JHU Engineers Week 2021: Aerospace Exploration - Ignite Your Career Possibilities
Sponsored by the Aerospace & Aviation Affinity
Join the JHU Aerospace & Aviation Affinity for an interactive moderated discussion with alumni Jonathan Hofeller Eng ’02, Vice President of Starlink and Commercial Sales, SpaceX and Sita Sonty SAIS ’02, Executive, Human Space Flight, SpaceX and Alumni Council Member. Panelist will discuss their personal journeys, their start, and their current roles in the industry, as well as industry trends.
This event will be presented on Zoom. A link will be shared with registrants in advance of the event.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Johnathan Hofeller ENG '02, Vice President of Starlink and Commercial Sales, Space X
Jonathan Hofeller is SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink and Commercial
Sales. In this role, he leads business development efforts for Starlink,
commercial launch, and private human spaceflight endeavors.
Hofeller joined SpaceX in 2007 and previously headed the company’s
business development efforts in North America, Middle East and Asia—
successfully expanding SpaceX’s customer base across the globe to include
new launch customers in new regions and SpaceX’s entrance into the
private astronaut sector.
Hofeller received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from
the Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s of Science in Mechanical
Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a degree in
Technology Commercialization from USC’s Marshall School of Business. He
is also a graduate of the International Space University’s Space Studies
Program. Prior to joining SpaceX, Hofeller worked at The Raytheon
Company as a Senior Mechanical Engineer and designer on several satellite
programs. He also serves on the Johns Hopkins University Mechanical
Engineering Advisory Board.
Sreelakshmi Sita Sonty SAIS ’02, Executive, Human Space Flight, SpaceX and Alumni Council Member
In this role, Sita is responsible for delivering on the vision to make humanity multiplanetary by building the path for humans interested in spaceflight. With extensive experience as an aerospace executive and U.S. diplomat, Sita has brought credibility and integrity to global partnerships for decades.
Prior to joining SpaceX, Sita served as Vice President for International Business with the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). At SNC, Sita helped solve the world’s toughest challenges by expanding SNC’s pipeline for technologies in Space Systems, Commercial Solutions, National Security and Defense.
Prior to SNC, Sita served as a diplomat for the U.S. Government. From 2017-2018, Sita was Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and Senior Advisor for the Bureau of Administration.
From September 2016-2017, she served as Director for Foreign Policy and National Security at Raytheon International, Inc on a sabbatical from the U.S. Foreign Service, applying her leadership experience in Foreign Military Sales and commercial negotiation.
As a State Department official, Sita led the International Security Advisory Board as Executive Secretary while overseeing Global Strategy for the Political Military Affairs Bureau. Also among her Political-Military Affairs credentials, Sita directed Foreign Military and Direct Commercial Sales to South and Central Asia as Senior Advisor.