Mojave Air and Space Port — The man who built a former Marine Corps Air Station into the nation’s first FAA-certified commercial spaceport is retiring, and the search is on to find a replacement.

Stuart O. Witt, a former Navy Top Gun pilot, test pilot, and [...]]]> Mojave Air & Space Port Seeking New CEO

 Mojave Air and Space Port — The man who built a former Marine Corps Air Station into the nation’s first FAA-certified commercial spaceport is retiring, and the search is on to find a replacement.

Stuart O. Witt, a former Navy Top Gun pilot, test pilot, and businessman, has informed directors of the Mojave Air and Space Port (MASP) that he plans to leave at the beginning of next year at the conclusion of 14 years leading the busy commercial spaceport.

Dr. Allen Peterson, board president of MASP, a California special district, announced that applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer will be accepted from May 1 until midnight July 1.

“We’re aiming for the new CEO to begin work here between December 1 and January 4^th,” Peterson said. Interviews will be conducted in late Summer and Fall of 2015.

“Highly qualified and highly motivated applicants” are being sought for the position, which oversees a facility that hosts 70 firms, many of them actively involved in developing a new generation of commercial space vehicles.

“This position requires a blend of business acumen, public policy development, and test operations experience” the announcement notes.

During his tenure at the airport/spaceport, Witt has overseen a facility that hosts more rocket engine tests than any other place on the planet, where SpaceShipOne won the Ansari x-Prize, where the largest airplane ever built is under construction, and which has been called “The modern day Kitty Hawk.”

Witt has worked closely at every level of government and industry to help develop the emerging commercial space industry and has shared his experience and knowledge around the world.

On January 12, 2015 •

Happy New Year! Once again, it is my pleasure to provide an update on our 2014 goal achievement and lay out our vision for 2015. This past year has been extremely busy at Mojave Air & Space Port. While we witnessed many successes we also [...]]]> New Year’s Greeting 2015

On January 12, 2015 •

Happy New Year! Once again, it is my pleasure to provide an update on our 2014 goal achievement and lay out our vision for 2015. This past year has been extremely busy at Mojave Air & Space Port. While we witnessed many successes we also came to grips with losing three members of our flight test family. In retrospect, regardless of how we view any success in 2014 the reality of the events of 24 and 31 October will live with us forever. As we move into 2015, we must constantly realize that the work we perform is essential for the continued mobility of the traveling world but the cost associated with our achievement is often high and deeply personal.
In February 2014, the AVBoT held their annual outlook conference in Mojave. This was a first and noteworthy event for us. The event was highlighted by a charged and emotional speech by Captain Mark Kelly USN/ NASA Astronaut. We hosted nearly 1200 guests to our event center and took full advantage to show off our economic growth and achievement.
As I stated in 2014, “Bolting together infrastructure to support tomorrow’s industry needs has proven to be our strongest asset in Mojave.” For 12 years we have planned and developed building sites for aircraft and space related projects and all have proven wise. We have facilitated construction of major facilities and are seeing outside vendors invest millions of dollars in renovation of existing facilities since our internal investment program began in 2002. In 2015 we expect to expand our rail yard for offloading and loading product from our region along with continuing to support the wind energy industry and on-site aerospace industry. Our investment in moving water, power and fiber to the north side of the airport has proven very sound as connections continue to be installed by SoCal Edison and our tenants in the rocket testing industry and aircraft demolition industry. Right here in Mojave, at nearly the same location, we see old outdated craft being recycled and new craft being developed to meet the emerging needs of our ambitions in aero and space. It is truly amazing.
On the airport side of our operation we have seen significant growth in military aircraft activity. Everyone at the airport enjoys seeing military aircraft in our pattern and operating from our ramp. We get to see these young aviators, first hand, operating their magnificent flying machines.
Mojave Air & Space Port’s participation in the future continues to build on our 2014 accomplishments. Masten Space Systems continued to demonstrate extraordinary precision flying their tethered and free powered flights. XCOR continued to demonstrate engine advances along with construction of their Lynx Sub-Orbital vehicle. Inter-Orbital conducted a free flight from the amateur testing site near Koehn Lake and we expect expanding ground and flight testing from each firm in 2015. Scaled Composites demonstrated numerous glide and two powered flights of SS2 and numerous tests of WhiteKnightTwo before losing the SS2 on 31 Oct. ASB Avionics continues to surprise and motivate us with their achievements especially with the B747SP on their ramp with a new glass cockpit all designed and installed in Mojave. DARPA’s new Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) initiative awarded three contracts, which include a number of Mojave companies, to create a new model for affordable space operations:
• Masten Space Systems (working with XCOR Aerospace)
• Northrop Grumman Corporation (working with Virgin Galactic)
• The Boeing Company (working with Blue Origin, LLC
In addition, NASA has also recognized the capabilities of Masten Space Systems and Virgin Galactic by awarding contracts to integrate and fly technology payloads on commercial suborbital reusable platforms.

