Space Foundation Names New Leaders to Expand Global Reach

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 04, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Space Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit, has announced significant leadership changes aimed at expanding its global reach and influence in the space industry. The organization has named Kevin “Morty” Mortensen as executive vice president and chief mission officer, and Meredith McKay as senior vice president of international and government affairs.

Mortensen, a retired Air Force space commander and BAE Systems leader, brings extensive experience in national security and civil space to the role. He served 30 years in the Air Force, beginning his career as an enlisted Airman in 1983 and retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2013. During his military career, Mortensen commanded the 3rd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Space Force Base, leading a team of more than 120 military, civilian, and contractor personnel responsible for around-the-clock operations supporting Department of Defense communications satellites. At the Pentagon, he led Air Force legislative affairs for space, cyber, and intercontinental ballistic missile programs, serving as a liaison between the Air Force and Congress on major national security priorities.

Mortensen’s work with congressional leaders and staff contributed to the establishment of Air Force Global Strike Command and U.S. Cyber Command. He also served as aide-de-camp to two Air Force Space Command commanders, senior speechwriter, and director of the 2012 Schriever Wargame, where he led 285 interagency and coalition participants representing more than 25 organizations. Following his military career, Mortensen built a global leadership career in the space and defense industry, including executive roles at BAE Systems and the Swedish Space Corporation. His experience includes working with U.S., European, and multinational organizations on evolving space and national security challenges.

Mortensen will be based at Space Foundation’s headquarters in Colorado Springs, where he will lead the organization's mission portfolio, aligning programs, partnerships, and initiatives that advance the Space Foundation's global impact.

McKay, a two-decade NASA veteran, will join the team in October. She began her NASA career more than 20 years ago in the Policy and Plans and International Space Station divisions of the Space Operations Mission Directorate. McKay went on to serve in positions of increasing responsibility within the Office of International and Interagency Relations, including regional team lead and division director. She also served as the agency’s acting deputy chief of staff and acting associate administrator for International and Interagency Relations, helping coordinate and execute initiatives, programs, and policies across NASA and with U.S. and international partners. McKay has received numerous individual and group achievement awards, including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

In her new role at Space Foundation, McKay will lead the organization’s Government Relations and International Relations teams, expanding its global reach and cultivating relationships with governments, space agencies, commercial enterprises, nongovernmental organizations, and educational institutions worldwide. The appointments come as launch demand outpaces capacity, government space budgets worldwide reach $141 billion, and more nations pursue sovereign space capabilities. The global space economy grew 12% in 2025 to $686 billion, according to Space Foundation’s annual Global Space Economy report. Against this backdrop, Space Foundation is building on more than four decades of credibility as a trusted, nonpartisan convener dedicated to fostering collaboration, addressing shared challenges, and helping shape the future of the global space ecosystem.