The Aerospace Corp. has elected former Department of Defense officials William LaPlante and Frank Calvelli to the board of trustees.
“Outpacing the threats our nation faces in space will require a heightened focus on rapid acquisition and deployment and on ensuring critical capabilities connect end-to-end,” Steve Isakowitz, president and CEO of Aerospace, said in a statement published Thursday.
“Mr. Calvelli and Dr. LaPlante’s deep familiarity with our customers and their backgrounds in research, acquisition and integration will lend invaluable expertise to Aerospace’s mission,” Isakowitz added.
William LaPlante
LaPlante most recently served as under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment at DOD.
He is a three-time Wash100 awardee and former president and CEO of Draper. Prior to Draper, he was senior vice president and general manager at MITRE National Security, where he managed the operation of two federally funded research and development centers.
The University of Illinois engineering physics graduate also served in the Air Force as assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics from 2014 to 2017.
The former DOD official served on Aerospace’s board of trustees in 2021 and 2022.
Frank Calvelli
Calvelli is the former assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration.
He has over 36 years of experience leading national security space acquisitions and operations.
His government career included time serving as principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office and holding senior positions at the CIA.
After NRO, he joined Booz Allen Hamilton as SVP within the firm’s national security business.
Calvelli is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.