Some highlights of 2014 that may have missed your RADAR screen:
• National Test Pilot School hosted their second Flight Test Camp for regional high school students.
• Commercial Aircraft Services expanded their operations with new equipment required to enhance recycling commercial aircraft.
• Incotec installed a new water system to facilitate facility growth in 2015.
• MASP completed and closed out three FAA grant projects enhancing taxiways and runways.
• MASP completed construction of a new water storage and delivery management system.
• MASP completed remodeling and painting of six airport facilities.
MASP initiated and is completing a multi-year financial audit.
In early 2015 we will develop a District strategic plan identifying many short and long term objectives. A road improvement plan will be developed and we will continue to aggressively upgrade and maintain our runways, taxiways, navigation, communication and lighting systems.

Very Respectfully,
Stuart O. Witt

Interested persons are hereby notified that there is a vacancy on the Mojave Air and Space Port Board of Directors. Once appointed, the new Board member will serve from the time of the appointment until the next General Election in November 2016. [...]]]> NOTICE OF VACANCY
MOJAVE AIR AND SPACE PORT
DECEMBER 5, 2014

Interested persons are hereby notified that there is a vacancy on the Mojave Air and Space Port Board of Directors. Once appointed, the new Board member will serve from the time of the appointment until the next General Election in November 2016.

Interested persons who are registered to vote within the District are requested to submit a letter of intent and resume via e-mail to debbie@mojaveairport.com or mail to the following:

Mojave Air and Space Port
ATTN: Deborah Roth, Executive Assistant
1434 Flightline
Mojave, CA 93501

The deadline for receiving letters of interest is December 22nd at 4:30 p.m. All potential candidates will have an opportunity to address the Board at the regularly scheduled meeting of January 6, 2015.

It is anticipated that the Board of Directors will make the actual appointment at the January 20, 2015 Board of Directors meeting.

Please contact Debbie Roth at 661-824-2433 for inquiries.

Mojave, California (03.12.14)

The CEO of the Mojave Air and Space Port (MASP) announced today that the independent auditors of Lance, Soll and Lunghard, have completed an initial investigation and report that the District remains financially viable and solvent following a special examination of the District’s finances. The special examination was prompted [...]]]> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mojave, California (03.12.14)

The CEO of the Mojave Air and Space Port (MASP) announced today that the independent auditors of Lance, Soll and Lunghard, have completed an initial investigation and report that the District remains financially viable and solvent following a special examination of the District’s finances. The special examination was prompted by the unexpected resignation of the MASP CFO the day prior to a planned audit of the District. Upon learning of the CFO’s resignation the District Board President in conjunction with the CEO tasked the firm of Lance, Soll and Lunghard to complete the special examination as soon as possible and provide the feedback to the MASP Board and senior management. The District has also engaged an outside expert, a former public sector CPA, who will be temporarily directing the MASP accounting office staff in the wake of the CFO’s departure. The Board of Directors Chairman, District Counsel, KCSO, and Kern County District Attorney’s office are briefed daily as discovery surrounding the situation continues.

As District financials are being validated, bank statements reconciled, and aging reports confirmed against our 155 tenant contracts, it is likely that monthly financial reports may be delayed. As the teams finish their work over the next several months, we will be making regular financial reports, which the public has come to expect from the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Stratolaunch, the Paul G. Allen company that announced they would be breaking ground in Mojave in December of 2011, actually moved into their 88,000 square foot low bay a month ahead of schedule. They plan to complete their high bay, to produce the largest airplane ever built, here [...]]]> It’s been an amazing year at Mojave.

