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July 19th, 2017

International Institute of Space Commerce's New Executive Director a Veteran of Human Space Flight


The new Executive Director of the International Institute of Space Commerce's dream is "... to help as many people achieve space flight as possible, and to have a good portion of them make money doing so.”


Robert Alexander, Executive Director

The International Institute of Space Commerce (IISC), a leading open source think tank on the economics and commerce of space, has announced the selection of its new Executive Director, Mr. Robert Alexander. Mr. Alexander was selected by the IISC after an exhaustive global search.

He said he is very honored and excited to be given this responsibility. The IISC has a unique position in the global space industry, where it serves companies, customers, governments, individuals and investors who daily work beyond our atmosphere.  We are at a crucial time in human history, where people can make a living beyond the Earth; it is his intent to make the commerce of space more enticing. 
 
Mr. Alexander plans to begin his term with a global outreach effort to recruit both people and corporations in joining the IISC. “The bigger our global ‘footprint’, the more doors the IISC will be able to open for our members,” he explained. “My dream is to help as many people achieve space flight as possible, and to have a good portion of them make money doing so.”
 
Joining the IISC as an Open Member is free through their website, though paid Supporting and Corporate memberships provide more benefits. 


IISC is located on the Isle of Man, Scotland. 

Mr. Alexander has worked in various human space flight for the last 20 years, including the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs in various capacities with United Space Alliance (a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin). He was in the private space sector for several years as a member of the NanoRacks team in Houston, Texas. Most recently, he has been involved with the secondary payload cubesat deployment system on the Space Launch System as an employee of Bastion Technologies at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. 

Mr. Alexander has a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as a Master of Space Studies degree from the International Space University.
 

Mr. Alex Downie, Chairman of the Institute, said said that speaking for the Board and for all at the Institute, he would like to thank their outgoing Executive Director, Dr. Walter Peeters, who has served since their founding in 2007 and for their first decade as an exemplary leader. They wholeheartedly welcome Mr. Alexander to his new role and very much look forward to their next 10 years of continued success at the Institute in leading the world in the economics of space.
 
Dr. Peeters, President of the International Space University, has also now joined the Main Board of the Institute.