Cara Sindir
Chief Operating Officer, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense
After spending a decade working for Airbus abroad, Cara Sindir came home in 2019 to launch the revamped U.S. Space & Defense company, merging European technologies with the highest American security requirements to benefit the U.S. warfighter.
Sindir’s biggest recent achievement is recruiting a talented team to work with her. She has navigated through the post-COVID workplace realities with a team of geographically dispersed and largely remote workers.
“Cara has been an incredible asset in the growth and development not only of her operations team, but for Airbus U.S. Space & Defense as a whole,” said Robert Geckle, chairman and CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. “As she shepherds the company through the execution of critical contracts, she does so with honesty and agility. Cara is a sterling example of an efficient, effective leadership style and I am proud to have her on my executive team.”
Sindir is proud to take a leadership role in building the “workplace of the future,” which to her means increased flexibility and opportunities for employees to realize their full potential in the workplace, regardless of their personal constraints.
“It’s a challenging environment as a manager because we are realizing there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to work, as many people need the structure and interaction of the in-person environment while others thrive in independent settings,” she said. “Striking the right balance to foster success for all can be challenging and it’s one of my top priorities.”
Why Watch
In 2023, Sindir and her team are heavily focused on the rapid growth in Airbus’ Space line of business. Airbus U.S. Space & Defense designed a new satellite, the ARROW450, and they’ve experienced great interest in the new platform.
Overall, the entire Airbus U.S. Space & Defense team is focused on growth. Whether building new satellites or launching a new optical communications terminal subsidiary company, they aim to bring European technology to America and build the highest-quality products to solve the nation’s toughest challenges.
“I love being part of a team that creates opportunities for people of many different backgrounds to succeed,” Sindir said. “One of the benefits of coming from a multi-national corporate background is that I’ve been able to see first-hand how diversity truly makes a company stronger and more effective. Corporate America has come such a long way and I’m proud to help lead a team at Airbus U.S. that lives these values.”