Washington, D.C. – May 9, 2024 – WestExec Advisors today announced that former Director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Dr. Janet Kavandi, and former Director of the Defense Department’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, have joined the firm as Senior Advisors. With unrivaled understanding of both the technology and policy issues central to the future of space, they will advise innovative companies on navigating this complex and critical area.
Janet most recently held the role of President and CEO of Sierra Space, a cutting-edge company developing hardware for a variety of space applications, including the Dream Chaser spaceplane. Prior, she served for 25 years at NASA, including as Director of the Glenn Research Center overseeing research and technology development in the areas of aeronautics, space propulsion, and energy storage technology. At the Johnson Space Center, she was Director of Flight Crew Operations and Deputy Director of Health and Human Performance. She was selected as an astronaut in 1994 and has flown on three space shuttle missions.
Sean Kirkpatrick spent nearly three decades in government service working across the Navy, Air Force, wider Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and White House to advance development and adoption of critical technologies. He developed the Defense Department’s first integrated Scientific and Technical Intelligence Strategy, led the integration of both scientific and technical intelligence and national security space policy into the National Security Strategy, and established the Intelligence Enterprise for U.S. Space Command.
“As the private sector’s role in space technology development and the provision of space-based communications continues to grow, it will be more important than ever for space industry businesses to engage across the U.S. government in a sophisticated and productive way,” said Nitin K. Chadda, Managing Partner and Co-founder of WestExec Advisors. He continued, “Janet and Sean possess a combination of deep scientific understanding and policy expertise that will enable them to serve our clients uniquely well at this critical moment.”
WestExec Advisors, LLC helps business leaders make the best decisions by advising on geopolitical risk and emerging opportunities. To learn more, visit www.westexec.com or email info@westexec.com.