The Aerospace Corp. has appointed Debra Emmons as vice president of special studies effective Nov. 6, and as chief technology officer effective Jan. 15.
Emmons is succeeding Dave Miller, who will be reentering academia in January after serving his 3-year term as CTO.
In her new roles, Emmons will drive corporate technical strategies and investments that anticipate the needs of customers. She will also oversee Aerospace’s Experiments Lab, its innovation laboratory, the company’s Engineering, Science & Technology Hubs and the Aerospace Technical Fellows program.
“Debra’s extensive technical knowledge and deep familiarity with our customers and the broader space community give her a unique perspective to shape Aerospace’s technology strategy during this dynamic time in space,” said Steve Isakowitz, Aerospace president and CEO.
Emmons joined The Aerospace Corp. in 2003 as a project engineer. She currently serves as general manager of the Communication Technologies and Engineering Division in the Engineering and Technology Group, and leads the corporation’s optical communications strategic initiative. Previously, she was assistant general manager in Aerospace’s Civil Systems Group.
“In this role, she will ensure Aerospace’s innovation efforts are well-aligned to deliver high-impact technologies with velocity to meet the needs of the nation’s space enterprise,” Isakowitz said.
Miller is returning to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Aerospace, he was the director of the Space Systems Laboratory and the Jerome C. Hunsaker Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT.
The organization also announced Senior Vice President Ed Swallow as chief financial officer, and he’ll succeed Dave Radzanowski, which will also take effect Nov. 6.