Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is the fuel and fire of the National Security Space Association. These esteemed members bring great knowledge and expertise in supporting the national security space enterprise. As we work towards fostering new and exciting relationships that benefit and protect the national security space community, our Board of Directors are there to lead the way.
Joe Dodd, Chair of the NSSA Board of Directors, provides NSSA his valuable leadership and knowledge of national security space. In his current position as Senior VP for Corporate Development at Linquest Corporation, Mr. Dodd understands the value of independent thought and leadership. Mr. Dodd has worked at Linquest, a systems integration and engineering company supporting many government space organizations, since 2011. Prior to joining Linquest, Mr. Dodd served in multiple corporate leadership roles in positions at TASC Inc., the commercial remote sensing industry, Hughes Space & Communications, and the Aerospace Corporation. Mr. Dodd will bring to his position as Chair of NSSA’s Board of Directors his valuable experience as an independent leader in the National Security Space community.
Joseph K. Dodd
Brandon blends his passion for solving problems and helping people with his unique experiences in technology and finance. Previously, he was a Senior Partner Development Manager at AWS, a Vice President at JP Morgan, and a management consultant at EY.
Brandon spent 10 years as an Infantry officer in the US Army, serving in Southwest Asia including Operation Enduring Freedom(Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Brandon holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He enjoys triathlons and Brazilian jiujitsu.
Brandon Anderson
Mr. Aves leads over 1000 staff delivering engineering, integration, and technology solutions to clients across the intelligence community, DoD, and commercial sectors. These solutions include Satellite Launch Integration, Space Situational Awareness, Information Security, Insider Threat, Space Crypto Engineering, Cloud Application Development, DevSecOps Engineering, Satellite Ground Station Capabilities, ISR Products, and Geospatial Capability Integration. Prior to this role, he served as Senior Vice President for Business Development for the S&GS market, leading captures for $300+million opportunities with a track record of success. Rich came to Parsons as part of the acquisition of OGSystems® in January 2019 where he served in multiple Partner roles, the last of which was as their Chief Growth Officer.
Rich Aves
Payam Banazadeh is CEO & Founder of Capella Space, a Silicon Valley company operating the first and only constellation of American commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites that provides global all weather and all light persistent monitoring from space. Capella Space was founded by Payam in 2016 in a garage and after raising more than $250M of venture capital and launching 8 satellites Capella Space is now recognized as the leading provider of high resolution SAR imagery from space, and the only All-American commercial SAR provider. Payam holds a business/management degree from Stanford University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Texas. Prior to starting Capella Space Payam was a project manager and flight systems engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). During his short tenure at NASA JPL Payam received many awards including the NASA Mariner Award, NASA Discovery Award, and NASA Formulation Award. Payam was selected to be on the prestigious “Forbes 30 under 30” list in 2017 and Capella has been recognized by New York Times, Bloomberg, and Inc magazine as one of the top 25 disruptive companies in the world.
Payam Banazadeh
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Clint Crosier is Director of the AWS Aerospace and Satellite business, established to help accelerate innovation in the global aerospace and satellite industry. He leads a global team that is dedicated to working alongside commercial and government space customers to provide tailored, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions to help them solve their toughest challenges. Prior to joining AWS, Crosier served 33 years in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. His career includes a broad charge of experience in space operations, including a one-year deployment to the Middle East as the U.S. Central Command Director of Space Forces. He served in staff assignments in the U.S. Senate, Secretary of the Air Force's Action Group, U.S. Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Air Force Space Command and US Strategic Command. During his career, he operated GPS, SatCom, and missile warning satellite constellations, launched Atlas and Titan rockets putting national security payloads in orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office, and led Requirements and Strategy Development for the entire US Air Force. Prior to retiring from military service as a Major General, he was the lead planner and architect of the US Space Force, helping to stand up the first new military service in 72 years. NSSA is honored to have MG Crosier on its Board of Directors.
Major General Clint Crosier, USAF (Ret.)
Maria Demaree will provide irreplaceable experience to the NSSA Board of Directors. She serves as the Vice President and General Manager for Mission Solutions at Lockheed Martin Space. In this capacity, she is responsible for approximately 4,400 employees and an annual sales base of over $1.5B in support of government defense and intelligence agencies. Previously, Ms. Demaree was Vice President of Engineering, Mission Systems and Operations, for Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Space Systems Company. Additionally, she formerly served as Engineering and Technology Director of Mission Systems, for Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS). In that role, she was responsible for all aspects of leading the Mission Systems Capabilities organization of 3,500 software engineers from March 2014 to December 2015. Ms. Demaree also served in Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Enterprise Business Services from August 2011 to March 2014. As Director of Enterprise Desktop Services, she was responsible for the Lockheed Martin Service Desk, Unified Communications, Desktop Services and SharePoint implementation. Ms. Demaree graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and University of Pennsylvania with a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering.
