Chairman of the Board of Directors, Space Foundation

Jeffrey Grant is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Space Foundation. He joined the Board of Directors in 2014, becoming Member at Large in 2018, elected Vice Chairman in 2019, and Chair in 2022. 

He was sector vice president and general manager of Space Systems at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, from 2011-2018, a provider of manned and unmanned aircraft, space systems and advanced technologies critical to our nation’s security.  In this role, Grant led the division which provided space solutions for civil, military and restricted customers.

Prior to this appointment, Grant was vice president of National Systems for Space Systems. His primary responsibilities were the acquisition and execution of all space programs for restricted customers, which includes the design, build, launch and operations of major systems. He also was responsible for new business with these customers as well as the evolution of existing systems, including capabilities enhancements and technology insertion.

Grant also served previously as the vice president of Business Development at Northrop Grumman’s former Space Technology sector. In that role, he led the business development function, overseeing Space Technology’s strategy formulation, program development, marketing and discretionary investment.

Grant joined Northrop Grumman via the acquisition of TRW in December 2002. Prior to his joining TRW in February 2002, he held a variety of government and private sector positions. Most recently, he was vice president and chief technical officer for Astrolink International, LLC. Astrolink was an international joint venture to develop and operate a global, broadband telecommunications satellite system.

Before joining the private sector, Grant served for 21 years at the United States Central Intelligence Agency in positions at the CIA/National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Directorate of Science and Technology, and Directorate of Intelligence, Office of Scientific Intelligence. In his most recent assignment at the NRO, he served as director, Office of Plans and Analysis. During his 18 years at the NRO, Grant also served as a program director for a satellite, launch and ground segment development. In addition, he was the chief systems engineer on two space intelligence collection projects involving spacecraft in both geosynchronous and low earth orbits. Grant also led an advanced technology division to develop and test advanced imagery, communication and data processing technologies.

Grant received a Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA’s Intelligence Medal of Merit, the CIA’s Engineer of the Year, and recognized as an NRO Pioneer in June 2023. Grant currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Space Foundation, the Board of Trustees at the Aerospace Corporation and the Board of Directors at the Anser Corporation.