Shelli Brunswick

Shelli Brunswick

Chief Operating Officer | Space Foundation

As Space Foundation Chief Operating Officer, Brunswick serves as a corporate officer, and is responsible for Space Foundation operations, facilities, processes and personnel. Functions reporting to her include education, development/philanthropy, marketing and communication, operations, human resources and administration, customer service, information technology, facilities, maintenance, security and assurance. She has primary responsibility for Space Foundation headquarters, the Space Foundation Discovery Center, operational management of the annual Space Symposium and the Faga Forum on Space Intelligence. She also oversees government affairs activities in the Washington, D.C., office including relationships with government agencies, other space advocacy organizations and associations and corporate interests.

Brunswick joined the Space Foundation in 2015 after a distinguished career as an acquisition and program management professional for the United States Air Force and finished her career as a key leader within the Air Force Congressional Liaison office working both within the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. She was Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certified in Program Management Level III, Financial Manager Level II, and a certified Space Professional Level III by the United States Air Force Space Professional Functional Authority.

Brunswick was the Chair of Women in Aerospace (WIA) from 2016-2019. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the WIA Foundation and is one of 25 women from around the world selected as a Space4Women Network Mentor, which is part of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). As an advocate and mentor, Brunswick shares her expertise, knowledge, and experiences to build environments where women and girls can take their place as active and equal participants in space science, technology, innovation and exploration efforts. Throughout her career, Brunswick has dedicated considerable time and energy to increasing the leadership capabilities and visibility of women in the aerospace community.

In addition to these endeavors, Brunswick serves on the board of directors for Manufacturer’s Edge, strengthening the competitiveness of manufacturers through coaching, training, and collaboration-focused industry programs, and by leveraging government, university, and economic development partnerships. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation, providing strategic, mission-based leadership and governance. Formerly, she was a board member for the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Rocky Mountain Chapter.

Brunswick graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Project Management Professional through Project Management Institute and was a Professor of Acquisition Management at Defense Acquisition University.

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