Maria Demaree
Michael P. Dempsey will be a vital asset for NSSA. He served as Acting Director of National Intelligence in 2017, Prior to that position, he was Deputy Director of National Intelligence (DDNI) from 2014 to 2016, where he served as President Obama’s primary intelligence briefer. In this role, he also regularly represented the Intelligence Community at National Security Council, Principal, and Deputy Committee meetings, as well as in Congressional testimony, and was charged with leading the effort to integrate the 16 agencies of the US Intelligence Community. He began his intelligence career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1990 and served in a number of management and analytical positions there, including Director of the Office of Transnational Issues, Director of the Office of African, Latin America, and Global Issues, and Deputy Associate Director of CIA for Military Affairs. He also served as Deputy CIA Representative to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council. Prior to joining the CIA, he served for four years as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Mr. Dempsey has received the Presidential Rank Award, two National Intelligence Distinguished Service Awards, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and the U.S. Army’s Meritorious Service Medal. He earned a Master of International Public Policy from John Hopkins, School of Advanced International Studies, a Master of Diplomatic History from the University of New York at Albany, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Siena College.
Michael P. Dempsey
Mr. Paul Engola brings valuable experience to NSSA leadership. Before serving in his current position at Leidos, Mr. Engola had previously held the positions of Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of Business Partnerships, Deputy President for Leidos’ Defense and Intelligence Group and Senior Vice President, Transportation and Financial Solutions and held the same position with Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions, which merged with Leidos in August 2016. For more than a decade, Mr. Engola served in various leadership positions within Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, including as Vice President, Coherent Technologies; Director, West Coast Operations for Civil Space; and Program Director in the Special Programs line of business. Before joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Engola was a business strategy consultant with Boston Consulting Group. He spent much of his early career in program execution within the aerospace industry, first at Hughes Space and Communications Company and later at Space Systems/Loral. Mr. Engola earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration with a Global Management Program certificate from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Paul Engola
Marty Faga brings the National Security Space Association his incredible wealth of experience and leadership accumulated over decades of service in government and national security space. From 1989 to 1993, Mr Faga simultaneously served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Space) and Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Prior to his roles in the Air Force and NRO, Mr. Faga headed the program and budget staff as a staff member on the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Mr. Faga also held the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer at the MITRE Corporation after his government service. Following his retirement in 2006, Mr. Faga has served on several boards of directors within the aerospace industry, giving him the knowledge to help guide the NSSA Board of Directors into the future.
The Honorable Martin C. Faga
Jerry Howe provides NSSA with nearly 35 years of experience providing counsel to clients in the aerospace, defense, intelligence, and government services sectors. In his current position, Mr. Howe works for Leidos as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Prior to joining Leidos, Mr. Howe was a partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, & Jacobson LLP, where he managed aerospace and defense practices. Mr. Howe also previously served as chair of the Washington Space Business Roundtable. As a space leader with years of commitment to providing advice and guidance to the space community, Mr. Howe is a tremendous asset to the Board of Directors.
Jerry Howe
Steve Jacques, Executive Director and Founder of the National Security Space Association, brings to his role decades of experience in and intimate knowledge of the National Security Space and Intelligence communities. A retired Air Force officer, Mr. Jacques supported DoD space programs, served as the Secretary of the Air Force’s Congressional Liaison for Space and S&T programs and policies, and served as the Secretary of Defense’s Legislative Liaison for Intelligence, Space, and Airborne Reconnaissance policies and programs. Mr. Jacques is currently a Managing Partner at Velos, where he routinely interacts with space and intelligence leadership in the Executive branch, industry, and Congress. In 2004, Mr. Jacques co-founded the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation, preparing him for his role in leading the National Security Space Association as Executive Director.
Steve Jacques
Stephen Kitay is the Senior Director of Azure Space at Microsoft. In this role Stephen co-leads Microsoft’s efforts to support the mission needs of the space sector through cloud-enabled technologies. The Azure Space team is developing capabilities and services to extend connectivity across the world, simulate digital space environments, discover new insights, and drive innovation both on the ground and in orbit.
Before this position, he was a member of the Senior Executive Service as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for Space Policy where he had a key leadership role in the establishment of the U.S. Space Force. Prior to his time at the Pentagon, Stephen’s career included serving as an active-duty Air Force military officer, and he has held civilian positions in the Intelligence Community and on Capitol Hill with the House Armed Services Committee.
