Our Executive Mentors

DAVE BRANDT

Dave Brandt is Manager of the Space Experience Center for the Space, Missile Defense & Strategic Programs team at the Lockheed Martin Government Affairs office in Arlington, Virginia. Additionally, he has managed and served as Program Chairman for professional technical society conferences for Lockheed Martin, including the Space Policy Summit (2002), the First and Third Space Exploration Conferences (2005 and 2008) and Space 2006 (all under the auspices of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics). He also serves as Vice Chair of the AIAA’s National Capital Section, as a board member of the Kent State University Alumni Association, National Capital Chapter, and as a mentor for the Kent State University Washington Program in National Issues.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin in 1999, Brandt served as a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Business Development team from 1997 to 1999. From 1988 to 1997, he held increasingly responsible positions within the National Space Society (NSS), including being appointed Executive Director in 1996. Earlier in his career, Brandt was a teacher in the District of Columbia Public School system, the press office manager for the Federal Election Commission, and the press office manager John Glenn's 1984 Presidential Campaign. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Kent State University, as well as a Master's Teacher Certification Program from the University of Maryland.