Aerojet Rocketdyne has appointed Kevin Chilton, a 34-year U.S. Air Force veteran and 11-year NASA astronaut, to the company’s board of directors.
Chilton’s previous military roles include vice chief of staff and program director for the Air Force and director of politico-military affairs for Asia, Pacific and the Middle East, the company said Tuesday.
He also led the Air Force Space Command and U.S. Strategic Command where he oversaw the deterrence operations of U.S. forces as well as the Defense Department’s space and cyberspace programs.
During his time at NASA, Chilton held leadership roles including commander of the STS-76 mission and deputy program manager of operations for the agency’s International Space Station effort.
“He brings unique customer insight because of his experience as an end user of the company’s defense and space propulsion products,” said Aerojet Rocketdyne President and CEO Eileen Drake.
He is currently a member of CenturyLink’s board of directors and was an Orbital ATK board member until June 2018.