Moon Express announced today that it has hired Ben Roberts as its Vice President of Government Affairs. Roberts will oversee legal, policy, regulatory, and compliance functions for the company. He brings over nine years of experience working for the Executive Office of the President, including roles at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Roberts was most recently the Assistant Director, Civil and Commercial Space, for OSTP, where he led the design and implementation of civil and commercial space policies and initiatives on behalf of the Executive Office of the President. Prior to joining OSTP, he spent several years at OMB, where he served as a program examiner in the Commerce and Science/Space branches, and as a Special Assistant in the Office of the OMB Director. During his time in Science/Space Branch, Roberts was responsible for formulating budget requests and implementing Administration initiatives relating to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) human spaceflight program.
Roberts is an expert on space policy and issues relating to human spaceflight and space technology programs, regulation of the commercial space industry, and international cooperation in space. He holds a M.P.P (Science and Technology Policy) from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, and a B.A. (Economics) from Carleton College.
“We are thrilled to have Ben join Moon Express,” said company Founder & CEO, Bob Richards. “While at the White House, he was instrumental in helping pioneer our regulatory lunar mission approval. His unique experience and credentials will fortify our Washington operations and help lead the company to success.”
“I am excited to join the private sector at this pivotal time for our nation’s space program,’ said Roberts. “Moon Express has distinguished itself as a pioneering commercial space company on many fronts, and I am thrilled and honored to join their extraordinary efforts to build new economic pathways to the Moon and beyond.”
Moon Express is partnered with NASA under the Lunar CATALYST Program, developing new lander technologies supporting a U.S. return to the lunar surface, and in 2016 became the first company in history to receive U.S. government authorization for a commercial mission beyond Earth orbit and to the Moon.
The Moon Express vision is to collapse the cost of access to the Moon with robotic explorers and unlock its mysteries and resources for scientific and economic development.
For more information: moonexpress.com
