SPACE SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS

Chris Adams

Chris Adams

Sector Vice President and General Manager, Strategic Space Systems Division
Northrop Grumman

Christopher Adams is the sector vice president and general manager of the Strategic Space Systems division (SSSD) within Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems sector. In this role, Chris has executive responsibility for the overall growth and performance of the division that provides strategic space solutions including national security, military and civil space end-to-end systems, protected and advanced mission communications, space science and exploration, space domain awareness, protection, resiliency, rapid prototyping, and directed energy.

Adams most recently led Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems Payload and Ground Systems division (PGSD) business portfolio, which includes a wide range of space technology and mission solutions for national security, defense, and civil space customers.

Previously, Adams served as vice president for the Advanced Responsive Integrated Systems (ARIS) business unit within SSSD and lead of the National Security Space (NSS) corporate campaign. Prior to that, he was chief engineer and director of systems engineering across a variety of programs and mission areas.

A 25-year company veteran, Adams has broad experience with program management, mission systems engineering, missile warning and missile defense, high energy lasers, and advanced concept development across multiple restricted mission areas.

Adams holds a master’s degree in aeronautics from Caltech and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He also holds an engineer’s degree in controls from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and has completed the Executive Program at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

Related Sessions

View from the Top: Insights from Space Industry Leaders

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

9:45 am - 10:45 am

Track: