Derek Tournear has been named the Space Development Agency’s first permanent director after holding the role on an acting basis for four months.
He will lead the agency and its efforts to consolidate space development initiatives across the Department of Defense, monitor DoD’s future space architecture and accelerate deployment of space technology platforms to the military, the Pentagon said Monday.
“Our strategy is to unify efforts across the military services and government agencies to rapidly develop capabilities that are responsive to the threat, are cost-effective and increase our technological advantage,†said Michael Griffin, undersecretary for research and engineering at DoD and a 2019 Wash100 awardee.
“Derek will lead our effort to achieve those goals,” Griffin added.
Prior to the appointment, Tournear was assistant director for space in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. His public-sector career also included time as senior scientist for space activities and technologies in the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity’s Office of Smart Collection and program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
He previously worked as director of research and development at the space and intelligence solutions segment of Harris Corp.