Colorado-based Surrey Satellite Technology US LLC (SST-US) today announced the addition of Stephen Eisele and Rick Sanford to its business development team. Eisele and Sanford join Brent Abbott and report to COO Doug Gerull in SST-US’s focus on developing new business and expanding existing opportunities within the United States aerospace market.
Eisele comes to SST-US with twelve years of international business experience managing multi-million dollar companies and startups across numerous industries, including aerospace and defense. He recently held business development positions in an executive role with Space Service Holdings, where he led the commercial infusion effort for the NASA Sunjammer Solar Sail Mission; with Excalibur Almaz USA, a space tourism company, heading up commercial sponsorship and business development efforts; and with the XPRIZE Foundation. Eisele also brings a wealth of expertise from the commercial space sector to SST-US, having worked closely with startups and investment groups to help bring new commercial space initiatives to fruition.
Sanford is an executive leader with over 26 years of experience in solution development, market creation, and business development, as well as demonstrated ability in aligning technologies and process with business and mission objectives to exceed mission requirements and provide maximum return on investment. Sanford previously served as COO for Cisco IRIS and as director of space and intelligence in Cisco’s Global Government Solutions Group before founding SpaceGroundAmalgam, LLC, a management and space systems consulting firm, and becoming a partner with Hudson Fairfax Group, a private equity and business development boutique specializing in growth capital for cyber, intelligence, and security companies. Sanford is an acknowledged thought leader with program, project, and international team leadership experience in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, and select countries in the Middle East.
John Paffett, chief executive officer for SST-US, commented, “We continue to build an exceptional team here in the U.S. and are thrilled to attract industry professionals like Steve and Rick. Each brings his own unique qualifications and perspectives, as well as great depth, to our current team and to our business development strategy. We look forward to expanding our market reach and continuing our growth in the small satellite market.”
Both Eisele and Sanford will be attending the 29th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites in Logan, Utah, August 10–13, and welcome visits to the Surrey Satellite exhibit.
About Surrey Satellite Technology US LLC
Surrey Satellite Technology US LLC (SST-US), a wholly owned subsidiary of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), is a Delaware-registered company with its principal offices located in Englewood, Colorado. Since its incorporation in 2008, SST-US has been addressing the requirements of the United States market and its customers for the provisions of small satellite solutions, applications, and services for Earth observation, science, technology demonstration, and communications. The activities of SST-US draw extensively on the heritage, background, and capability of all elements of the Surrey group, with a proven track record in provision of high-quality, rapid, cost-effective small satellite solutions, applications, and services.
Since 1981, Surrey has launched 47 satellites as well as provided training and development programs, consultancy services, and mission studies for NASA, the United States Air Force, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and other institutional and commercial customers with its innovative approach of “changing the economics of space.” www.surreysatellite.com | Twitter: @SurreySatUS