Stephen Kitay
Dave Logan is the vice president and general manager of the C4ISR Systems business area of BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector. C4ISR Systems provides advanced mission-enabling applications spanning the depths of the oceans to the outer reaches of space. Its industry-leading Communication, Navigation, and Identification systems portfolio encompasses over 50 platforms serving more than 60 countries. As the premier provider of radiation hardened electronics, C4ISR products support over 300 satellites in orbit today with customers that include NASA, DoD, the intelligence community, and commercial ventures. Its proven autonomy and all-source data fusion/analytics capabilities exploit control theory and machine learning/AI to provide unrivaled warfighter advantage. With 30 years of aerospace and defense experience, Mr. Logan’s diverse experience ranges from small startup companies to large aerospace and defense organizations with multi-billion dollar P&Ls. He has served on for-profit boards. He has a proven track record in translating advanced technology and mission understanding into products that provide warfighter advantage while enabling enduring, profitable business growth. He has participated in a broad range of leadership programs with formal connections to Wharton, Oxford, and INSEAD and experiential learning modules in the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, and South Korea. He earned his master's degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.
David A. Logan
Chris Long is Vice President and General Manager of Space and Intelligence Systems for General Dynamics Mission Systems. In this role, utilizing his extensive experience in engineering, program execution and business development, Mr. Long will lead and build high-performing teams focused on providing end-to-end solutions. Mr. Long’s space career spans 25 years and he was previously with Motorola and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, now known collectively as General Dynamics Mission Systems. Before returning to General Dynamics, Long worked for Northrop Grumman (NG) and NG heritage companies in the space sector, leading programs with customers such as the National Reconnaissance Office and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Mr. Long has been a member of the Leadership Innovation and Entrepreneur Program (LEIP) in Palo Alto, California for the last seven years; and has published multiple technical papers related to space communications systems. He is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, AFCEA, NDIA, Old Crows and IEEE. Mr. Long holds a MBA in High Technology from the W.P. Carey Business School, Arizona
Chris Long
General Lester Lyles provides unparalleled leadership and experience in National Security Space to NSSA's Board of Directors. Prior to retiring from the Air Force in October 2003 after a 35 year career, General Lyles served as Commander of Air Force Materiel Command, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Commander of Space and Missile Systems Center, and Commander of Ogden Air Logistics Center. General Lyles has chaired or served on several councils related to the U.S. space program, including the Augustine Space Committee. Currently, General Lyles is the Chair of the NASA Advisory Council and serves on the National Space Council Users' Advisory Group. Having previously served on NSSA's Board of Advisors, General Lyles brings extensive knowledge of the organization and the National Security Space community to this position.
General Lester L. Lyles
Dan Piemont brings the perspective of a venture-backed space startup founder to NSSA. Dan serves as the Chief Financial Officer of ABL Space Systems, which he co-founded in 2017 to develop low-cost resilient space launch systems to serve the national security space community. In his role as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Piemont directs ABL’s corporate strategy, business development, government relations, and business operations. Mr. Piemont also oversees ABL’s portfolio of space resiliency initiatives, including activities supporting the Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, and AFWERX program. Mr. Piemont previously held several positions in the venture capital and investment banking industries.
Dan Piemont
As VP of government affairs and advocacy for SAIC's National Security and Civilian Markets groups, Lee works on behalf of key programs, pursuits, and policies involving the U.S. intelligence community, Air Force, Unified Combatant Command, NASA, and Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration). A veteran of the Air Force, he has more than 25 years of experience and holds a master of science in strategic intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College. Mr. Rizzo's vast knowledge and experience helps NSSA reach new heights.
Lee Rizzo
Jen Splaingard is the Vice President of Programs responsible for leading the National Security Solutions in the Transportation sector of Sierra Space. She brings 20 years of engineering and program management experience with a record of success leading large technical teams in manufacturing and aerospace from development to production. The majority of her career was dedicated to the defense sector of The Boeing Company having worked on military airplane programs to include F/A-18, EA-18G, F-15, QF-16 and multiple Phantom Works programs. Over the years Jen held technical leadership positions with increasing responsibility across many disciplines to include low observables, cyber security, C4ISR and systems engineering. In recent positions she transitioned to program management leading a proprietary start-up program and then the F/A-18 & EA-18G programs. In these roles she worked closely with DoD customers, suppliers and technical teams to shape and deliver critical warfighting capability. Jen is a passionate leader who looks to inspire and motivate teams by demonstrating courage, compassion and competence. Jen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering both from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and an Executive MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.