Stratolaunch, the Paul G. Allen company that announced they would be breaking ground in Mojave in December of 2011, actually moved into their 88,000 square foot low bay a month ahead of schedule. They plan to complete their high bay, to produce the largest airplane ever built, here in Mojave, and they plan to be in that ahead of schedule in February of 2013. I understand there’s already 80 people working full time in the low bay. That is a new build out on 19 acres in Mojave.

The rocket companies had some amazing accomplishments. Masten Space Systems with Xaero and Xombie conducted a number of tethered flights, untethered free flights. It was just fascinating in the skies to see them demonstrating precision take off, navigation and landing of various family of landers, even in very strong cross winds up to as much as 40 knots.

On the unmanned air systems or optionally piloted aircraft front, this year we had two firsts: Firebird from Northrop Grumman was the second generation from the “Old School” design at Scaled Composites. Northrop flew the second gen of that on its first flight last month, which opened up a whole new family of unmanned air systems under an optionally piloted vehicle certificate of authorization from the FAA. This is a big deal. This just adds to our 60-year history in unmanned air systems in Mojave, with a whole new family, looking well into the future.

On the rocket front, we continue to have numerous tests every day. I mean we’ve had as many as nine this year, nine in one day, rocket tests. A whole host of companies. And now companies are coming from around the states to Mojave, just to test, to piggyback on existing test sites. We had Interorbital, we had Masten Space Systems, we had AMPT from Colorado, Whittinghill Aerospace, Virgin, Scaled.

Add that to the number of glide flights of Virgin Galactic, nearing the powered flight phase of SpaceShipTwo, WhiteKnightTwo. You see the development at XCOR of their new family of suborbital craft. It’s just been a wild ride this year in Mojave on the aviation front.

Firestar Engineering is another remarkable young company that came to Mojave to find a house to develop and test new green rocket motor technologies and components.

This year Incotec celebrated in October their 20th anniversary. The same month they produced their billionth aircraft fastener. That’s remarkable. A small company that came to town as a supplier to an emerging industry is now the leading supplier of fasteners for composite to metal structures in commercial airplanes. It’s a classic outcome of what’s possible when you create an environment for entrepreneurs.

From the airport side, creating this infrastructure where the innovators can find a home to innovate, to test and develop, takes some thought to try to be out in front.

We first have to assess what do our tenants need? Not only what do they need today, but what can we anticipate that they will be needing at the end of the year. And we build to it.

These people expect and demand access to data. Very high speed, high volume data. This year we completed airport-wide fiber installation. We now connected that fiber with One Wilshire in Los Angeles. We have direct access to the largest pipe in the nation for data.

Now that fiber is being extended to the rocket test sites, where these companies can watch testing from anywhere in the world at very high data rates. We believe this is one of the biggest attractants we’ve been able to provide the new tenants in Mojave.

Also, just basic infrastructure, water, power, sewer, improving our runways, taxiways, making building sites available, enhancing our environmental assessments preparing us for our next licensing phase with the FAA. All of these activities were going on concurrently in 2012.

We are completely tearing up and completely rebuilding a brand new runway, called 4-22, as a crosswind runway, extending its length and lighting it. This is a great enhancement to the airport, for both general aviation and potential returning space vehicles.

We are constantly trying to position the airport where the business is going, not where it is today.

Each year we are amazed at the revenue we receive from the rail industry. This last year we actually invested even deeper in our rail yard. It’s amazing now what comes in by rail. I believe in the future, resin will come into this airport in tanker cars and spaceships will go out the other side. I think the production line is starting to show signs that people understand that we have a rail yard. It supports the wind industry currently, the auto industry, specialty freight shipments of all kinds, and I believe shortly it will be supporting the aerospace industry.

On the facilities side, we had a requirement from the tenants a couple of years ago, to build out an event center. There was no place in the Mojave area where the tenants could hold an all-hands meeting. They had grown to the point where they didn’t have their own facilities big enough for everybody to get in one room and have a get-together.

We started working with the community organizers in town concerned with the revitalization of Mojave and determined that this community really does need a community center for events, not just for the airport but for everyone. So my board invested in a joint-use facility, for performing arts, aerospace events, lectures, training, you name it. That is our Building 137. My board allocated $600,000 this year to complete that project. We believe we’re going to have that building ready for its first event in the April time frame of 2013.

