Melanie Preisser
EVP, York Space Systems
Born in Seattle and raised in Bellflower, California, Melanie earned her BA from UCLA, an MBA from Chapman University, and a Master of Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology. A U.S. Air Force officer, she began her career in space and intelligence acquisitions and oversaw a $70 billion portfolio at the Pentagon before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Melanie moved into commercial aerospace at Stratolaunch, joined York Space Systems in 2019, and now works to scale rapid, low-cost satellite production for national security and commercial use.