SPACE SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS

Lauren Smith

Program Manager, Satellite Servicing
Northrop Grumman Tactical Space Systems

Lauren Smith is a program manager for the Satellite Servicing operating unit within the Tactical Space Systems division of Northrop Grumman Space Systems. In this role, Smith leads multiple programs that advance the future of on-orbit refueling.

Prior to Smith’s current position, she served as the operations manager for the Ground Enterprise Systems Operating Unit, responsible for supporting program execution, day-to-day operations, and strategic planning across a portfolio of 13 programs. She led the COVID-19 Case Response Team for the business unit and was chair of the company’s first-ever Systems and Software Engineering Symposium.

Smith has served in multiple, diverse air and space roles across her career at Northrop Grumman. She was the mechanical test engineering manager for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and also served on the JWST integration and test senior staff as the lead for non-explosive actuators and deployments. As a program manager in Resilience and Rapid Prototyping, NG Next, and Advanced Unmanned Systems, Smith has executed numerous programs and contributed to several strategic captures.

Previous to joining Northrop Grumman, Smith worked at NASA Glenn Research Center in the Simulated Lunar Operations Lab. She also conducted her thesis work at Glenn, specializing in mechanisms and robotics. This work contributed to being named one of Aviation Week’s Twenty20s.

Smith currently serves on both the Space Foundation and Case Alumni Association board of directors, as well as the industry advisory board for Case Western Reserve University’s mechanical and aerospace engineering department. She has held numerous leadership roles on the Space Generation Advisory Council, co-founded the nonprofit Caroline’s Project to send girls to STEM summer camps, and was recognized as a Future Space Leader Grant winner. Smith is an industry thought leader and frequent participant in panels, keynotes and interviews globally.

Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, and a minor in political science from Case Western Reserve University.


Related Sessions

New Generation Space Leaders: Leadership Exchange “Speed Mentoring”

Monday, April 8, 2024

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Track: