SmallSat Alliance Founder Joins Slingshot Aerospace’s Board of Advisers

Slingshot Aerospace, an intelligence technology company, has named military industry veteran Chuck Beames to its board of advisers.

Beames is the executive chairman of York Space Systems and the founder and chairman of the SmallSat Alliance, an industry group that represents more than 50 space companies, Via Satellite said.

According to Slingshot, Beames has more than 30 years of experience across the space and military industries, including technology development, operations and venture capital investment.

York Space Systems said Beames is well-known for his experience and leadership in space and military systems, engineering, legislative affairs and business.

Beams previously served as the president of Vulcan Aerospace, where he is credited with managing the asset allocation of a $1 billion aerospace and technology investment portfolio. He also led all aspects of the Stratolaunch aircraft and air-launch system project at Vulcan, Slingshot said.

Slingshot appointed six other space industry executives and veterans to its board of advisers. The appointees include Karen Diener, CEO of KD Geospatial Solutions; Susan Helms, former NASA astronaut; and Moriba Jah, associate professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Texas.

The company also appointed Keith Masback, principal consultant at Plum Run; Chris Mattmann, information technology executive at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and Marissa Peretz, co-founder of Silicon Beach Talent.

Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Slingshot specializes in developing technologies that allow customers to take advantage of data from sources such as satellites and ground-based sensors.

The company said it also uses advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to provide clarity in complex environments.