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Daniel C. Brandenstein

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Daniel C. “Dan” Brandenstein is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of United Space Alliance, LLC.

Brandenstein joined USA in October 2007 after serving as Vice President and Program Manager for the Mission Support Operations Contract at the NASA/Johnson Space Center for Lockheed Martin Mission Services.

In that role, Brandenstein was responsible for the development and sustaining engineering, operations and maintenance of the Mission Control Centers and Integrated Planning System at the Johnson Space Center, supporting the human space flight programs.

Before joining Lockheed, Brandenstein served as Executive Vice President and Program Manager for the Kistler Aerospace Corporation from 1996 to 1999 and was responsible for the design and development of a commercial reusable launch vehicle. From 1994 to 1996, he worked for Loral Space Information Systems first as Director of Quality Assurance and then as Director of Program Development. As Loral’s Director of Program Development, Brandenstein was responsible for business growth through new program development, program diversification and expansion of current programs. In 1993, Brandenstein served as the assistant to the Vice President and General Manager, IBM Federal Systems Company for the Space Station Program, and was responsible for the Data Management System integration, program development and Congressional liaison efforts.

A former astronaut, Brandenstein piloted Space Shuttle mission STS-8 in 1983 aboard Challenger on the first Shuttle night launch and landing mission. He commanded three flights, including STS-51G in 1985, STS-32 in 1990, and the maiden flight of Endeavour, STS-49, in 1992 to retrieve and repair the Intelsat satellite. Brandenstein also served as chief of the Astronaut Office from 1987 until leaving NASA and the Navy in 1992.

Prior to joining NASA in 1978, he served as a Naval aviator starting in 1967. From 1968- 1970 he participated in two carrier combat deployments in Southeast Asia and flew 192 combat missions in A-6 Intruders.

Brandenstein’s many honors include two Defense Superior Service Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals and two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals. He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2003.

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