Dan Smith

“If it’s aircraft or spacecraft, I’m happy.”

Daniel Smith is PlanetiQ’s Vice President of Operations and is responsible for facilitating mission operations, launch integration operations and supporting business operations. Holding both a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA from the University of Denver, his primary responsibilities include helping to secure venture capital funding, collaborating on budgets and proposals, and nurturing good relationships both with government and private sector contractors and customers. On the engineering side, he manages missions operations, technical specifications and security requirements.

Prior to working at PlanetiQ, Dan was a Program Manager at Moog/Broad Reach Engineering, where he supported multiple GNSS receiver hardware and software programs for several low earth orbit satellite programs involving radio occultation data collection for improving weather forecasting and climate modeling. Throughout his career, he has worked on over 30 different aircraft types as a pilot, mechanic and engineer as well as 17 different satellite programs, including NASA projects such as the Mars Global Surveyor and Stardust.

Dan also enjoys supporting local industry and community organizations. He has served the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum as Auxiliary Board Member, Education Committee Chair, and volunteer. He has also served as a Board Member for the Colorado Space Business Roundtable.