Shelli Brunswick
Space Foundation, Space Foundation
About this speaker
As Space Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer, Brunswick serves as a corporate officer, and is responsible for Space Foundation operations, facilities, and processes. Functions reporting to her include education, development/philanthropy, marketing and communication, operations, customer service, information technology, facilities, maintenance, security, and assurance. She has primary responsibility for Space Foundation headquarters, the Space Foundation Discovery Center, operational management of the annual Space Symposium and the Faga Forum on Space Intelligence, and she serves as executive leader of the Center for Innovation and Education, a bold new workforce development initiative. She also oversees government affairs activities in the Washington, D.C., office including relationships with government agencies, other space advocacy organizations and associations, and corporate interests.
Brunswick joined the Space Foundation in 2015 after a distinguished career as an acquisition and program management professional for the United States Air Force, and her role as a key leader within the Air Force Congressional Liaison office working both within the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. She was Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certified in Program Management Level III, Financial Manager Level II, and a certified Space Professional Level III by the United States Air Force Space Professional Functional Authority.
As a leading role model for women in space, Brunswick speaks at organizations and events around the globe to advance space innovation partnership and collaboration opportunities. Brunswick currently is the Chair of the WIA Foundation and previously served as the Chair of Women in Aerospace (WIA) from 2016–2019. She is one of 35 women from around the world selected as a Space4Women Network Mentor, which is part of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). As a mentor, Brunswick shares her expertise, knowledge, and experiences to build environments where women and girls can take their place as active and equal participants in space science, technology, innovation, and exploration efforts. Throughout her career, Brunswick has dedicated considerable time and energy to increasing the leadership capabilities and visibility of women in the aerospace community.
In addition to these endeavors, Brunswick serves on the board of directors for Manufacturer’s Edge, strengthening the competitiveness of manufacturers through coaching, training, and collaboration-focused industry programs, and by leveraging government, university, and economic development partnerships. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation, providing strategic, mission-based leadership and governance. Formerly, she was a board member for the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Rocky Mountain Chapter.
Brunswick graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Project Management Professional through Project Management Institute and was a Professor of Acquisition Management at Defense Acquisition University.