The National Space Society today announced that Dale Skran has assumed the role of Chair of the Society’s Executive Committee. In this role he will serve as the chief executive of the Society, with overall responsibility for strategy and operations.
Taking over for Skran as NSS Executive Vice President and Chair of the NSS Policy Committee, with overall responsibility for the legislative strategy of the Society, is Alfred Anzaldua. “I’ve worked with Alfred for a number of years, and I am pleased to leave the Policy Committee in good hands,” said Skran. “Alfred has been our leader on the orbital debris issue and our Space Guard concept. Moreover, he brings vast international diplomatic experience from his past service as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department.”
Professor Michelle Hanlon, space lawyer and Associate Director of the Air and Space Law Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law, replaces Anzaldua as chair of the NSS International Committee. Anzaldua commented, “Professor Hanlon is a respected and effective organizational leader and has over 25 years of practical experience dealing with the intersection of business and international space law. I could not have picked a better person to replace me.”
Jim Plaxco will take over Dale’s role as NSS Information Systems (IS) Director. “It’s been great working the last few years with Jim on the new web site (space.nss.org). Jim is a true computer professional, and NSS is lucky to have him as IS Director,” said Skran.
Skran served for eight years on the NSS Board of Directors and served on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Space Development since it was founded by NSS and the Space Frontier Foundation in 2015. Dale will continue his roles as co-chair of the NSS Bylaws Committee and Team Leader on the new membership database project.
Skran has a lifelong interest in space exploration and settlement, and was a member of both the L5 Society and National Space Institute (NSI) before they merged to form NSS. During the 1980s, Dale served as President of the North Jersey L5 Society and as an NSS Regional Board member. He is proud that while a young student attending a presentation in Saginaw, Michigan, Dale had the opportunity to meet NSI founder Wernher von Braun and shake his hand.
Dale worked for 17 years in software engineering at Bell Laboratories and later held executive positions at Sonus Networks and Ascend Communications. Dale is a globally recognized expert on Voice Over IP (VoIP) technologies and multi-media communications, having served as an ITU-T Rapporteur (manager/leader) in these areas for seven years. His corporate and ITU-T leadership roles have given him extensive experience in international and inter-corporate negotiations. He received the International Multi-media Consortium (IMTC) Pioneer award for his contributions to the development of the H.323 VoIP standard. Dale co-founded CMWARE, a mobile media applications company where he held positions including CEO, COO, and VP of Engineering. Dale has a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor’s degree in EE from Michigan State University. Dale holds a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo.
“I’m really happy to be given this opportunity to serve NSS. We have made great progress on our legislative agenda, and with these new leaders in place, along with our newly elected President Geoff Notkin, new Chair of the Board of Governors Karlton Johnson, and new VP of Space Development Greg Autry, I am confident NSS can move to the next level as an organization,” Skran said.
Biography for Alfred Anzaldua: https://nss.org/al-anzaldua-biography/
Biography for Michelle Hanlon: https://law.olemiss.edu/faculty-directory/michelle-hanlon/
Biography for Jim Plaxco: https://nss.org/jim-plaxco-biography/
Biography for Dale Skran: https://nss.org/dale-skran-biography/
Press release for Geoff Notkin: https://nss.org/geoffrey-notkin-elected-president-of-the-national-space-society/
Press release for Karlton Johnson: https://nss.org/karlton-johnson-named-chairman-of-the-national-space-societys-board-of-governors/
Profile for Greg Autry: https://nss.org/profiles-in-spaceflight-greg-autry-nss-vice-president-for-space-development/
2 thoughts on “New National Space Society leaders Skran, Anzaldua, Hanlon, and Plaxco working to move the Society to the next level”
Congratulations to you all! As Native Americans head into space we are happy to see such a great NSS team. We hope to work with you on some awesome adventures.
To all the incoming officers: Congratulations and best wishes for every success as we enter a new era for the NSS and the nation in exploring space. May your times in your leadership role be filled with exciting, productive, and fun adventures that exceed your every expectation.