Ron Birk, principal director and lead of The Aerospace Corp.’s new Space Enterprise Evolution Directorate, has been appointed chair of WashingtonExec’s Space Council for 2023-2024.
Birk has 40 years of experience in program management, business development and strategic planning within aerospace systems development. At The Aerospace Corp., he focuses on developing emerging drivers for national priorities and strategic planning, as well as establishing strategic relationships with partners and customers.
During his career, Birk spent time developing programs and sensors to advance U.S. space capabilities.
As chair of the council, Birk will lead conversations on cutting-edge topics like space traffic management, space data transport, strengthening the security of U.S. space industrial base and more. Below, he also shares a bit about his professional experience in the space field, what it means to be council chair and the value of connecting industry executives with government officials.
Based on your extensive experience, what are some of the focus areas/hot topics you want to discuss with the council this coming year?
My intent is to focus on key areas for 2024 including cislunar ecosystems, space traffic management and space data transport, along with cross cutting capabilities enabled by in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing aligned with key objectives for the Space Council:
- Maintaining U.S. leadership in space.
- Fostering a policy and regulatory environment to enable a competitive and burgeoning U.S. commercial space sector.
- Protecting space-related critical infrastructure and strengthening security of U.S. space industrial base.
- Defending national security interests from growing scope and scale of space and counterspace threats.
How will your personal and career experience and expertise within the space community help lead the council in discussions on trending space-related topics?
Drawing on experience as principal director of space enterprise evolution directorate with the Civil Systems Group at The Aerospace Corporation, along with experience from roles serving as president of the American Astronautical Society and co-chair of the CONFERS Technical Working Group, my intent is to share benefits of broad-based perspectives across the space enterprise focused on the future.
What does it mean for you to be chairperson of this council?
Serving as chair of the council opens channels for growing and strengthening a network across professional societies, consortia, companies and government organizations aligning demand and supply for space capabilities in the national interest.
Do you feel there is great value in connecting industry executives with government officials to discuss topics facing the space community? If so, why?
There is great value in network industry executives and government officials to identify hard problems and challenges to solve as the space enterprise evolves. Looking forward to 2040 and beyond enables opportunities to plan for sustainable evolution of space capabilities. While there is only so much any one of us can do, together we can do so much more to advance U.S. space capabilities in the national interest.
Do you have any unique plans yet for the council?
Yes ⏤ plans for the council go beyond sharing information on emerging drivers associated with national space priorities and associated strategies and budgets, to recognizing collaboration across organizations to build and evolve sustainable LEO and cislunar ecosystems. This pivot from a legacy of “one and done” space missions to a future of ecosystems drives another level of engagement across the space enterprise.