Jim Cooper Lead, Space Situational Awareness Solutions COMSPOC Corp

Jim Cooper, as the Lead for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Solutions at COMSPOC Corp, supports strategy and business development and execution, as well as marketing and sales, to deliver commercial SSA solutions to government, military, and commercial organizations worldwide, including the strategic pursuit and development of large, long-term program opportunities and enterprise accounts.  Jim has over 30 years of professional experience in SSA policy, operations, international engagement, and funding support, spanning active duty military, military contractor, and commercial enterprises.  Prior to the establishment of COMSPOC Corp. as a separate entity in 2020, Jim conducted similar duties for Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI), an Ansys Company, for four years.

COMSPOC Corp is a global leader in SSA, as well as Space Domain Awareness and Space Traffic Coordination and Management.  Through the first-of-its-kind commercial SSA center, COMSPOC delivers accurate, precise, and timely SSA to address current and emerging challenges in today’s space environment.  COMSPOC Corp. operates the Commercial Space Operations Center, the Space Data Center, and the free space safety service CelesTrak, and provides staffing and resources for the Center for Space Standards and Innovation, its research arm, and the Space Safety Coalition.

Prior to joining AGI, Jim provided SETA support for 16 years to HQ USAF/A3 and for 3 years to HQ AFSPC/A3 in the SSA mission area.  In this capacity, he advocated for SSA in the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process, supported SSA operational concerns and policy development, and conducted international engagement in SSA for the AF/A3.

After graduating with a B.S from the US Air Force Academy in 1985, Jim served in the USAF for 8 years as an Orbital Analyst in the Space Surveillance Center at Cheyenne Mountain AFB, CO, and a Master Instructor for Undergraduate Space Training at Lowry AFB, CO.  Upon separating from the USAF, he worked as a commercial diver for 4 years in marine oilfield support and inland marine facility inspection.

Jim is married to Mrs. Sarah Cooper; they are the parents of two children – Zachary, 15 years old, and Elizabeth, 11 years old.