Former Astronaut to Lead QinetiQ North America Space Business Unit
Paul S. Lockhart to become Senior Vice President, Space Systems and Services
Paul S. Lockhart will join QinetiQ North America in October as the Mission Solutions Group’s new senior vice president, space systems and services. The business unit he will head is a leading provider of mission-critical services to U.S. agencies involved in space operations. Lockhart will be based in QinetiQ North America’s Fairfax, Virginia facility.
“Paul brings an extraordinary range of experience to an outstanding team,” says Michael Stolarik, president of the Mission Solutions Group. “His background as both an astronaut and a program executive officer makes him superbly well-qualified to lead the QinetiQ North America engineers, scientists, technicians, and managers who support space launch and spacecraft operations. I am confident that he will continue our long tradition of trusted service to the space community.”
QinetiQ North America’s Mission Solutions Group provides launch services, spacecraft environmental testing and integration, and engineering and scientific support (including microgravity research and communications technology research and development). The Group provides mission support at many customer locations, including the John H. Glenn Research Center in Ohio, the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
Lockhart joins QinetiQ North America from NASA, where he served most recently at Headquarters as special assistant, associate administrator/defense affairs specialist. He has more than 26 years of aerospace experience as both a manager and a pilot. He has become known as a leading champion of the emerging drive to include private ventures and international partners in space lift and space exploration.
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force’s Experimental Test Pilot Course, Lockhart went on to lead one of the U.S. Air Force’s top flight test squadrons. At NASA, he served as an astronaut, piloting the space shuttle on two flights to the International Space Station. Lockhart has spent 28 days in orbit and directed six spacewalks during the construction of the International Space Station. These included the well-known and successful repair of the Station’s Canadian robotic arm.
Lockhart earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Texas Tech University. He also holds a Master’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas, and received a Diploma in International Security Studies from the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.
About QinetiQ North America
QinetiQ (pronounced “kinetic”) North America provides world-class technology and responsive solutions to U.S. government customers. With more than 6,000 engineers, scientists and professionals working in partnership with customers, QinetiQ North America develops innovative technology solutions to meet the challenges of national defense, homeland security and information access. QinetiQ North America is part of QinetiQ Group plc, one of the world’s leading defense and security technology companies. For more information, please visit
