Celeste Ford

Celeste Ford is Board Chair of Stellar Solutions, Inc., a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-winning aerospace company with the vision to satisfy customers’ critical needs while realizing employees’ dream jobs. She founded the global systems engineering services provider in 1995 with the mission to deliver high-impact performance for projects on earth and in space, and under her guidance it became an established leader in government, commercial, and international programs. Stellar Solutions offers end-to-end critical expertise and problem-solving skills to significant satellite programs, including defense-related intelligence projects, international telecommunications programs, commercial imagery systems, and NASA’s planetary and Earth science projects. Stellar Solutions has made Fortune Magazine’s “Great Places to Work” list for the past five years running. Ford provides an impactful global presence through proven management of an international “constellation of companies” and numerous partnerships around the world. This includes commercial programs, aeronautical services, and government programs for an overseas customer base through Stellar Solutions Aerospace Limited (UK) and Stellar Solutions Aerospace France.

Ford also established the QuakeFinder humanitarian R&D program in 2001 and the Stellar Solutions Foundation in 1998. QuakeFinder is the world’s leading private earthquake forecasting research organization, dedicated to the discovery of methods for warning communities of imminent destructive earthquakes. The corporate foundation supports community-based and charitable organizations and enables employee-driven involvement.

Celeste Ford’s distinguished career includes serving as a guidance and control engineer for COMSAT (Communications Satellite Corporation), followed by a project manager role with the Aerospace Corporation where her work on NASA’s Space Shuttle Program led to recognition as “Woman of the Year”. She then joined Scitor Corporation where she established and grew a thriving satellite launch line of business, before leaving to create her own successful company.

Celeste Ford leverages exemplary technical expertise with diverse perspectives and experience in business and governance. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science from Stanford University, both in Aerospace Engineering. A compelling thought leader and passionate advocate for key issues, she serves as a known and respected expert on numerous technical panels, congressional commissions, and boards of major universities and companies. She is also affiliated with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the national Council on Foreign Relations.