WASHINGTON — ThinkOrbital, a Colorado-based space infrastructure startup, has hired retired U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. John Shaw as an advisor, the company announced Aug. 30.
Shaw, one of the first general officers commissioned into the U.S. Space Force, most recently served as deputy commander of U.S. Space Command. He has been a vocal advocate for increased use of commercial space technologies in military operations.
The appointment comes as ThinkOrbital, which focuses on space infrastructure, on-orbit services, and manufacturing, seeks to expand its footprint in both commercial and military markets.
“General Shaw has always been a tremendous leader, strategist, scholar, and warfighter,” said Lee Rosen, ThinkOrbital’s co-founder and a retired Air Force colonel. Rosen, who previously served as vice president at SpaceX, noted his long-standing relationship with Shaw dating back to their time as captains at the National Reconnaissance Office.
Shaw has championed the concept of “dynamic space operations,” which envisions satellites capable of actively changing orbits and positions to evade threats, gather intelligence or achieve other objectives.
“ThinkOrbital has a compelling vision and innovative technical approaches to doing many things differently in the space domain — all of which will move us forward as a nation and as a planet,” Shaw said.
The company’s flagship project, the ThinkPlatform, is conceived as a spherical habitat designed for robotic assembly in orbit. It could potentially be used for storing and recycling orbital debris.
Shaw’s appointment follows ThinkOrbital’s recent hiring of retired Air Force Col. Justin Chandler as vice president of government relations and strategic partnerships, signaling the company’s intent to strengthen its ties with military and government sectors.
