Damian DiPippa
CEO, Auria
Damian DiPippa led Auria through a year of rapid growth, including three acquisitions that pushed the company further up the technology stack. The purchases of RKF Engineering, Kythera Space Solutions and BCubed Engineering positioned Auria as a stronger innovator and integrator of advanced command, control and communications capabilities for space and missile defense operations.
Under his leadership, Auria strengthened its role as a prime contractor for multiple U.S. Space Force programs. Through the Enterprise Management and Control program, or EM&C, his team is modernizing satellite communications with a secure, cloud-enabled, software-defined, interoperable architecture. Through the Joint Antenna Marketplace, or JAM, the team is developing an enterprise antenna-as-a-service capability that connects space operations centers with government and commercial antenna assets. The company also delivers digital satellite communications software and hardware supporting the MUOS Service Life Extension program.
Together, these milestones reflect Auria’s evolution into a mission-focused prime delivering integrated, software-defined, operationally resilient capabilities at scale.
“We deliver commercially available, government-proven C3 solutions that accelerate deployment and reduce lifecycle cost,” he said. “Our open architectures eliminate vendor lock, enhance interoperability and extend the relevance of existing platforms — enabling incremental modernization instead of costly rebuilds. By prioritizing integration over reinvention and enterprise interoperability over siloed solutions, Auria drives measurable efficiency gains while strengthening mission effectiveness.”
Why Watch
In 2026, DiPippa’s team is focused on accelerating Auria’s evolution as a premier innovator and integrator of advanced C3 solutions for space and missile defense missions. The team’s integrating newly acquired talent and capabilities with high-visibility programs to deliver fully integrated, software-defined, hardware-enabled systems that are mission-ready at scale. The focus is on operational resilience, secure cloud architectures, digital satellite communications modernization and enterprise interoperability in contested environments.
As the company completes integration of its expanded platform, Auria will compete for increasingly complex, high-profile government and commercial programs, operating not just as a services provider but as a technology-forward prime delivering end-to-end mission solutions. 2026, he said, is about scaling innovation, deepening integration and translating technical advantages into operational impact.
Auria is also aligned with the administration’s mandate to reduce costs, streamline operations and maximize existing government investments. The approach is disciplined: exploit what exists, leverage proven commercial capabilities and build only when mission gaps demand it.
“Being CEO of Auria is one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” DiPippa said. “By combining our talented workforce with a strong portfolio of software and hardware products, we strive to be a disciplined technology disruptor delivering C3 solutions across space operations, space domain awareness, SATCOM, and missile defense.”
Thomas Young, partner, Enlightenment Capital, said, “Damian has been instrumental in shaping Auria’s forward-looking strategy, leading disciplined M&A execution, and driving sustained growth through focused operational and market expansion initiatives.”
Fun fact: DiPippa and his wife are active vacationers who enjoy the outdoors. They have a goal to visit and hike every U.S. national park — and still have a long way to go.