The Mitchell Institute-Senior Fellow, Space Studies

Air Force Association; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Air Force Association is seeking a Senior Fellow in Space Studies responsible for leading research related to national security space. This role will provide insights and policies for the military space strategy and operational concepts.

Key responsibilities include producing timely reports, hosting working groups, and engaging with leaders in the Department of Defense. Qualified candidates should have extensive experience in the defense industry and strong skills in analysis and communication.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of professional experience with 5 years at a senior level in national security space issues.
• Strong judgment and political/business acumen.
• Ability to engage military and political leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead research on national security space strategies and operational concepts.
• Host forums and symposiums on key space topics.
• Develop business opportunities for Mitchell Institute programs.

Skills

Policy research and analysis

Presentation skills

Verbal and written communication

Decision-making skills

Project management

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in National Security-related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

The Mitchell Institute-Senior Fellow, Space Studies

Full-time

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is seeking a Senior Fellow in Space Studies that will be responsible for leading research specific to national security space to include strategies and operational concepts, space industrial base, enabling technologies, as well as policy and budget issues. The Senior Fellow, Space Studies is a unique position that will provide insights, analysis, and perspectives for the national security community on all areas related to military space strategy, operational concepts, and technologies.

Essential Functions and General Accountabilities

Research, Publish, Promote (approximately 65% of effort)

• Produce regular, timely reports and issue papers that will help provide informed additions to the space power debate and decision-making process
• Stimulate and inform forward-leaning topical coverage in the news media, including authoring regular opinion essays
• Responsible for hosting working groups to bring government officials, industry experts, and members of the science and technology community together to collaboratively consider key points of interest
• Host forums and symposiums to discuss key space topics, including Mitchell Institute’s “Space Power for the Warfighter” Capitol Hill breakfast series
• Serve as an informal advisor to leaders in the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill, industry, and the broader policy and budget community
• Participate as a regular voice on the Mitchell Institute Aerospace Nation video and Aerospace Advantage podcast series
• Conduct self-guided activity aimed to be at the leading edge of current and emerging issues, decisions, trends, and challenges in military space, the industrial base that supports it, and associated technology and engineering

Business Development for Mitchell Institute programs (approximately 20% of effort)

• Develop and promote the profile and contacts of the Mitchell Institute to further revenue and growth
• Maintain necessary professional networks to facilitate issue expertise, subject matter currency, subject matter expert access, fundraising capability, and general mission execution
• Coordinate within Mitchell Institute and AFA to execute Space Center of Excellence objectives orderly and collaboratively
• Share network access with Mitchell Institute staff to facilitate broader enterprise goals
• Seek business opportunities for broader Mitchell Institute program portfolio

Support Mitchell Institute program events (approximately 10% of effort)

• Partner with the Mitchell Institute Operations Coordinator and the Meetings and Events team to facilitate event logistical arrangements (book event venue, catering arrangements, on-site coordination, media coordination, necessary speaker coordination, serve as official event host, etc.).
• Manage event strategy and ensure individual event goals and overall standards of quality are met
• Serve as a key point of contact during events to support speakers and attendees.

Education and Experience Required

Bachelor’s or Master’s in a National Security-related field

A minimum of 15+ years professional experience and a min of 5 years at a senior level in the Department of Defense, Congress, or defense industry focused on national security space issues

Certifications & Licenses (Preferred)

Weapons School Graduate

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Strong policy research and analysis skills.
• Dynamic presentation skills, as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Solid judgment/decision-making skills and political/business acumen
• Strategic policy leader who can sponsor Aerospace policy, an arbitrator for Mitchel Institute and AFA
• Express confidence in effectively and comfortably engaging military and/political leaders at various levels
• Proven track record of consistently productive collaboration with diverse colleagues in a highly matrixed work environment
• Proactive and self-motivated, ability to exhibit initiative
• Project management and planning principles and practices
• Demonstrated ability to be honest and ethical
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

The Air Force Association is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and honoring the contributions of our country’s veterans.