AEROSPACE and telecommunications executive Rick Sanford has joined Isle of Man headquartered space company Odyssey Moon as its chief executive officer.
Mr. Sanford is the founder of SpaceGroupAmalgam LLC - a leader in strategic and technical consulting services.
The Odyssey Moon Team is one of 29 teams competing in the Google Lunar X PRIZE (GLXP) – a $30 million competition that challenges space professionals and engineers from across the globe to build and launch a privately funded space craft to the moon.
Odyssey Moon chairman Ramin Khadem said: "Rick brings years of high level commercial space experience to the Odyssey Moon team, with a breadth of practical experience in the governmental and commercial space arenas.
"We heartily welcome Rick who will bring strategic thinking and a focus that will benefit our customers around the world."
Mr Sanford said: "Odyssey Moon has a clear vision for transforming the commercial space industry by utilizing modular solutions and leading edge space architectures and tools.
"I look forward to not only having a strong impact on the company itself, but helping it significantly contribute to the larger industry as well."
Mr. Sanford previously served as chief operating officer for Cisco IRIS and director of space and intelligence with Cisco Systems, Inc.
Before joining Cisco in early 1997 Mr Sanford served in a variety of roles with the US Federal Government as well as an account executive at Timeplex Federal Systems and program manager with BBN Communications.
Mr Sanford is active with several organisations within the space community including: board member of the International Space University in Strasbourg France, National Space Society, Society of Satellite Professionals International and the Space Foundation.
Odyssey Moon was created to capitalise on commercial opportunities created by renewed interests in exploring the moon.
It intends to become the first private company to supply payload delivery services to the moon in support of science, exploration and commerce.
The company has attracted numerous customer commitments and expects to begin its operational phase with its first mission to the Moon in 2014.
