Charlie McGillis is Vice President for Business Development at Slingshot Aerospace Inc., a company building world-class space simulation and analytics solutions. The company is driven by its vision of accelerating space sustainability to create a safer, more connected world. McGillis is responsible for leading a team that develops strategy, expands our business and product development activities, and gathers, prioritizes, and integrates product and service requirements for our customers.
McGillis has more than 30 years of defense and executive leadership experience. She served over 26 years in the United States Air Force as an Intelligence Officer, retiring in June 2014, at the rank of Colonel. Following retirement, she served as a Commercial Integration Cell Consultant, representing seven Commercial Satellite Operators to facilitate better coordination and information sharing with the United States Government.
Her broad defense career spanned a wide variety of leadership and staff positions. In her last assignment, she served as the Director of Intelligence at Fourteenth Air Force (Space) where she led all intelligence for Air Force space forces to support operations. In other assignments, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff at USSTRATCOM, Deputy Political Advisor at USSOCOM, and Deputy Director of the Commander’s Action Group at NORAD-USNORTHCOM. She commanded at the squadron level at Air Command and Staff College where she led a multiservice and multinational unit.
McGillis received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is also a graduate of three post graduate studies: Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict from the Naval Postgraduate School, Military Arts and Sciences from the United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies, and Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Air Force Air War College.
McGillis is a defense operations and intelligence subject matter expert and speaks frequently at conferences about the value of situational intelligence and advancing space awareness. She is a member of the IAA committee on Space Traffic Management. She is also a champion for STEM initiatives for girls as a member of AstraFemina and teaches at two summer camps sponsored by American Association of University Women. She was also selected into the first cohort to support the SpaceHero Insider Program, a global community to advance space for humankind.
