Space Foundation Press Releases
Space Foundation Announces Two New Board Members
Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team
(Left) Kevin O’Connell (Right) Honorable Peter Beshar COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Oct. 21, 2025 — Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to advance the global space community, today announced the election of the Honorable Peter J. Beshar and Kevin M. O’Connell to its board of directors.
Remarking on the selection of Beshar and O’Connell, Space Foundation CEO Heather Pringle said, “These two leaders have served their country and the space community with distinction. We are delighted to welcome them both to our board and look forward to leveraging their expertise to support Space Foundation’s vision to be the preeminent organization bringing together all facets of the burgeoning space community.”
After being nominated by the president and confirmed unanimously by the Senate, Beshar served as the general counsel of the U.S. Department of the Air Force from 2022 to early 2025. As the second-ever general counsel of the Space Force, Beshar advised senior leaders on strategies governing rocket launches, the analysis of satellite imagery, and the rapid integration of commercial innovations. For his contributions, Beshar was awarded the Department of the Air Force’s Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service.
From 2004 to 2022, Beshar served as the executive vice president and general counsel of Marsh McLennan, a global professional services firm. As an integral member of the leadership team, he helped engineer a turnaround that increased the market capitalization of the company from $10 billion to $75 billion. Beshar has testified before Congress on issues ranging from national security to the importance of public-private partnerships and has written op-eds for The Washington Post, The New York Times and USA Today. He is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.
For over 30 years, Kevin M. O’Connell has championed the U.S. commercial space industry. As director of the Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2018 to 2021, he pushed for innovation, regulatory reform, and U.S. leadership in space sustainability. He also expanded international outreach on space commerce with key U.S. allies and partners. He is recognized for his deep knowledge and expertise in space commercialization and national security.
O’Connell is currently the founder and CEO of Space Economy Rising, where he advises national and international space companies and investors on issues including strategy, finance, and market trends. Previously, he served as a special assistant to the vice president for National Security Affairs, on the National Security Council, and has worked within the departments of State and Defense. Mr. O’Connell has testified before Congress about space policy on seven occasions and is a regular speaker and author on the global space economy. He has taught at Georgetown University, The George Washington University, and the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.
Beshar and O’Connell join Carissa Christensen and Dr. Soichi Noguchi, both elected earlier in 2025, as the most recent additions to Space Foundation’s board of directors.
About Space Foundation
Space Foundation advances the global space community through education, collaboration and information. Founded in 1983, the nonprofit brings together space professionals, educators and leaders from around the world to highlight how space benefits life on Earth and beyond. As a charitable organization, Space Foundation is supported by members, sponsors, individuals and grants. Learn more at www.SpaceFoundation.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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Media Contacts:
Rich Cooper
Vice President, Strategic Communications
Space Foundation
(202) 596-0714
rcooper@spacefoundation.org
Dottie O’Rourke
TECHMarket Communications
(650) 344-1260
SpaceFoundation@techmarket.com
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