Col. Peter B. Trainer, USAF (Ret.)

Managing Director, Elara Nova

Pete Trainer is a noted defense executive, career Air Force officer and the new Managing Director of Elara Nova: The Space Consultancy. He oversees Elara Nova's industry line of practice, ensuring effective execution and delivery of value to each client across the portfolio. Pete is uniquely equipped to grow this line of business, applying his P&L expertise and, working with our Business Operations team, maturing and normalizes processes to become more efficient for all Elara Nova partners and clients.

A Space Operator, Pete served 30 years in the Air Force on active duty and in the reserves. Career highlights include duty in Satellite C2 (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program), as USSPACECOM’s Space Control Lead, Air Force Recruiting Operations, and an assignment to the Air Force’s Legislative Liaison staff, advocating for space, intelligence, and missile programs to Congress. Mr. Trainer helped lead the Space Exploitation team that stood up the nation’s Blue Force Tracking capabilities in response to the attack on 9/11. His military career culminated at the rank of Colonel, in the role of the Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

Pete’s commitment to supporting the nation’s defense and intelligence communities extends beyond the workplace. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Space Foundation, the Board of Directors of the National Defense Industrial Association, and the Board of Advisors (past President) for The Citadel’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences. He is also the past President of the National Space Club Foundation, and the past First Vice President of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Veteran Services Foundation.

Pete holds a Bachelor of Science from The Citadel, an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and is a graduate of the Air War College.