Along that line, every third Saturday of every month there’s an event hosted by locals in the community called Plane Crazy. And it’s an opportunity for people who own vintage airplanes to put them on display. So that event has grown, and it’s become a gathering point for aviation enthusiasts, anybody, kids, anybody who wants to come out and see cool airplanes.

One of the most successful Plane Crazy Saturdays this last year was on a day when Scaled Composites held an open house and a job fair. They parked all of their really cool airplanes – specialty flight test and flight research airplanes – on the ramp, and 4,000 people attended. College grads from across the nation piled into cars and drove to Mojave to put their resumés on file with these forward-leaning aerospace firms. It was an amazing day.

Another event we hosted this year was for the Office of Commercial Space Transportation with the FAA on an emergency preparedness workshop for the commercial space industry.

From my perspective we’ve developed a number of lessons learned in Mojave over the last 11 years. We have actually designed and built purpose-built response vehicles for composite aircraft and rocket-powered aircraft. We have a procedure every day looking at all of the events for tomorrow, and ensuring that the various response vehicles are staffed and loaded with the right agents if they’re needed.

So we put on a workshop with best practices and emergency response preparedness on how we handle explosives, how we handle hazardous materials, how we conduct air quality surveys, and how we give people permission to do very risky things. It was very well-received by everyone, the government and the industry.

We added a new staff member this year, which exponentially broadened our reach into industry and academia, through Karina Drees, an MIT Sloan fellow and an aerospace professional, who is making a remarkable difference in our ability to reach out to tomorrow’s work force. We look for very big things in 2013 from Karina.

Another thing we’ve learned at Mojave is that policy matters. Words matter. When policy makers say something, whether it be in Sacramento or other state capitals or at the federal level, people listen. And it has a profound impact on the future. To that end, we sponsored Assembly Bill 2243 carried by now-Senator Steve Knight, which made its way through both the lower and upper house in Sacramento, both judiciary committees without a single No vote. In California, in this economy, about aerospace.

Something rather remarkable happened on September 21st over California. It was a touching moment to see the last flight of Endeavour coming down the runways at Mojave, and to look left and right at literally the thousands of people who drove here to just be a part of it. Millions of people came out of their doors and their offices that day to catch a glimpse of Endeavour, a symbol of American ingenuity.

Something else happened that day. Governor Brown held a small press conference on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento to announce the signing of Assembly Bill 2243 as Endeavour flew over Sacramento. I applaud the Governor for his signature, and for taking a stand to keep business in California in this emerging new industry.

This next year we intend to seek minor amendments to 2243 which will increase our ability to retain this industry in California, and again be a nationwide leader in shaping policy, which is going to be needed to foster this industry nationwide and be a leader around the world.

We are also looking at policy on revamping law that was signed by President Johnson in 1968, shaping the International Trade in Arms Regulations, which regulates rocketry. We believe the new commercial space industry are not designing weapons but are designing vehicles to haul products and people to space, and they should not be regulated under the arms treaties, but under the Commerce Clause. And so we’re seeking legislation at the federal level this year that will help the entire industry.

A number of years ago a very small group of us got together and founded what was then the Personal Spaceflight Federation. We believed that there would come a time in the very near future when we would need a standards-based organization and a consensus organization that would represent this industry. That industry has now grown. This year you saw SpaceX launch a privately built vehicle, built in Los Angeles, to the International Space Station two times, and take cargo and return cargo back to Earth. That is something very new. That company SpaceX is one of the founding members of the CSF.

This year it was a very high honor of mine to be elected as Chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation Board of Directors.

I’m excited by the year 2013. I can see real events happening next year that will capture the imagination of tomorrow’s work force. They will be occurring at a number of sites around the nation, but specifically here at Mojave.

We have three tenants that fully expect to be in powered flight in rocketry. We have two tenants who expect to be in the optionally piloted vehicle arena this next year. Those are big deals.

We have considerable interest from two different companies for new facilities on Taxiway B, and we are in design phase right now for those facilities. I think at this time next year you’ll be excited to hear about the accomplishments on Taxiway B.

The biggest thing that we can focus on from my desk in 2013 is ensuring that we continue to give this industry permission. Permission to develop, to design, to test, to succeed or fail. America and the world desperately needs Mojave.

