WASHINGTON — Peter Marquez, the former director of space policy for the White House National Security Council who helped shape the Obama administration’s space agenda, has joined asteroid mining startup Planetary Resources as vice president for global engagement.
Planetary Resources of Seattle announced the hiring in a June 10 press release.
Previously Marquez was with Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., as vice president of strategy and planning. He was let go from that position in December.
In his new role, Marquez will “engage with key U.S. government entities on matters of strategic domestic and global interest to assist Planetary Resources in achieving its long-term mission” of mining near-Earth asteroids, Planetary Resources said in the press release.
Marquez spent about two years with Orbital, which he joined in November 2010 after leaving the White House.