV, speaking about "Junk DNA":
Mr. Eric Bermingham
Eric Bermingham is an aerospace engineer and author of the book "Creation vs. Evolution." He has been investigating the scientific, theological, and scriptural evidence for the traditional Catholic teaching of a literal six-day Creation and global Flood for many years. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation.Dr. Joseph A. Strada
Dr. Joseph Strada is the General Manager, Electronic Programs Division, National Systems Group, at the Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly, VA. He has a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering and Mathematics, Naval Postgraduate School Engineer's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School, M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering and Mathematics, Naval Postgraduate School B.S. in Mathematics, Villanova University.After graduating from Villanova University with a B.Sc. in Mathematics, in 1967, Dr. Strada was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and reported for flight training in Pensacola, FL. He was designated a naval aviator in 1968 and went on to operational tours in carrier-based anti-submarine squadrons, deploying with carrier battle groups in the Pacific and Mediterranean Fleets. He deployed with naval forces to the South China Sea during the Vietnam War, and to the Mediterranean during the Yom Kippur War.Dr. Strada was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School from February 1974 to June 1977, where he completed an M.Sc. Degree, Engineers Degree, and Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering and Mathematics, under the guidance of Dr. Max Platzer. He received the W.R. Church Award for Excellence in Mathematics and the Admiral Moffett Award for Career Potential and Excellence in Aeronautical Engineering. In 1979 he was selected as one of 208 national finalists for NASA's Mission Specialist Program for the Space Shuttle, and in 1983 was one of 39 national finalists for the White House Fellowship Program.After becoming an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer, Dr. Strada was assigned to acquisition and program management assignments in the Naval Electronics Systems Command, the Naval Air Systems Command, the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, and the Office of Naval Research. He served as Joint Test Director for the Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) Program; Deputy Program Manager of the Navy Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) Program; and Program Manager of the Milstar Joint Terminal Program Office. After serving as Senior Military Advisor to then Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney, he retired from the Pentagon with the rank of Captain in 1993.Dr. Strada joined the Aerospace Corporation in 1993, serving as Principal Director for Low-Earth Orbiting (LEO) Systems in Northern Virginia. In 1998 he became General Manager of the Electronic Programs Division, overseeing all Aerospace technical support to the Signals Intelligence Directorate of the National Reconnaissance Office. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation, and has made presentations at the Center's international conferences on creation in June, 2001 and October, 2002. He has also spoken to school and parish groups on the theory of evolution in light of modern scientific tools, disciplines and discoveries.Dr. Strada and his wife JoAnne live in Fairfax, VA and have six children and six grandchildren.
Mr. Tim Murnane
Tim Murnane is a professional engineer with 40 years experience with the Rohm and Haas Company and has a BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Villanova University as well as Metallurgical training from Drexel University. He is the recipient of numerous professional awards during his distinguished career for technical excellence and significant contributions to Rohm and Haas.Mr. Murnane believes that a general knowledge of scientific advances supporting Catholic teaching on God's creation is necessary for the new evangelization so urgently pursued by John Paul II and now Benedict XVI. He has pursued this knowledge for most of his adult life and continues to do so.Tim's Catholic lay initiatives include:- Founder of The Philadelphia Catholic Forum, a Catholic speaker's apostolate from 1987 to 1992
- President of the Marian Consortium of Catholic Lay Organizations in Philadelphia, 1992-1993
- Principal Author, Catholic Catechesis for a New Evangelization, Sept. 1992
- Chairman, Stand Up for Life annual Pro-life dinner, 2001 to 2005
- President of the Board, St. Francis Xavier Archdiocesan Grammar School, 2004-06
- Organizer, Evolution: The Untold Story, a conference for Catholics outlining the science behind Intelligent Design and the interest of Catholic leaders - Oct. 2009.
Dr. Thomas Seiler, PhD
Dr. Thomas Seiler is a German physicist with a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Munich. He is a development engineer at Robert-Bosch-Corporation since 2004.Education: Diploma of Physics from the University of Freiburg, PhD in Physics from the Technical University of Munich