COAS Interdisciplinary Colloquium Series: Andrew Rush, CEO of Star Catcher

About

Working in Space: 5 Traits for Success

In this talk, Andrew Rush will talk through his key learnings about working in the space industry from a decade as a space executive. He'll look at non-traditional and interdisciplinary paths in the industry, how the commercial market has evolved in recent years, and why now is the time to be building for space.

Andrew Rush is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Star Catcher, where he leverages extensive executive leadership and technical expertise to spearhead the development of the world’s first orbital energy grid. By delivering power-as-a-service to spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit, Star Catcher is addressing the primary constraint of the modern space economy: energy density.

A recognized leader in the aerospace industry, Andrew has a proven track record of scaling transformative space companies from early-stage ventures to publicly traded entities. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), where he led the company through its public listing and oversaw the integration of a diverse portfolio of space infrastructure and technology businesses. Under his leadership, the company successfully deployed flight-proven solutions for civil, commercial, and national security missions, including pioneering work in in-space manufacturing and satellite power systems. Prior to his role at Redwire, he was the President and CEO of Made In Space, Inc., a pioneer in-space manufacturing and assembly technologies.

Beyond his corporate leadership, Andrew is a key voice in space policy and governance. He has served as a member of the Technology, Innovation and Engineering Committee, a standing committee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) supporting the advisory needs of the NASA administrator, the Office of the Chief Technologist, and NASA Mission Directorates. Previously, Andrew served as Chair of the NAC Regulatory and Policy Committee.

Andrew began his career as an intellectual property attorney and a physicist. He holds a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of North Florida. An advocate for the long-term sustainability of the space environment, he is a frequent speaker on the evolution of space infrastructure and the commercialization of Low Earth Orbit.