Stuart O. Witt, CEO
Mojave Air & Space Port

In the skies over Mojave airport the first private enterprise space ship showed the world that a small, talented team could put a man into space.

Amazing things happen here. (Carl Ingram, Mojave [...]]]> On the western edge of the Mojave desert in Kern County, California, there is a place like nowhere else on Earth.

In the skies over Mojave airport the first private enterprise space ship showed the world that a small, talented team could put a man into space.

Amazing things happen here. (Carl Ingram, Mojave Tower)

It’s really an entrepreneurial go-getting kind of place. One of the nice things is, you taxi out in the morning and there’s guys flying space ships, small aircraft, homebuilt aircraft. (Nigel Speedy, National Test Pilot School)

I fly WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. ( David Mackay, Virgin Galactic)

I built it right here in this hangar. (Ralph Wise, Gt Aero)

I’m in Mojave because number 1, I work at Scaled Composites, and number 2, it’s the epicenter of homebuilt aircraft, with Burt Rutan, obviously, the history there. (Justin Gillen, Scaled Composites)

There’s not a better place anyplace to do what we love to do most. And that is, have an idea, have the ability to go out in a shop like this and actually build it, and then find some trusting soul to get in it and see if it flies. (Dick Rutan)

It’s not of interest to the people who hang out at Mojave if you can’t build it. (Elliot Seguin, Scaled Composites)

I’m on the board here at Mojave Makers and I just love making stuff. (Matthew Wright, Scaled Composites & Mojave Makers)

There really are just tons and tons of cool weird things being built here. (Scott Nietfeld, Masten Space Systems & Mojave Makers)

Mojave is very unassuming. This is the kind of place where you would never know the types of activities that are going on here actually happen. (Karina Drees, Mojave Air & Space Port)

Space has been my passion since I was really little. Here I found a way to do that and I get to build the thing that’s taking me there. (Jeremy Voigt, XCOR Aerospace)

We are Wasabi Air Racing. (Jennifer Whaley, Scaled Composites & Wasabi Air Racing)

We got involved in air racing because it’s a fantastic challenge. As engineers, as pilots and as builders. (Elliot Seguin, Wasabi Air Racing)

This is the Mecca of aviation right here. (Melissa Vannoy, Virgin Galactic)

The National Test Pilot School is the preeminent civilian flight test training center in the world.

Flight test is going out and evaluating either an aircraft or an aviation system to determine whether it’s safe and whether it meets certain requirements. (Dr. Allen Peterson, National Test Pilot School)

Mojave is just a naturally good place for flight test. (Wes Persall, Virgin Galactic)

In the first place, you’re in the middle of nowhere. Being out in the middle of nowhere gives you enormous freedoms to take risks. (Stuart Witt, Mojave Air & Space Port)

It’s wide open. (Melissa Vannoy)

What we’re working on is new rocket propellants and new thrusters. And whenever you develop something new it’s a challenge. And there are successes and failures and you learn from both. You want to be somewhere where you can test. Mojave provides that. (Suparna Mukherjee, Firestar Technologies)

The companies operating out here are incredibly innovative. We encourage these companies to challenge on a daily basis. (Karina Drees)

It’s one of the few places in the world where we can freely test our rockets. (David Masten, Masten Space Systems)

We go out and we test three, four, five days a week. (Alexander Hreiz, Masten Space Systems)

Mojave is a great place because it allows us the freedom to do this, as well as the space. (Khaki Rodway, XCOR Aerospace)

Don’t be afraid to fail. You learn more through failure than you do from success. Every single time. (Dick Rutan)

The folks at the spaceport want to help you. They’re not here to impede you. (Greg Peters, Firestar Technologies)

It’s always easy to say no. If you say yes, you have to be willing to back it up and actually do something that is business-friendly. So our job is getting to Yes. (Stuart Witt)

Stu’s there when you need him. Something goes wrong or you need some help here on the airfield, you pick up the phone and you call Stu, and he usually can solve your problem in a very short period of time, or will turn you on to somebody who can help solve your problem. (Dr. Allen Peterson)

The airport operators understand what our mission is. They understand that what we do is experimental in nature. (Wes Persall)

My job is to give people permission. Every day in the skies over Mojave and on the ground at Mojave Air & Space Port, people take enormous risks, which someday will yield great things for all humanity. (Stuart Witt)

