Ten years ago the term “small satellite” could have as easily been a term of judgment as much as it was a term to describe a then emerging market. Today we can no longer call the small satellite market small. Quite the opposite, today’s small satellites are an industry that is growing exponentially necessitating the need for sound business and financial practices. How much growth can come from small satellites and which segments and markets represent the greatest opportunities. What type/s of capacity and services will work. Importantly, how can small satellite companies stay relevant in increasingly competitive, but profitable markets. Top executives will elaborate on their current investments and development strategies in the present business environment.
Dr. Chris Boshuizen
Dr. Chris Boshuizen is an Operating Partner at DCVC (Data Collective) leading investment in space (Capella Space, Rocket Lab) and other deep tech companies. Chris was co-founder of Planet Labs, a DCVC company providing unprecedented daily, global mapping of our changing planet from space. As the company’s CTO for 5 years, he took the company from the drawing board to having launched more satellites into space than any other company in history, completely transforming the space industry along the way. Chris was previously a Space Mission Architect at NASA Ames Research Center. After working on a number of traditional spacecraft programs at NASA, Chris co-created Phonesat, a spacecraft built solely out of a regular smartphone. Chris received his Ph.D. in Physics (with honors) and a BSc. in Physics and Mathematics, both from the University of Sydney.
Tim Deaver
Tim Deaver, Director of US Space Systems at Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. (AIRBUS U.S.). He is responsible for managing all US Government space- related marketing, program capture, program management and customer liaison activities for AIRBUS U.S.
Prior to joining AIRBUS U.S., Mr. Deaver worked for SES and SES Government Solutions for over 10 years where he led the business and product development activities. Mr. Deaver led the SES GS team which won the USAF Space and Missile System Center (SMC)
Pathfinder 1 contract for the purchase of near-end of life transponders, SMC’sPathfinder 3 contract for prelaunched capacity on an SES satellite, the NASA Global-scale Observation of Limb and Disk (GOLD) hosted payload launched on SES-14 (built by Airbus Defense and Space) in 2018 and the FAA’s Wide- Area Augmentation System (WAAS) payload launched on SES-15 in 2017. Mr. Deaver also served as the program manager and eventually the Program Executive for the Commercially Hosted Infra-Red Payload (CHIRP) program which was launched in September 2011 aboard the SES-2 spacecraft.
Prior to joining SES, Mr. Deaver served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force in various space operational, acquisition and policy positions. Tim holds aBachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska, a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado and a Master’s Degree from Air University.
Melissa Farrell
Ms. Farrell is the Vice President of Commercial Programs at Stellar Solutions, responsible for developing and managing Stellar commercial sector business. Stellar provides expertise in technical expertise and project management to both New Space and legacy Space customers and stakeholders. Melissa has over 30 years of experience supporting multinational satellite programs in roles ranging from System Engineer to Program management, and currently provides due diligence, strategic assessment, program management, and technical consulting expertise for select projects supporting Space System Service providers and Manufacturers and the investment communities. She spent 5 years in the UK leading the start-up of Stellar’s international operation in the UK. Prior to joining Stellar in 1996, she worked for the inter-governmental organization Intelsat, and Hughes Space and Communications. Melissa holds a BS in Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, as well as a BA in Math and Physics, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley.
John Serafini
John is the Chief Executive Officer of HawkEye 360, a developer of space-based radio frequency (RF) mapping and analytics capabilities. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Allied Minds where he led the formation of and the investment into HawkEye 360, along with other Allied Minds companies such as BridgeSat, Federated Wireless, Optio Labs, Percipient Networks, and Whitewood Encryption Systems. John’s investment activities and management expertise center upon the intersection of profit-maximizing private capital and the unique requirements and R&D capabilities of the U.S. government.
A former Airborne Ranger-qualified U.S. Army infantry officer with duty stations at the 82d Airborne Division & UNCSB-JSA of the Korean DMZ, John holds a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and an MBA and MPA from Harvard University.
Janice Starzyk
Janice Starzyk is the Vice President of Commercial Space at Bryce Space and Technology. She heads the commercial practice to help government and commercial customers devise strategies and solve long-term problems using market analytics. Her extensive experience and contributions in the space industry include leading the commercial strategy and market intelligence for launch service providers United Launch Alliance and International Launch Services. Prior to this, Janice was a program manager and senior analyst at Futron Corporation working with a broad range of civil, military and commercial customers in the space industry. She has provided community leadership for more than a decade on the board of the Washington Space Business Roundtable. Janice holds a master’s of international relations and economics from Johns Hopkins, an MBA from Tulane and a bachelors of foreign service from Georgetown.
Dr. Marco Villa
Dr. Marco Villa grew up in Italy and developed an early passion for airplanes and spacecraft. After obtaining his private pilot license and serving in the Italian Parachutists Corp, Dr. Villa received his Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1999 from Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
Throughout his career, Dr. Villa has worked on some of the most advanced and cutting-edge programs in the industry, from technology demonstration satellites to leading commercial efforts, and he has developed a unique expertise that combines management, finance, and technical knowledge.
Following a brief stint as a structural analysis at Carlo Gavazzi Space in Milano, Italy, he moved to the United States and earned his Doctoral Degree in Aerospace Engineering in 2005 while also leading a small satellite development projects. Dr. Villa also earned his Master’s Degree in Engineering Management while working as a system engineer and project manager for Swales Aerospace and as a contractor for NASA and the Air Force. This period provided Dr. Villa with a broad understanding of spacecraft systems as he performed leading roles for many innovative small satellite and launch vehicle systems, including the Air Force sponsored TacSat 3 spacecraft and the Autonomous Flight Safety System.
In 2007, Dr. Villa joined Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), where he served as Director of Mission Operations, with direct responsibility over the definition and execution of the Dragon spacecraft’s mission to the International Space Station. Dr. Villa was integral in the effort to secure and execute $2.5B in contracts for ISS cargo resupply and crewed Dragon development programs while also supporting the sales and business development department. Before leaving SpaceX in 2013, Dr. Villa played an important role in the on-going effort to develop the crewed version of the Dragon capsule, with responsibilities ranging from the definition of the overall concept of operations to the establishment of the crew training methodology.
In 2010 Dr. Villa and Max Vozoff founded mv2space LLC, a Business Development, Strategy formulation and support services consultancy. Its clients include both start-ups and established companies in the government and commercial space domains, energy, automotive and digital media sectors.
With mv2space, Mr. Villa brings deep experience in strategy formulation and implementation, program management, and systems engineering, and has developed advanced financial modeling and analysis tools that, when customized for each client, form the basis for their business plans, strategies, and priorities.
Dr. Villa currently serves as the President and COO of Tyvak Nan-Satellite Systems Inc. His responsibilities span from day-to-day management of the company, to direct the company strategic efforts, to acquisition and execution of all nanosatellite opportunities for government, commercial and university customers both nationally and internationally.