Colleen McLeod Garner, PhD (student), MBA, EMGM
Colleen McLeod Garner, PhD (student), MBA, EMGM is the Marketing and BD Capture Manager at Paragon Space Development Corporation and Director of Business Development at Cosmic Citizen Trainings, with over 20 years of experience bridging the commercial space and hospitality industries.
She is known for pioneering the integration of beverage alcohol policy with space exploration, creating frameworks for sustainable off-world hospitality, and developing go-to-market strategies for companies in the rapidly expanding space economy.
As Marketing and BD Capture Manager at Paragon Space Development Corporation since May 2025, Colleen brings her unique expertise in commercialization and brand strategy to one of the premier providers of life support and thermal control systems for extreme environments.
In August 2025, she published her third white paper in the Intergalactic Imbibing Series, titled From Tourists to Towns: A Policy Framework for Beverage Alcohol Beyond Earth, proposing comprehensive regulations for alcohol production and consumption in space. Her work advocates for creating an interagency group involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the FAA, and NASA to establish safety protocols for off-world hospitality. Read A Policy Proposal For Happy Hour in Orbit.
Colleen is the Founder and CEO of InterGalactic Imbibing, a consultancy focused on the commercialization of beverage alcohol in space environments. She is also a founding member of the Space Drinks Association, instrumental in connecting the beverage industry with opportunities in space exploration. As Advisory Board Member at Cecilia.ai in 2024, she guided the development of the world’s first AI bartender, Sara, which debuted in Central Florida’s hospitality industry. The AI bartender has been deployed at the Wyndham Resort and Conference Center in Celebration, Florida, representing the first hotel industry placement of this technology. Read Belly up to the … A.I. bar? and Cultivating a Legacy Mindset.
Between December 2023 and January 2025, Colleen served as Director of NASA-West for Casa Azul Spirits, where she developed strategic partnerships between the spirits industry and space sector initiatives. Her earlier career included Director of Sales-West positions at Sagamore Spirit and Regional Sales Manager roles at WhistlePig Whiskey, Bently Heritage Estate Distillery, and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, where she managed multi-state operations and implemented DEI initiatives. Between 2011 and 2016, she launched brands from the ground up, including positions with Latis Imports, Windy Hill Spirits, and American Born Moonshine.
Colleen began her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidacy in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota in April 2025, focusing on human factors in space with research on hospitality, psychology, and sustainability in extreme environments. She earned her Executive Master’s in Global Management (EMGM) in Space Leadership, Business, and Policy from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University in July 2024, graduating with distinction and receiving the Dean’s Circle Award, the Founder’s Award, and induction into Beta Gamma Sigma.
She earned her Master of Business Administration in Global Innovation from California State University – East Bay, graduating with distinction. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Sonoma State University with honors and completed her studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
As a sought-after speaker and thought leader, Colleen has presented at prestigious conferences including the International Space Development Conference (ISDC), the Space Settlement Summit, the Humans to Mars Summit, SommCon, and The Mars Society conferences. She has been featured on podcasts, including This Week In Space, discussing the implications of social drinking in space environments. Watch A Cislunar Fizz, Please: Social Drinking in Space.
Colleen holds over 15 industry certifications, including Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS), and WSET Level 3, positioning her as one of the most credentialed professionals in the beverage industry. She has taught as a visiting professor at Florida International University and with DISCUS, delivering courses on sales leadership, beer, wine, spirits, and business strategy.
As a mentor at Vanderbilt University, she supports entrepreneurs and innovators in emerging industries. She is a member of the Space Force Association, AIAA, and ASGSR – American Society for Gravitational and Space Research. She actively supports Women of the Vine & Spirits initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in her industry.
In 2025, Colleen was nominated for the Top 100 Women in Aerospace & Aviation award. She received the Thunderbird Alumni Emerging Global Leaders certification from Dublin City University in March 2025 through a global collaboration. She earned The AI Awakening: Implications for the Economy and Society certificate from Stanford University in June 2024.
Her publications include From Tourists to Towns: A Policy Framework for Beverage Alcohol Beyond Earth, Alcohol in Orbit: Designing Responsible Frameworks for the Future of Space Hospitality, and Martini on Mars: Policy and Human Factors for Alcohol in the Space Economy. She has also authored children’s books, including The Stellar Garden, Icebound Odyssey: The Europa Chronicles, and Star Lasso: Adventures of the Asteroid Wranglers.
Colleen has volunteered with the American Red Cross Disaster Services since 2019 and with Susan G. Komen, supporting cancer research initiatives. She resides in Elk Grove, California, and balances her professional pursuits with philanthropic endeavors and time with family. Through her work at the intersection of hospitality and space exploration, she continues to shape policies and frameworks that will enable sustainable human presence beyond Earth.
Watch This Week In Space podcast: Episode 87 — One Lunar Fizz Please. Read Cultivating a Legacy Mindset and A Policy Proposal For Happy Hour in Orbit.
Visit her LinkedIn profile, ISDC Speaker page, and Space Settlement Summit profile. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and X.