Steph Earle Manager, Space Policy and Outreach Branch Office of Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration

Steph Earle is currently the manager of the Space Policy and Outreach Branch for the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation. In that role, he is responsible for overseeing a variety of activities to promote and ensure orbital safety, including oversite of international engagements related to space activities and work with United Nations space committees. He leads the department’s work on national space policies and projects and initiative to enhance launch collision avoidance effectiveness and orbital debris mitigation. He also supports the development and implementation of interagency activities that advance safety issues for launch vehicles and on-orbit safety.

Steph holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Air Force Academy, a master’s degree in space operations focused on astrodynamics from the University of North Dakota, and a second Master of Science in Strategic Purchasing Technology Management degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Before he retired as an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Steph worked as a Missile Combat Crew Commander for the Minuteman ICBM; performed space surveillance and tracked ballistic missiles, space launches, and all low- and mid-Earth-orbiting satellites at a space surveillance radar facility; and served as the lead Air Force launch controller at Cape Canaveral Air Station for numerous rocket launches including multiple missions to Mars, a Global Positioning Satellite, and a commercial satellite to bring MTV to Russia. In addition to a number of headquarters assignments, Steph’s last active duty post was as Chief of the Space Policy Branch on the Joint Staff where he worked countless national-level space issues including national strategies, policies, and issues. Since 2012, Steph has engaged in the same national forums as the advocate for commercial space launch activities within AST.