Mike Kaplan

Bio

Mike Kaplan is a visionary leader in the space arena, with a significant track record of cultivating diverse teams that achieve powerful results. He is a thought leader across multiple space domains with extensive experience in both government and commercial industries, previously holding senior leadership positions at NASA, Boeing, RTX, Ball Aerospace, and Space Systems Loral. Mike has led advanced development teams to create highly complex payloads, spacecraft, planetary landers, and robotic satellite servicers. At NASA, Mike led the creation of the James Webb Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Space Northwest Alliance Board of Directors member. He’s also adjunct faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace and mechanical sciences/engineering physics at Princeton University and master’s degrees in electro physics and R&D management at George Washington University.