ROBERT R. CLEAVE

Member and Strategic Technology Advisor

Robert has over 30 years experience in the space industry, working as an engineer, program manager, business capture lead, and general manager with P&L responsibility. Cleave started his career in 1987 at Rockwell International (now Boeing), working GPS and scientific satellite programs, and developed a novel engineering exchange program with NASA JPL on the very first rover to Mars.

He was former president, Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services, LLC.

In 1994, he joined Space Systems/Loral and contributed to multiple satellite programs, and later founded a start-up to provide the worlds’ first satellite services company exclusively offering capacity at the coveted X-frequency band for government users.

Cleave was recruited by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in 2003 to manage the business development activities of a $2B organization, and became President of their commercial launch services business unit, growing sales by over 50% and increasing earnings by 35%. He also managed their commercial satellite business pursuits, winning the largest order in company history with multiple international organizations. Cleave oversaw all organic and inorganic investments, which included taking equity positions in multiple small companies.

A prolific author with one patent and a TED speaker, Robert is also active in several non-profits, including the famous Maverick’s surf contest, and is currently an advisor on three different start-ups.

Cleave earned a degree in aerospace engineering from Arizona State University and a certificate in systems engineering from the University of Southern California.