Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced ex-Apple executive and Royal Australian Air Force Navigator/Intelligence Officer, Travis Marshall, as its new Head of Business Development.
The newly created role aims to assist in developing customised launch contracts, including launch, engine testing, payload and mission management, mission planning and consultation for Defence and international newspace commercial rocket companies looking to launch from the company's Arnhem Space Centre.
“As ELA continues its schedule of discussions with international rocket launchers, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Travis to help drive that process and to ensure we fill out our immediate launch schedule as well as preparing for the next five to ten years of launches from the spaceport,” said Michael Jones, Group CEO and Executive Chairman of Equatorial Launch Australia.
“Additionally, Travis will hold the remit to expand our horizons into defence where we are uniquely positioned to provide sovereign infrastructure and capabilities that contribute to Australia’s access to space.”
Marshall is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, the Canadian Forces Air Navigation School and the Defence Intelligence Training Centre. He conducted several operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, with his final deployment serving as the Chief of Key Leadership Engagement based in Kandahar.
“With my background in technology and Defence, the space industry has long been an area that I wanted to transition into, and ELA stood out as an exciting opportunity," said Marshall.
"We are on track to deliver more commercial launch contracts by the end of the year, and I am excited to be able to assist in this key endeavour.”
Marshall will be based at ELA’s headquarters at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide, with extensive travel to the Arnhem Space Centre in East Arnhem Land, Canberra and internationally to meet with clients.