Planetary Resources, Inc., the asteroid mining company, announced today the hiring of Peter Marquez to lead the company’s global engagement. 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. The company’s objective is to mine near-Earth asteroids using innovative and cost-effective robotic exploration technologies to access raw materials ranging from elements used in rocket fuel to precious metals.
Marquez comes to Planetary Resources with more than a decade of experience in the national and international space policy community. Marquez’ most recent government position was as the Director of Space Policy for Presidents Bush and Obama where he oversaw the U.S. space program. In this position, he authored the U.S. National Space of Policy in 2010. Marquez also comes to Planetary Resources with experience working on national security and foreign policy issues.
“Peter brings a wealth of knowledge that will make Planetary Resources successful as we begin working closer with the U.S. government and foreign partners,” said Eric Anderson, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, Planetary Resources, Inc. “Peter is a known leader and innovator in the space policy community and we’re happy to have him as part of the team.”
Chris Lewicki, President and Chief Engineer, Planetary Resources, Inc. said, “Peter brings significant experience and a unique perspective to our team. I am excited to work with him on our common goal of expanding humanity’s resource base beyond Earth.”
Peter Marquez stated, “Planetary Resources is on a mission to change the world. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with such a great team. I am looking forward to working with many of my colleagues in the U.S. government and abroad in an effort to fully utilize all the benefits that Planetary Resources’ vision has to offer.”
About Planetary Resources, Inc.: Planetary Resources, Inc. was founded in 2009 by Eric Anderson and Dr. Peter H. Diamandis. Our vision is to establish a new paradigm for resource utilization that will bring the Solar System within humanity’s economic sphere of influence. The company will conduct low-cost robotic space exploration beginning with the Arkyd Series of space missions that will identify the most commercially viable near-Earth asteroids. These initial missions will assist the company in enabling the retrieval of raw materials from these select asteroids, including water, precious metals and more.
Planetary Resources is financed by industry-launching visionaries, three of whom include Google’s CEO Larry Page & Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt; and Ross Perot, Jr., Chairman of Hillwood and The Perot Group; who are committed to expanding the world’s resource base so humanity can continue to grow and prosper for centuries to come. Some of the company’s partners and advisors include the Bechtel Corporation; film maker and explorer James Cameron; former Chief of Staff, United States Air Force General T. Michael Moseley (Ret.); and Sara Seager, Ph.D., Professor of Planetary Science and Physics at MIT. Members of the company’s technical staff have worked on every recent U.S. Mars lander including Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity, and include other key non-aerospace and safety-critical disciplines. For more information, please visit www.planetaryresources.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube for all the latest updates!
About Peter Marquez: Marquez has held senior positions with government and commercial organizations involved in U.S. space policy and national security. Prior to joining Planetary Resources, he served as Vice President for Strategy at a commercial aerospace firm. From 2007-2010, Marquez served as the White House Director of Space Policy for Presidents Bush and Obama. He transitioned to the White House from the Department of Defense, where he entered government service in 2002. While at the Pentagon, Marquez worked in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, first as a Space Policy Analyst, in which he oversaw the classified space programs, and then as Director of Special Programs, where he oversaw all operational Defense Department Special Access Programs. Prior to those positions, Marquez served in space operations and acquisitions offices for the U.S. Air Force.
