Senior NASA BD Contract/Direct Executive

-  NASA New Business Development expert specializing in developing new business strategies to maximize P[win] by leverage public-private partnerships models to provide best value to NASA with enhanced revenues and profits 

-  Successful leadership experience at NASA and private industry; possess a deep understanding of the processes, people and culture at NASA, with long-term relationships with many key NASA decision makers at NASA Hqs and at the Field Centers

Core Leadership Strengths

Career Highlights

- Won Boeing’s first NASA science mission contract in 20+ years. Modified commercial satellite bus architectures and developed capture strategies to position Boeing to win $5B+ in new NASA business.

- Developed Ball Aerospace’s winning strategy to partner with Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST) as the winning Prime Contractor to design and build James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a $8B+ program. 

- Reduced NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) costs 50% and conceptualized innovative design to relocate Hubble-sized telescope’s position within aircraft. Secured agreement with German Space agency (DLR) to contribute the telescope to NASA. Phased out existing airborne observatory.

- Created and led Scientific and Engineering teams that conceptualized JWST at NASA. Sold program that emerged at highest priority new astrophysics mission. Led advocacy campaign to secure funding into NASA budget by President’s Office of Management & Budget. Launch scheduled for 2018.

“Mike was instrumental in developing the strategies and tactics needed to compete in the highly competitive Space Science market. Mike used his extensive experience and expertise in NASA Planetary Science to develop product offerings that meet or exceed customer expectations.”

– Mike Elsperman, Director of Space Science & Commercial Space, The Boeing Company

Professional Experience

SSL/MDA, Boulder, CO                           2015 – 2017

Multinational corporation that manufactures, and sells spacecraft, robotics, telecommunications and information systems.

Director, NASA Business Development and Sales      

Lead new business development and sales for NASA SMD and HEOMD markets

Won more than $100M in space communications business for International Space Station and other programs

Created new public-private partnership business models to increase P[win], revenues and profits for several new NASA programs

Kaplan Astronautics, Mevaseret Zion, Israel                     2010 – 2015

Private Aerospace consulting firm servicing industry, NGO, and government clients internationally.

Principal Consultant

Develop and foster client relationships driving growth within the commercial arena and business development within government sectors in addition to systems engineering and full lifecycle project management.

Positioned several Israeli space entities to expand potential revenues and profits more than $1B dollars

Reduced investment risks for several US financial institutions totaling $2B+ billion with insightful technical due diligence assessments for new commercial space projects.

The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, CA                          1999 – 2010

Multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, and satellites.

Program Development Manager, Advanced Space Exploration

Managed new NASA robotic and science business in addition to new business development. Led process to bring Boeing into NASA Space Science market, a totally new market for Boeing.

Led Boeing’s team that won Terrestrial Planet Finder Architecture Study contract from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Won first spacecraft supplier role on NASA planetary science mission: Comet Surface Sample Return mission from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, a potential $900M prime contract.

Delivered spacecraft supplier role on NASA planetary science mission: RAVEN, a Venus Imaging Radar mission for Southwest Research Institute, a potential $450M prime contract.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, CO                       1997 – 1999

Manufacturer of spacecraft, components, and instruments for national defense, civil space, and commercial applications.

Senior Program Manager, NASA Programs, Civil Space Systems

Drove new product development and business development for NASA space astrophysics. Key player in Ball winning its largest ever NASA contract, the JWST telescope assembly, on the winning NGST team.

Convinced NASA JPL to change acquisition approach by selecting 2 contractors for the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM), enabling Ball to compete. Created and led Ball’s SIM team that won Deep Space 3 multiple spacecraft interferometer mission procurement.

NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC                           1990 – 1997

US government agency leading civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.

Advanced Programs Branch Chief, Astrophysics Division, Office of Space Science

Led all new NASA astrophysical space observatory and technology development programs. Managed process to transform US National Academy of Science’s highest priority scientific recommendations into future astronomical space programs. Directed top scientists, managers, and engineers from NASA, other space agencies, academics, and industry to create new space programs and projects. Efforts resulted in two major space programs currently operational, SOFIA and the Spitzer Space Telescope, and one currently in the integration and test phase, JWST.

Prior tenures included:

Advanced Concepts Section Head, Naval Center for Space Technology, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC

Physical Science Policy Analyst, US General Accounting Office, Washington, DC

Technical Leader, The BDM Corporation, McLean, VA

Education / Credentials

Princeton University, BSE, Aerospace & Mechanical Sciences / Engineering Physics

The George Washington University, MS, Electrical Engineering,

The George Washington University, MSA, Research & Development Management

Capture Lead Level I & II, The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL

TRACE Intermediary Certification, TRACE International, Inc., Annapolis, MD

Professional Affiliations and Patent

Elected Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA)

Senior Member, Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE)

Member, American Astronomical Society (AAS)

Patent: Space-based Tethered Array Antenna, 1987, US Naval Search Laboratory, Classified SECRET