Strasbourg, France: The International Space University’s (ISU) Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Ken Davidian as Vice President for its North American Operations. He has taken office on 1 September 2022 in succession of Mr. Gary Martin, in post since 2020.
ISU’s chairman of the Board, Dr. Christian Sallaberger said: “ISU is very proud of having an ISU alumnus as VP for North American Operations. His extensive experience and wealth of American and international contacts in the space sector, together with his deep knowledge of the functioning and value of ISU make him an outstanding asset for ISU.”
Dr. Ken Davidian spent 14 years working for the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, 20 years at NASA (Lewis/Glenn Headquarters) and 5 years in private industry/academia. Currently, Davidian is the Editor-in-Chief of the New Space journal, serves as an Adjunct Professor for Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business, and is owner of Impossible Research LLC. Davidian is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA, a Full Member of the International Academy of Astronautics, and is internationally active as an officer or advisor on multiple committees and groups. Davidian received a BS degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Ohio State University, 1983) and an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering (Case Western Reserve University, 1987). In 2018, Davidian received a doctorate in Business Administration (University of Cape Town – Graduate School of Business) with a focus on market-level organizational change, innovation, and space market emergence.
“Since my introduction to the International Space University in 1989, I have shared and cherished its values of education and pluralism. To me, supporting and promoting ISU and its values is a calling, not a job”, states Ken Davidian.
Gary Martin has been with ISU for two decades in many different functions, director of SSP, member of the academic council, TP chair, and more recently Vice President North America.
ISU President Pascale Ehrenfreund said: “Gary has been a valuable member of ISU’s executive staff, managing in the recent years ISU’s North American Office in the Washington DC area. ISU owes to Gary’s hard and professional work, great contributions to both the academic and growth of the University.”
Mr. Gary Martin will remain a member of ISU’s academic council and active Faculty member.
The President and the team at ISU congratulate Ken Davidian on his new appointment!