We have the freedom to do a lot of those crazy things that people wouldn’t allow you to do at a normal airport. (Wes Persall)

We’ve got years of infrastructure. This is what we do out here. We’re standing out on our Taxiway B, it’s kind of our Taxiway of Dreams. (Kevin Wojtkiewicz, Mojave Air & Space Port)

I’m currently working on the Stratolaunch program, which is building a huge hangar down the flightline there, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. (Matthew Wright)

Mojave’s a really unique place if you look at what’s being developed here. It’s a proven incubator for innovative design. (Enrico Palermo, Virgin Galactic)

It has a whole huge quotient of freedom and flexibility. And if you have some clever and innovative people who like to do neat things and you put them in an environment of almost total freedom and flexibility, what comes out of that is incredible. Those people may even build an airplane to fly around the world. Or maybe even fly one that would go into space. Who knows what’s going to happen? (Dick Rutan)

There is no place like this anywhere on the Earth. (Jon Turnipseed, Virgin Galactic)

It’s a pioneer spirit. (Khaki Rodway)

It’s frontier land. (David Mackay)

Making the impossible happen (Wes Persall)

Kind of a Right Stuff atmosphere (Jeremy Voigt)

Pretty much can-do and entrepreneurial type of place (Dr. Allen Peterson)

The Mojave spirit – it’s pioneering (Greg Peters)

Imagination and creativity and there’s no limit (Andrew Bingham, Firestar Technologies)

It’s a group of people coming out here to get things done, very hands-on and we’re trying to make the commercial space thing really happen. (Travis O’Neal, Masten Space Systems)

There’s a spirit of innovation here and it’s been here for a long time. I think that’s why companies come here and why you continue to see new companies coming here and trying out new ideas. (Suparna Mukherjee)

With true freedom and flexibility – what you can accomplish is only limited by what you can dream. Incredible what can happen. Hey wait a minute – it did happen, right here. Cool. (Dick Rutan)

Mojave Air & Space Port 2012
East Kern Airport District
Mojave, California

Producer, Writer – Robin Snelson
Director, Cinematographer, Editor – Christopher Angel
Original music – Myles A. Young
Aerial photography – Kenneth Brown

With grateful acknowledgement for video provided by amazing people and companies at Mojave Air & Space Port

Dick Rutan
Firestar Technologies
Masten Space Systems
Mojave Aerospace Ventures
National Test Pilot School
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Scaled Composites
Stratolaunch Systems, A Paul G. Allen Project
Virgin Galactic
Wasabi Air Racing
XCOR Aerospace

Residents of Mojave and [...]]]> Mojave, CA – Citizens all across the state of California witnessed the breathtaking flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour today with low flybys over Palmdale, Lancaster, Mojave, Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Endeavour’s final resting place will be the California Science Center for permanent display next month.

Residents of Mojave and employees at the Mojave Air & Space Port enjoyed spectacular views of the shuttle as it flew over runway 26 at approximately 8:45 Friday morning. Mojave Air & Space Port Chief Operating Officer Kevin Wojtkiewicz stated, “we feel honored to have made the flyby schedule of Endeavour. We had a wonderful crowd on the flight line to witness this historic occasion and it was such an incredible sight.”

While today might mark the end of an era with the final flight of the space shuttle, it marks the beginning of another for the state of California with the signing of Assembly Bill 2243. This legislation limits liability for space-flight companies and was signed today by Governor Brown. Mojave Air & Space Port CEO Stuart Witt commented, “The entire Commercial Space Industry wishes to acknowledge and thank Assemblyman Knight and Senator Fuller for their steadfast leadership in sponsoring this required legislation. We also wish to thank the many members of the Assembly, Senate, local government and Federal Supporters together with Governor Brown for crafting meaningful policy, which is required by the job creators of tomorrow in our exciting new industry. This is a very big step forward and we couldn’t be more pleased at the outcome.”

Washington, D.C. – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation has elected Stuart O. Witt as the next Chairman. Witt was nominated and elected by CSF’s Executive Board of Directors, whose members span the industry. Witt succeeds Eric Anderson, who has completed his appointed [...]]]> The Commercial Spaceflight Federation Elects
Stuart O. Witt as Chairman

Washington, D.C. – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation has elected Stuart O. Witt as the next Chairman. Witt was nominated and elected by CSF’s Executive Board of Directors, whose members span the industry. Witt succeeds Eric Anderson, who has completed his appointed term. Anderson will continue to serve as a CSF Officer and member of the Board.

