Space Industry Vets Janice Starzyk, Kirk Pysher Take VP Roles at Virgin Orbit

Janice Starzyk and Kirk Pysher, both former executives at International Launch Services, have joined Virgin Orbit to serve as vice president for government operations and VP for mission assurance, quality and safety, respectively.

Virgin Orbit said Thursday it made the appointments after the company helped NASA deploy nine small satellites as part of the LauncherOne rocket's second orbital launch demonstration in January.

Starzyk will lead the satellite launch services provider's operations in Washington, D.C., and brings more than two decades of industry experience to her new position.

Her career has included executive roles at Futron Aviation, Bryce Space and Technology and Starzyk Space, where she provided market intelligence consulting support to United Launch Alliance's global commercial team.

Pysher most recently served as president of ILS and helped modernize the company's quality management system during his tenure.

He previously worked as chief operating officer and chief systems engineer of the multinational Sea Launch venture and spent five years at Boeing (NYSE: BA) in managerial positions.

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