Key Space Sector People To Watch In 2021

Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno

Credit: U.S. Air Force

U.S. Space Force Staff Director

Armagno, the former director of Air Force space programs, now is tasked with coordinating the new Space Force’s roles and responsibilities. She also will be advocating for the Space Force inside the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. Armagno has deep experience with space programs: She has been director of space programs for Air Force acquisitions and has commanded the military space launch ranges at Vandenberg AFB, California, and Patrick AFB, Florida.

Chuck Beames

Credit: York Space Systems

Executive Chairman of York Space Systems

Beams, a former civilian within the Pentagon, is also the chairman of the Small Satellite Alliance. Now he leads York Space Systems, which has one of the first contracts to deliver 10 spacecraft to the Space Development Agency for its transport layer of low-Earth-orbiting satellites.

Peter Beck

Credit: Rocket Lab

Founder and CEO of Rocket Lab

The small-satellite sensation Rocket Lab has built a steady cadence of Electron launches and has begun recovering boosters to move toward reusing them. In the fall, the company launched the first of its own Photon satellites, which are intended to allow for technology demonstrations.

Mark Kelly

Credit: Mark Kelly for Senate

Democratic U.S. Senator from Arizona

Kelly has been elected to the Arizona U.S. Senate seat once held by the late John McCain, replacing Air Force Col. (ret.) Martha McSally, who was appointed interim senator in December 2018. Having traveled on four NASA space shuttle missions, now-retired astronaut Kelly is poised to make an impact on space planning and policy.

Matthew Kuta

Credit: Voyager Space Holdings

Co-founder, President and COO of Voyager Space Holdings

A former U.S. Air Force F-15E pilot who won the Jabara Award for gallantry in Afghanistan, Kuta now oversees the first holding company specifically targeting new-space ventures. Voyager was launched in late 2019 and continues to make acquisitions.

Ellen Stofan

Credit: Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

Director of the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum

Stofan’s presence continues to grow as a respected source within the space sector on everything from workforce issues to new technologies. President-elect Joe Biden has appointed her to lead his review team of NASA as his administration takes office. Before joining the Smithsonian, Stofan was a principal advisor to then-NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, who helped develop a plan to put humans on Mars.

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