Frank Backes, formerly a senior vice president at Kratos Defense and Security Solutions (Nasdaq: KTOS), has been named CEO at synthetic aperture radar satellite developer Capella Space.
He will assume the position on Oct. 23 and succeed outgoing CEO Payam Banazadeh, who will remain on the company’s board of directors, Capella Space said Tuesday.
“Frank is a proven leader with a diverse background in software and hardware across both national security and commercial markets,” commented Banazadeh.
Backes most recently served as SVP for federal space and commercial cyber operations at Kratos and oversaw the development of satellite communication products for the federal government sector.
He also serves as president and chairman of the board of Space ISAC and sits on the board of Modern Technology Solutions.
San Francisco, California-headquartered Capella Space provides satellite-based services to the U.S. Space Force, defense organizations, federal agencies and international allies under a $900 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract awarded in July.
