We’ve seen incredible growth through new partnerships with companies like DataFarming, a $27M Series A round led by Radical Ventures, and most importantly, the launch of our first full-fledged satellite, Pixxel Demo-2, aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-4 mission. Hot on the heels of these thrilling milestones, we couldn’t be more excited to announce the appointment of Preston Dunlap to Pixxel’s Board of Directors.
Preston’s accolades speak for themselves. He is the founder of Arkenstone Ventures, serves on various Corporate Boards and advises Fortune 100 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, private equity, as well as venture capital firms. From 2019-2022, he was appointed by the Secretary of the Air Force as the first Chief Technology Officer and Chief Architect Officer of the U.S. Space Force and Air Force where he oversaw the technology, engineering, and architecture of $70 Billion+ of research, development, and acquisition programs. During this time he also spearheaded massive technological innovation efforts including commercial space integration, data and AI, joint all-domain command and control, and next-generation air dominance.
With over 23+ years of experience, Preston has led national-level initiatives for the Vice President of the United States and Cabinet Secretaries at the White House in the past. He has been responsible for running the Pentagon’s $750 Billion Investment Decision Committee process for multiple Secretaries of Defense (building the 5-Year Defense Budget) and has also started $250 Billion+ of new Defense and Intelligence programs such as the recently unveiled new B-21 Bomber. In the private sector, as an executive passionate for getting transformative technology into people’s hands, Preston has served on multiple boards of technology startups, along with serving as an Executive at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
Preston’s experience and ability in forging partnerships across the Defense and Intelligence communities and the private sector enabled the US Government to rapidly procure technologies needed for global transparency and security. Carrying over his expertise, he will help us navigate our use cases in hyperspectral earth observation as we prepare for the launch of our constellation.
Preston’s expertise in the space industry will be an incredible asset to the team as we reach our next level of growth and maturity and assemble the world’s most advanced constellation of low-earth-orbit hyperspectral imaging satellites. His support and guidance alongside our existing board members and investors such as Ryan Johnson and Jordan Noone is a testament to the magnitude of our mission and the weight of the problem we’re trying to solve, as monitoring the health of our planet has never been more important.
We’re currently hiring for roles across the board and not slowing down any time soon. If you’re excited to push the boundaries of earth observation and make our world a better place, head over to our careers page to join the team!
