National Space Society Governor Mark Albrecht Biography

Mark Albrecht

National Space Society Board of Governors

Dr. Mark J. Albrecht is a senior aerospace and telecommunications executive with broad government and industry experience. From 1999-2006 he was president of International Launch Services (ILS), the Russian/American joint venture company formed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and Rocket Space Complex Energia. ILS provides the Lockheed Martin Astronautics-built Atlas and the Russian-built Proton and Angara launch vehicles and associated launch integration services for government and commercial satellite customers worldwide.

Albrecht’s specific responsibilities included financial achievement and operating budget control, and liaison with the United States and Russian governments, ILS joint venture companies in Russia, and the Kazakhstan government. He had full contracting responsibility for all aspects of each satellite launch campaign.

Previously, Albrecht served as vice president of Business Development for Lockheed Martin Space Systems, headquartered in Bethesda, Md. In that position, he was responsible for domestic and international marketing and business development for the Space Systems operating companies and managing its strategic planning and customer relations.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Albrecht was senior vice president of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). In this capacity, he coordinated all space business activities, including business development, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions. He joined SAIC in 1992 as its first director of Washington Operations.

Albrecht was appointed by President George H. W. Bush as the Executive Secretary of the White House National Space Council in 1989, serving in that capacity until June 1992. Previously, he served six years as the legislative assistant for National Security Affairs to Senator Pete Wilson of California. Albrecht has also held positions as a senior research analyst for the Intelligence Community Staff in Washington, D.C., and the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif., and as a member of SAIC research staff.

Albrecht has been awarded the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Civil Service Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the National Space Society Space Pioneer Award. He currently is an associate member of the Defense Science Board and serves on several advisory and corporate boards, including United Space Alliance and the American Astronautical Society.

Albrecht holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of California at Los Angeles and a doctorate in public policy analysis from the Rand Graduate School.