Houston (September 30, 2024) – World Space Week Association announced the election of Stan Crow, as the new Board Chair and Candace Johnson, as Vice Chair.
Stan Crow is the Founder of Stan Crow Enterprises, LLC and has extensive expertise in building global partnerships in space from his background in the US Air Force, NASA, McKinsey and Company, and Northrop Grumman, and his current work supporting a number of innovative commercial ventures in the US, Japan, and Europe. He is also a Fellow at the Tower Center at Southern Methodist University.
Candace Johnson is the Founder/Co-Founder of SES, Loral Teleport Europe, Europe Online, OWNSAT, VATM, and GTWN. She is currently Chair of the Advisory Board and Partner of Seraphim Space, Founding Vice Chair and Member of the Board of NorthStar, Member of the Board of the Vusion Group, Executive Member of the Board of the International Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair of their Policy Commission. She is also a member of the International Advisory Council of the Saudi Space Agency.
Along with this leadership transition, the Association also welcomed three distinguished new members to the Board: Niklas Hedman, Legal Counsel of Committee on Space Research (COSPAR); Mary Walmsely, Senior Communications Advisor for Space Systems at Airbus; and Masayoshi Ohashi, Associate Senior Administrator at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
World Space Week Association (WSWA) Board of Directors play an important role in guiding the organization’s global efforts to promote space education and awareness. Composed of distinguished leaders from across the space sector, the Board provides strategic direction, fosters key partnerships, and ensures that WSWA’s initiatives align with its mission to inspire the next generation through space.
“We are incredibly grateful to Carlo Mirra and Maria-Antonietta Perino, the former Chair and Vice Chair, for their visionary leadership. Their dedication and contributions have helped shape the organization into what it is today.” said Dennis Stone, President of WSWA.
“Our new leadership team and board members bring diverse expertise and perspectives that will help drive WSWA’s mission forward. We are excited for the future of global space awareness under their guidance,” added Alma Okpalefe, Executive Director of WSWA.
About World Space Week:
The largest space event on Earth, UN-declared World Space Week is celebrated annually from October 4-10. It is an international celebration of the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. World Space Week consists of numerous space-related events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, museums, astronomy clubs, and others in a common timeframe to achieve greater student and public impact through synchronization.
About World Space Week Association:
World Space Week Association is the global coordinator of World Space Week. As an international non-government, non-profit organization, it serves as a permanent observer on the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and is supported by voluntary contributions from sponsors including Spire Global, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Viasat, Vast, SES, Airbus and Kuwait Investment Company. The Association was founded in 1982 and is one of the world’s longest-standing space advocacy organizations.
Media Contact:
Ilayda Edali
iedali@worldspaceweek.org