Our Authors

Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton is an inspirational leader whose journey from high school dropout to a top national security expert exemplifies the principles of this book—discipline, leadership, resilience, and transformation. A former fighter test pilot and Air Force officer ranked in the top 1% of his peers, Cinco has flown over thirty aircraft and led aviation’s largest flight test organization. He spearheaded groundbreaking advancements in AI for the Department of the Air Force, and his work has saved countless lives through innovations in autonomous systems. As founder and CEO of STEM-ED, a 501(c)3, Cinco empowers young minds through the Aerospace Robotics Competition. He shares his insights globally, inspiring audiences to realize their full potential.

Jillian Hancock lives on the edge of the known world in Wellington, New Zealand. Information architect by day, writer by night, she spends her free time trapped in a complex barter cycle with ruthless pirates—but can’t really talk about it. Whenever the pirate cartel gets her down she reminds herself that somewhere, someone is doing an interpretive dance, which cheers her right up. Like everyone else in NZ, she knows a Hobbit personally.

Peter A. Hancock is Provost Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology and Institute for Simulation and Training at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla. His research focuses on the future of human-machine symbiosis.

Richard Hanley is a professor of philosophy at the University of Delaware. He is the author of Is Data Human? The Metaphysics of Star Trek, and several articles, including pieces in Star Wars and Philosophy and Superheroes and Philosophy.

Matthew Scott Hansen is the co-author of Andy Kaufman Revealed!: Best Friend Tells All. He lives in Granada Hills, Calif.

Robin Hanson is a professor of economics at George Mason University. In 1998 Robin received his Ph.D. in social science from the California Institute of Technology, and then served as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation health policy scholar at the University of California at Berkeley. Earlier he received a master’s in physics and a master’s in the philosophy of science from the University of Chicago, and spent nine years researching artificial intelligence, Bayesian statistics and hypertext publishing at Lockheed, NASA and independently. Robin’s work has appeared in several publications, including CATO Journal, International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Journal of Evolution and Technology, Social Philosophy and Policy, and Theory and Decision.

Rick Hanson, PhD, is a psychologist, senior fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times bestselling author. Altogether, his seven books have been published in 33 languages and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture, with over a million copies sold in English alone. He’s the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the cohost of the Being Well podcast, which has been downloaded over 25 million times. He offers free newsletters, and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial needs. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.

Jan Hanson, MS, LAc, is a licensed acupuncturist and integrative health practitioner with more than four decades of experience in nutritional medicine, functional testing, and holistic approaches to wellbeing. Building on early training in biochemistry, she is one of the early pioneers in bringing evidence-informed nutritional medicine into mainstream complementary care. Jan has taught widely, offering practical guidance on topics such as digestive health, allergies, and women’s wellness.

Known for her clear, compassionate teaching style, she has supported individuals and families in improving their health through accessible, step-by-step methods. She lives in northern California with her husband, psychologist and author Rick Hanson, and enjoys time with their two adult children.