NOAA Forms Advisory Committee to Guide U.S. Commercial Space Policy

Insider Brief

• NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce has formed its first Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space, a group of 17 experts from across the space industry who will provide independent recommendations on commercial space policy, regulations, and other related matters.
• ACES will hold its first public meeting in Washington, D.C., within the next two months. During this session, the members will set priorities and establish strategies to address challenges in the commercial space industry.
• ACES operates under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and will provide guidance without direct involvement in regulatory or program management decisions.
• NOAA plans to appoint additional members in 2025 to ensure staggered two-year terms.

NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce has announced the formation of its first Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES). This new committee, consisting of 17 experts from across the space industry, will provide independent recommendations on commercial space policy, regulations, and other related matters. The committee’s goal is to help maintain U.S. leadership in the rapidly growing global space sector.

ACES includes professionals with extensive experience in space policy, engineering, law, science, and finance. Leading the committee are Caryn Schenewerk, Chair (Georgetown University), and David Gauthier, Vice Chair (GXO Inc.). The group also includes:

• Ms. Blake Bullock, Northrop Grumman
• Mr. Dave Cavossa, Commercial Spaceflight Federation
• Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, Axiom Space
• Dr. Brien Flewelling, ExoAnalytic Solutions
• Mr. Tony Frazier, LeoLabs
• Col (ret) El Gardner, Aperio Global
• Mr. Alex Gilbert, Zeno Power
• Mr. Kalpak Gude, Amazon Kuiper
• Mr. Chris Kunstadter, Triton Space LLC
• Dr. Clare Martin, Astroscale U.S.
• Mr. Michael Nicolls, SpaceX
• Ms. Danielle Piñeres, Planet Labs PBC
• Ms. Audrey Schaffer, Slingshot Aerospace
• Mr. Al Tadros, Redwire

NOAA is in the process of appointing Mr. Jared Hautamaki as the 17th member of ACES. He will serve in his personal capacity as an expert in space law.

ACES will hold its first public meeting in Washington, D.C., within the next two months. During this session, the members will set priorities and establish strategies to address challenges in the commercial space industry. The committee is scheduled to meet at least twice a year to review and recommend policies that could impact the sustainability and growth of U.S. space activities.

This advisory committee evolved from NOAA’s previous Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES), which focused on satellite imaging regulations. Earlier this year, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, expanded the committee’s scope to include a wider range of commercial space issues.

ACES operates under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and will provide guidance without direct involvement in regulatory or program management decisions. NOAA plans to appoint additional members in 2025 to ensure staggered two-year terms.