Ball Aerospace’s Steve Smith to lead Systems Engineering Solutions

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has promoted Steve Smith to vice president and general manager of its Systems Engineering Solutions (SES) business unit, the Boulder, CO-based company announced June 19. Smith, currently the director of SES programs, will be responsible for all aspects of SES nationwide operations and contract performance. He succeeds Dan Gibson who will retire June 30 after 18 years with Ball.

Ball Aerospace has a long history working with the U.S. Air Force, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and other clients to provide advanced systems engineering and technology applications for intelligence and information enterprises. These solutions provide enterprise data management, data analytics, modeling and simulation, and technology assessment capabilities that are used to create actionable information products in support of warfighters and decision makers.

Since joining Ball in 2011, Smith’s most recent assignments were as director of Military Space for Ball’s National Defense business unit, and director of space control and special missions for Ball’s Washington Operations group.

“Steve’s outstanding background in the acquisition of major Department of Defense and intelligence community space systems as well as his experience across all of Ball Aerospace will ensure continued growth of our intelligence and information solutions business,” said Robert Strain, Ball Aerospace president.

Smith retired as a colonel from the U.S. Air Force in 2011 after serving 24 years in a variety of space- and intelligence-related assignments.  From 2009 until his retirement, Smith was commander of the Advanced Capabilities Group at the Space and Missiles Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace and ocean engineering from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado. His awards include the Collaborative Leadership Award from the Director of National Intelligence, the Superior Service Medal from the National Reconnaissance Office and the Legion of Merit from the U.S. Air Force.

Gibson has led SES for Ball since 2008, securing the acquisition of Ball’s Total Application Services for Enterprise Requirements (TASER) program; managing the restructuring of Ball’s Advanced Technical Exploitation Program (ATEP) contract; and overseeing the successful Semi-Autonomous Motorcar (SAM) demonstration at the Indy500 in 2014.

Source: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.