Melanie Stricklan is the inaugural Executive Director of Space
Workforce 2030 (SW2030) a pioneering alliance that unites the
world’s top space companies with the shared goal of inspiring,
preparing, and employing a more dynamic and vibrant space
workforce to drive humanity into the next era.
As a recognized leader in both government and commercial space
sectors, Stricklan is renowned for her mission-driven technical and
business leadership. With a background as an entrepreneur and
former U.S. Air Force leader, she is a compelling thought leader
known for her forward-thinking approach to shaping the future of
space technologies and workforce development.
Prior to her role at SWF2030, Stricklan co-founded Slingshot
Aerospace, a global space technology company that revolutionizes
satellite tracking, space traffic coordination, and space modeling
for private and government entities worldwide. Serving as the
company’s CEO and visionary, she trailblazed the invention and
launch of their platform providing products for commercial, civil,
and defense applications. This includes Slingshot Beacon, the
industry’s first space collision avoidance coordination platform to
optimize spaceflight safety and orbital operations.
Before her tenure at Slingshot, Stricklan served in the U.S. Air
Force for 21 years, accumulating over 1,500 flight hours onboard a
ground surveillance aircraft, commanding more than 200
experimental spacecraft missions, and leading the development of
future space technologies for the Department of Defense.
Stricklan serves on various advisory boards. In recognition of her
leadership in the space industry and passionate advocacy of
space workforce development, she was appointed by Vice
President Kamala Harris to serve as a member of the National
Space Council’s Users Advisory Group, and U.S. Transportation
Secretary Pete Buttigieg named her to the Federal Aviation
Administration’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory
Committee.
Stricklan is a prominent speaker on space sustainability,
entrepreneurship, and STEM, known for inspiring and engaging
audiences in these vital areas.
Among her latest accolades, Stricklan was honored with the 2022
Executive of the Year award from Via Satellite, the 2023
Outstanding Achievement Award from Women in Aerospace, and
was named CEO of the Year for 2023 by the Los Angeles
Business Journal.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University and a master’s degree in space operations
management with an emphasis in space systems engineering from
Webster University.
