Steven J. Isakowitz As Executive Vice President and Chief
Technology Officer
Former NASA, White House and
Department of Energy official Steven J. Isakowitz has been named as
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Virgin
Galactic, the company announced Thursday.
In his role, Isakowitz will have leadership responsibilities
across a range of areas as the company prepares to begin commercial
operation of its space vehicles. Specifically, he will lead
technical oversight of key programs, development and management of
new programs, government and industry business development,
government affairs, advanced technologies, and strategic
analysis.
Isakowitz has previously held a wide variety of engineering,
business, and management roles across the technology and government
sectors. He served in several senior positions at NASA, where
he received NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal, including the role
of Deputy Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems
Mission Directorate. At NASA, Isakowitz was responsible for helping
to set overall priorities, guiding the development of new
technologies and systems, and promoting innovative approaches such
as prizes and commercial space transportation. The author of
the well-known International Reference Guide to Space Launch
Systems, Isakowitz earned bachelors' and masters' degrees in
aerospace engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
Most recently, Isakowitz served as Chief Financial Officer of
the U.S. Department of Energy through two presidential
administrations, where he was responsible for determining
priorities and identifying high-payoff technologies in the
department's $26 billion annual budget. Previously, he served
as Branch Chief of Science and Space Programs at the White House
Office of Management and Budget, as an aerospace engineer and
project manager for space launch vehicles at Lockheed Martin
(formerly Martin Marietta), and as a senior consultant in the
commercial space division of consulting firm Booz Allen
Hamilton.
"Steve brings extensive experience in the areas of aerospace
engineering, management, and business strategy, and will be a
strong asset," said Virgin Galactic CEO and President, George
Whitesides (pictured). "Steve's joining the company is a testament
to Galactic's leading position in the commercial space industry,
and its potential for future growth."
"It is a deep honor and privilege to be appointed to this
position," said Isakowitz. "I could not be more excited about the
opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead as Virgin Galactic
moves toward commercial operations. I'm looking forward to
drawing on the aerospace sector experience I have gained over the
past three decades to help make Virgin Galactic a breakthrough
company as it opens up the commercial space frontier."