Phil Simonsen

As Vice President for Space and Special Programs, Mr. Simonsen provides strategic planning, business development capture and execution for programs with revenue exceeding $50 million. He brings over 36 years combined operational and acquisition military senior leadership expertise in National Security Space combined with space and classified commercial program leadership. Mr. Simonsen supports corporate program management, process improvements, and subject matter expertise for proposal evaluations, source selections, and mergers/acquisitions. Mr. Simonsen also directly support US Space Force and Intelligence Community customers as a subject matter expert on operational requirements, acquisition strategy planning, source selections and training, program execution, independent program assessments, and Program Management Professional training and certifications.

Serving 28 years in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Simonsen held numerous assignments in National Security Space executive leadership, program management, engineering, space operations, program planning, budgeting, and policy. He commanded at the Squadron, Group, and Wing-equivalent levels and was dynamically engaged throughout the entire program life cycle of a broad spectrum of weapon systems and technologies with the U.S. Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) including Signals and Geospatial Intelligence; Advanced Systems and Technologies, satellite and strategic command and control; space launch, control, and surveillance; Global Positioning System (GPS) spacecraft; intercontinental ballistic missiles; solid and liquid rocket propulsion; and radar technologies, including many programs within Interagency and International Agreements. In addition, Mr. Simonsen served two tours in the Pentagon and was the senior U.S. Air Force Acquisition Development Team member and helped chart the future for all Air Force program managers and served as functional manager of 500 acquisition officers at his organization, including extensive leadership and career mentoring.

As a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Mr. Simonsen holds an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the USAF Air War College, a Master’s certificate in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College, an MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelors of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics from the University of Minnesota. In addition, he completed extensive executive education at Harvard University’s JFK School of Government, the Executive Program Manager’s Course & Program Manager’s Course at Defense Acquisition University, and Mr. Simonsen is Department of Defense and Intelligence Community Level III Certified in Program Management; Systems Planning, Research, Development, & Engineering; and Financial Management.