Witt, one of CSF’s founders, is the CEO of the Mojave Air & Space Port, which was designated as the nation’s first inland spaceport and is the birthplace of our nation’s commercial space endeavors. Mojave is home to Scaled Composite’s SpaceShipOne, which won the $10M Ansari XPRIZE in 2004.

Witt and his team’s tireless efforts have earned him commendations from California’s former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as the California State Assembly and Senate, Kern County’s Board of Supervisors, and U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy.

Witt’s predecessor Eric Anderson stated, “Stuart will be invaluable to CSF as Chairman during this crucial time for the commercial spaceflight industry. As the pace of test flights increases, Stuart will provide essential leadership to the industry with his extensive career as a Naval Aviator, engineering test pilot, and business executive. He is an excellent selection as Chairman for the CSF and I have no doubt the organization will continue to effectively champion the commercial spaceflight industry under his guidance.”

CSF President Michael Lopez-Alegria said, “I am thrilled to welcome Mr. Witt as CSF’s Chairman. The rare combination of his experience as an operational aviator and test pilot with his proven business acumen will serve the industry well. After operating the Mojave Air & Space Port for the past 10 years, Mr. Witt has written the book on how to effectively operate a commercial spaceport. The CSF is indebted to Eric Anderson for his assiduous leadership during his tenure, and I’m comforted to know that he will continue to be a key advisor in his role as an Officer of the Board.”

“I am extremely honored to have been chosen to be the next Chairman of the CSF. As an organization of industry leaders, the Commercial Spaceflight Federation will play a crucial role in the burgeoning commercial space industry as companies begin powered flight testing, and flying passengers and payloads to space,” Witt said. “This industry has an incredible potential to create cutting-edge technology, provide safe and routine access to space from U.S. soil, and bring high-tech jobs to the American people. The CSF has made great strides recently due to the steadfast leadership of Eric Anderson, who has taken the organization to a new level. I look forward to working with the CSF President, Executive Board, and members to further the industry’s initiatives.”

The CSF’s Executive Board also elected Rob Meyerson, President and Program Manager of Blue Origin to serve as an Officer. Meyerson replaces Jeff Greason, President and co-founder of XCOR Aerospace, who has completed his term.

About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation

The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation’s member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Assistant Director Sirisha Bandla at sirisha@commercialspaceflight.org or at 202.349.1120.

MOJAVE, California (May 15, 2012) Mojave Air & Space Port, the world’s premiere civilian flight test center, announced the appointment of Karina Drees to Director of Business Development. In the newly formed role, Drees will provide strategic direction for economic development and marketing initiatives, while working on tenant expansion and retention.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MOJAVE, California (May 15, 2012) Mojave Air & Space Port, the world’s premiere civilian flight test center, announced the appointment of Karina Drees to Director of Business Development. In the newly formed role, Drees will provide strategic direction for economic development and marketing initiatives, while working on tenant expansion and retention.

Drees brings more than 12 years of experience in strategy and business development. She has held management positions for growing technology companies ranging in size from startups to large public companies. Most recently, she was a member of the strategy and positioning team for SRA International, a large defense contractor in Fairfax, VA.

“Karina will be a great addition to the our leadership team,” said Stuart Witt, CEO. “She is an accomplished business development executive with a genuine passion for the unique activities that go on here in Mojave. She will be a strong asset as we expand our aerospace business.”

Drees has a BS from Arizona State University and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, where she ran the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition. Following MIT, Drees attended the International Space University’s Summer Session Program in Beijing, China. She is a board member of the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition and a judge for the MIT Global Challenge. In addition to her entrepreneurial activities, Drees serves as an SBIR proposal reviewer and panelist for the National Science Foundation.

In 2007, Witt and Drees collaborated to develop an “access to space” action plan for commercial operations of the next generation of space transportation vehicles from Mojave.

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About Mojave Air & Space Port

The world’s premiere civilian flight test center is operated by the East Kern Airport District. Strategically located 90 miles north of Los Angeles in Kern County, California, America’s first inland spaceport is home to a growing number of companies engaged in aerospace and high technology research and development.