Will Also Serve As Company Spokesperson

Privately-funded space launch services provider Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) announced this week Diane Murphy has joined the company as Vice President of Marketing and Communications.

Murphy assumes the newly-created position with responsibility for all aspects of marketing and communications, including strategic planning, media relations, advertising, video and web content, exhibits and trade shows, community affairs, and event management, as well as serving as company spokesperson.

"Diane brings a wealth of experience within the aerospace industry and contacts across the media world," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "She will help us communicate effectively as we grow and work to revolutionize access to space."

"In addition to the extraordinary demand for our products and services, we are experiencing tremendous demand for updates on the upcoming launch of our Falcon 1, delivery of the first Falcon 9 to Cape Canaveral and development of our Dragon spacecraft," said Gwynne Shotwell, VP, Business Development. "Diane will be instrumental in keeping everyone informed of our progress."

Murphy comes to SpaceX from Northrop Grumman Corporation where she led communications for their Space Technology Sector. Previously, she served as Vice President of Communications for EADS North America, the US holding company for the world’s second largest aerospace and defense company, and Executive Vice President of the X Prize Foundation, organizing the first X Prize CUP and working with the state of New Mexico to support the creation of the New Mexico Spaceport.

For 15 years Murphy served as Chairman and CEO of Federal City Communications providing communications strategies to aerospace, defense, and telecommunications clients. She began her career on Capitol Hill as a press assistant to former House Republican Leader, John J. Rhodes (R-AZ), before working for a Washington consulting firm where she managed campaigns related to defense, energy systems, and directed political advertising campaigns for more than 30 candidates including Senators Bill Cohen (R-ME), John McCain (R-AZ), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Governor John Sununu (R-NH).

Murphy is a member of the National Press Club, serves on the Board of Trustees of the X Prize Foundation, California Space Authority, and Dashew International Center for Students and Scholars at UCLA. She was educated at Friends Academy, Northwestern University and studied in the former Soviet Union before receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Founded in 2002, SpaceX aims to help fill the gap when the Space Shuttle retires in 2010. Under the existing contract, SpaceX will conduct three flights of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft for NASA, culminating in Dragon berthing with the International Space Station (ISS) and returning to Earth.

FMI: www.spacex.com