Satellite Evolution

Jul 13, 20212 min

SSPI-WISE welcomes fourteen new officers in first ever election

In an election taking place over the final week of June, the membership of SSPI-WISE (SSPI Women in Space Engagement) has appointed fourteen women to officer positions, including:

  • Debra Facktor, Head of Space Systems, AIRBUS U.S. Space and Defense, Inc.
          SSPI-WISE Chair

  • Jomya Lei, Systems Engineer, Boeing
          SSPI-WISE Vice-Chair

  • Alix Wright, Senior Vice President, Marketing Communications, Speedcast
          SSPI-WISE Secretary

  • Negar Feher, Vice President of Business Development, Momentus
          SSPI-WISE Elevating Women Working Group Co-Chair

  • Kaitlyn O'Hara, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Echostar
          SSPI-WISE Elevating Women Working Group Co-Chair

  • Susan Saadat, Vice President, Americas, EtL Systems
          SSPI-WISE Elevating Women Working Group Co-Chair

  • Wendy Lewis, Public Relations and Communications Consultant, Strategic Voice
          SSPI-WISE Mentoring Working Group Chair

  • Jennifer Hoil, Senior Product Marketing Manager, ST Engineering iDirect
          SSPI-WISE Networking and Swag Working Group Co-Chair

  • Kerstin Roost, Global Strategic Partnerships, ST Engineering iDirect
          SSPI-WISE Networking and Swag Working Group Co-Chair

  • Vinitha Lalvani, Marketing Coordinator, AvL Technologies
          SSPI-WISE Social Media Working Group Co-Chair

  • Rosario Toxqui, Director of Marketing & Communications, Advantech Wireless
          SSPI-WISE Social Media Working Group Co-Chair

  • Justyna Kosianka, Senior Scientist/Engineering Coordinator, Ursa Space Systems
          SSPI-WISE STEM Outreach Working Group Co-Chair

  • Natalia Larrea Brito, Principle Advisor, Euroconsult
          SSPI-WISE STEM Outreach Working Group Co-Chair

  • Audrey Puderbaugh, AOCS/Propulsion Eng., Satellite Systems Group, Iridium
          SSPI-WISE STEM Outreach Working Group Co-Chair

“When we founded SSPI-WISE, it was with the deliberate mindset and expectation that the level of engagement alone by the women of our industry would have an impact,” said outgoing SSPI-WISE Chair Nicole Robinson, President of Ursa Space Systems and Chair of the SSPI Board. “To say that has been the case would be underselling what we’ve experienced. The fire that has been ignited by these dynamic women is nothing short of amazing, and I am absolutely thrilled to see Debra pick up the torch and do what she does best: Inspire, lead and create new opportunities.”