Ronald Birk
Principal Director, Space Enterprise Evolution
The Aerospace Corporation
- Ronald J. Birk has 41 years’ experience in management, business development, program management, and strategic planning associated with advancing aerospace systems in the national interest. His experience includes developing programs, sensors, advanced capabilities for emerging needs, including national and international plans for Earth observation systems to improve decision support for societal benefits. He held senior leadership roles for aerospace programs for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Sverdrup Technologies, EarthWatch, and Intermap Inc.
- Birk joined The Aerospace Corporation in 2017 as Associate Principal Director of the Development Directorate in the Civil Systems Group. His focus is on evolution of national capabilities associated with emerging drivers and national priorities for space and related complex systems through strategic planning and relationships with partners, customers, and collaborators across the space enterprise.
- Prior to joining Aerospace, Mr. Birk served as Director of Business Development for Civil and Military Systems for Northrop Grumman, and Director of the Applied Sciences Program for NASA.
- Earlier in his career, Mr. Birk supervised the Advanced Sensor Development Laboratory and managed the Commercial Remote Sensing Program at NASA’s Stennis Space Center.
- Birk serves as President on the Board of the American Astronautical Society, Co-Chair of the CONFERS Technical Working Group, and Chair of the Washington Executive Space Council.
- Birk is a Partner with the Center for Space Policy and Strategy co-authoring multiple publications on topics including cislunar, autonomous systems, digital engineering, leveraging commercial, and space supply chain.
- Earned a B.S. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame.
Related Sessions
Space Investment Track
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Track: Track Program