Washington State University President Betsy Cantwell was recently selected to serve on Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s newly formed Space Council.
The mission of the council is to advise the governor on how to keep the state competitive in the space industry. It is also tasked with identifying ways Washington can improve its standing as a global leader in the field.
“Washington has deep roots in the space industry,” Governor Ferguson said. “But the industry moves at an incredible pace. To remain a national leader, we cannot be complacent. My council will help us innovate and adapt as this sector rapidly grows.”
Cantwell brings a wealth of expertise in space-related fields to the council. Prior to her work in higher education, Catwell spent more than two decades in leadership roles at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as well as Oak Ridge and Los Alamos national laboratories advancing national priorities in space exploration, energy, and defense. This work included collaborations with NASA, the National Nuclear Security Administration, as well as the U.S. departments of energy and defense.
“I’m honored to be selected to serve on this council and look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure Washington remains a world-renowned destination for the advancement of space technology development and manufacturing,” Cantwell said.
In addition to representatives from WSU and the University of Washington, the council includes representatives from the commercial space industry, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors, among others.
The council was formed earlier this week via an executive order signed at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
