Ronald Birk is Principal Director in the Space Enterprise Evolution, Civil Systems Group, at The Aerospace Corporation. He has over 39 years’ experience working in the space enterprise advancing civil and military space programs. Mr. Birk has published more than 20 publications associated with space and related complex systems. He serves as President on the board of the American Astronautical Society, is cochair of the CONFERS Technical Committee, and serves as chair of the WashingtonExec Space Council. Mr. Birk earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Notre Dame. He can be reached at ronald.j.birk@aero.org.