Will Assume The New Post October 1

Steve Isakowitz, president of Virgin Galactic, has been elected president of The Aerospace Corporation effective Aug. 1. He will assume the position of Aerospace president and CEO upon the retirement of Dr. Wanda Austin on Oct. 1.

“After a year-long search process, the board of trustees is pleased with the result. Building on Dr. Wanda Austin’s legacy of excellence and accomplishment, Steve Isakowitz (pictured) has the right set of skills and experience—in government and industry—to lead Aerospace in a rapidly changing environment of constrained customer resources, challenging threats, and exciting new space technologies,” said Ambassador Barbara Barrett, chair of The Aerospace Corporation board of trustees.

The selection of Isakowitz was a unanimous decision by the board and its selection committee, which was chaired by the Honorable Michael Donley, former Secretary of the Air Force, as part of the board’s planned succession process. The board was assisted in its search process by the executive search firm Spencer Stuart.

Donley said Isakowitz was selected as the top choice from an exceptional slate of candidates because he possesses a broad range of diverse experience in space management, science and technology, budgeting, and financial administration in both government and corporate environments. “Steve Isakowitz has demonstrated tremendous integrity and leadership in complex jobs that required both strategic vision and technical competence—qualities that are absolutely essential to ensuring Aerospace’s continued success,” said Donley.

Austin started her career at The Aerospace Corporation in 1979 and has served as president and CEO since 2008.

“On behalf of the board and The Aerospace Corporation, I want to thank Dr. Austin for her more than three decades of service to Aerospace and the nation. A pioneer, innovator, and mentor, Dr. Austin led Aerospace with great vision and capability,” Barrett said.

“I am honored to have had the privilege of leading this great Aerospace team as we delivered 100 percent mission success to every customer,” Austin said. “Steve is a proven leader across the space enterprise. I am confident that we will transition seamlessly and the organization will be positioned for even greater success.”

“I am extremely excited to be leading this extraordinary organization as we develop solutions, innovate, and continue to deliver mission success for all of our customers,” Isakowitz said. “Technological progress, global competition, and security threats are all increasing at rates unparalleled in the history of the Space Age, and I look forward to collaborating with customers and the talented Aerospace team to tackle the important challenges of the 21st century—which will surely be known as the century of space.”

Isakowitz served as president of Virgin Galactic from 2013 to 2016 and as its chief technology officer from 2011 to 2013. At Virgin Galactic, Isakowitz had broad leadership responsibilities, which included the development of privately funded launch systems, human spaceflight vehicles, advanced technologies, and other new space applications. Previously, he held a wide variety of senior engineering, business, and management roles across the private and government sectors, including positions at NASA, the Office of Management and Budget, the Intelligence Community, and the Department of Energy.

In a statement released to the media, George T. Whitesides, CEO Of Virgin Galactic And The Spaceship Company, said the company is "deeply proud of Steve and wish him the best as he embarks on this important new mission leading The Aerospace Corporation. I am sure he will serve our nation well, as he has many times in the past, contributing his crucial perspectives to the dynamic environment of national security and civil space.”

“During Steve’s time with our company, VG’s orbital LauncherOne business has built a firm launch backlog of more than $250 million and over 50 satellites, plus options and letters of intent to launch an additional 300+ satellites," Whitesides said in the statement. "The revolutionary LauncherOne rocket business now has over 200 world-class employees, 150,000 square feet of fully-outfitted manufacturing facilities, four propulsion and structural test facilities in Mojave, and a dedicated 747-400 jumbo jet launch platform. I’d also like to thank Steve for his accomplishments working with the team to develop our successful in-house capability for advanced propulsion, and helping to create an ambitious roadmap for future opportunities in both human spaceflight and satellite launch.”

“I have asked Tim Buzza, the program director of LauncherOne, to step up and lead our LauncherOne enterprise as we search for Steve’s successor. Tim joined Virgin Galactic in 2014, and has led the overall program management of LauncherOne since early 2015. Prior to joining Galactic, Tim served as the Vice President of Launch and Test at SpaceX, in addition to prior leadership roles at Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. Tim will be supported by our Senior Vice President of Business Development and Advanced Concepts, Barry Matsumori, who was previously SpaceX’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development, as well as key roles at Qualcomm, Space Systems Loral and General Dynamics.”

“I look forward to working with Tim and Barry as the LauncherOne team achieves its mission to provide responsive, affordable and dedicated launch services to the commercial and government small satellite markets.”

(Source: News releases. Image provided by The Aerospace Corporation)

FMI: www.aerospace.org, www.virgingalactic.com