Meet The Aemulus-XR Team
CO-FOUNDER/CEO
Paul Bernal
Paul has an impressive track record as a military veteran with 21 years of experience in global and military medical simulation training. As a VP of Global Sales and Business Development, he consistently achieved healthy year-over-year growth. His visionary leadership spearheaded the development of next-generation, state-of-the-art technology, leading to significant successes in major military programs both in the US and international simulation markets. Under Paul's guidance, a small business transformed into a powerhouse in the military medical simulation industry in a remarkably short period.
CO-FOUNDER/COO
Sam Gebhardt
Sam has had a dynamic career journey through the realms of animation, gaming, and virtual reality. He shaped the visual aesthetics of iconic films like Shrek 2 at DreamWorks and contributed to the gaming industry with titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 at Activision/Blizzard. In 2016, he co-founded VRpatients, a pioneering venture focused on virtual reality medical training. He brings experience conceptualizing and managing the creation of immersive AR/VR content to Aemulus-XR. He is also an Instructor at Art Center College in Pasadena and a Professor at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects.
Chief Medical Officer
Walter Engle
Walter began his 22 year career in the military as a Combat Medic then Physician Assistant (PA). He has 9 overseas deployments triaging and treating patients through the entire continuum of care from point-of-injury to hospital. As a medical trainer, Walter was a Commander at the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center, Director of the Combat Casualty Care Course, and an instructor for key tactical medical courses and conferences. As the III Armored Corps senior PA, he was instrumental to the Fort Cavazos Medical Simulation Training Center, building the Medical Master Gunner course, autologous blood transfusion labs, and cadaver tissue labs. As an author, Walter wrote articles in the Combat & Casualty Care magazine and co-authored the Joint Trauma System Prolonged Casualty Care Guidelines, the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Handbook, version 5, and the U.S. Army Physician Assistant Handbook, First and Second editions.
European Medical Consultant
Lukasz Jurczak
Lukasz, a veteran with 22 years of experience, began his career as an operator in a SWAT unit before joining the Polish Military Special Mission Unit. Through dedication and professionalism, he rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major (CSM), overseeing the development of medical procedures and fostering international cooperation in the medical field. Throughout his career, Lukasz participated in numerous overseas missions, gaining hands-on experience on the front lines and managing medical care in challenging combat environments. He played a key role as a co-creator of the medical training program for the Ukrainian Special Forces, which has since been approved by NATO. Currently, Lukasz combines his passion for medicine and education with business by partnering with companies like Aemulus. He is also a university lecturer, sharing his knowledge and experience in simulation with medical students.
VP of Global Sales
Yadira Bernal
Yadira is a seasoned business development professional with decades of experience in the medical education and simulation markets, combined with a strong academic foundation in computer science and artificial intelligence. Her unique blend of technical expertise and market insight has fueled her success in driving growth and innovation across the industry. Throughout her career, she has consistently identified and capitalized on emerging opportunities, successfully bringing cutting-edge technologies—including AI-powered simulation tools—to global markets. With a strategic mindset and a passion for emerging tech, Yadira continues to lead initiatives that reshape how medical training is delivered worldwide.
Director of Business Development
Ibrahim AL Balawi
With a strong background in medical healthcare simulation and leadership in military and undergraduate clinical skills training, Ibrahim brings extensive expertise to the team. Passionate about innovation and technology, he has played a key role in coordinating TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) training with NAEMT. At Aemulus-XR, Ibrahim is committed to developing and producing advanced AR/VR solutions for tactical combat casualty care, aimed at enhancing field medical training, readiness, and operational efficiency across various military medical domains.
CTO
James King
James is a multidisciplinary designer, developer, and creative technologist specializing in immersive and interactive digital media. Based in Columbus, Ohio and trained at the Columbus College of Art & Design, James writes his own reality—merging code and pixels to build experiences that foster dialog, communication, and understanding. His work spans the development of games, digital storytelling, and training simulations across multiple realities, including virtual-, augmented-, and mixed-reality platforms. Whether crafting narrative-driven experiences or designing functional digital tools, James is driven by a purpose to create more meaningful connections between people and technology.
Senior Director - Hardware & Engineering
Alex Bandar
After receiving his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Dr. Alex Bandar worked as a senior research scientist at Scientific Forming Technologies Corporation - the global leader in manufacturing simulation software for the metal forming industry. While working on products from iPhones to jet fighter engines at SFTC, Dr. Bandar also started a physical and digital prototyping facility called the Idea Foundry, which grew into the world's largest makerspace. TIF has launched hundreds of small businesses, dozens of startups, and has provided Dr. Bandar with 15 years of experience in physical and digital prototyping of smart products as well as the business experience to launch them. He now focuses his energy on facilitating startup technologies as well as starting innovation centers around the world.
Technical Director - 3D
Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a seasoned 3D artist and virtual production specialist with a robust portfolio spanning film, television, and interactive media. He has contributed to major cinematic projects such as Black Adam and Aquaman 2, working within Virtual Art Departments to craft real-time visual effects that bridge the gap between digital artistry and live-action storytelling. In the realm of interactive media, Mark has served as Lead 3D Artist for VRpatients, a platform dedicated to immersive medical training simulations. His expertise in Unreal and Unity engines, combined with a focus on character design and immersive environments, positions him at the forefront of next-generation digital experiences.
Lead Framework Engineer
Frédéric Gaba
Frédéric Gaba is a seasoned software engineer with a strong background in video game development and immersive technologies. He has held key roles such as Senior Video Game Engineer and Chief Technology Officer, contributing to innovative projects in the gaming and XR (Extended Reality) industries. Frédéric's expertise encompasses designing and developing interactive digital experiences, with a focus on enhancing user engagement through cutting-edge technology. His work reflects a commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital interaction and storytelling.