Dr. Angel Smith appointed as Executive Director of SmallSat Alliance. Photo: SSA

SmallSat Alliance, an industry group of companies in the smallsat ecosystem, appointed Dr. Angel Smith as its new executive director. 

Smith is a general manager at Microsoft Corp. leading Strategic Global Enablement and is a combat veteran and retired Marine Corps C-130 pilot. Smith is also a former House Intelligence Committee staffer, where she oversaw the military intelligence portfolio. 

SmallSat Alliance founder and Chairman Charles Beames said “there is no one who can truly appreciate the value of space to modern warfare and intelligence collection like a combat Marine pilot providing direct support to ground forces. Angel is a military leader, Washington insider, and one of the leading industry executives.” 

Under Smith’s leadership, the alliance will continue its mission of fostering collaboration between the government and commercial space sector. The alliance is dedicated to advancing the use of small satellite technologies 

“With the Space Development Agency having successfully tested and validated the concept that small satellites can offer significant support to the warfighter, I am eager to collaborate with government entities alongside our member companies to leverage the power of commercial technology,” Smith commented.