Debra Facktor, Head of US Space Systems at Airbus US Space, current IWF-DC co-Vice President of Membership, and 2024-2025 IWF Fellows Mentor
Q&A with Debra Facktor
Q: Tell us about your background and where you currently work.
I am a "rocket scientist" and have been in the space sector my entire career (37 years!). Currently I run the U.S. Space Systems line of business for Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. We are a US company and operate under a US Department of Defense governance for entities with a European parent. My business consists of building satellites for commercial and government customers at our manufacturing facility in Merritt Island, Florida; space exploration; and space products. I sit on the board of directors for Starlab Space LLC, a joint venture between Voyager Technologies and Airbus to build and operate a next-generation commercial space station our other partners include Mitsubishi, MDA Space (Canada), and Palantir and previously sat on the board of another joint venture with a customer before we acquired their share last year.
Prior to Airbus, I was an executive at Ball Aerospace (now BAE), and led Washington DC operations, strategic development, and marketing and communications. I started my career in the DC area, at ANSER (a think tank) working on strategic defense, followed by a stint in Moscow, Russia, after the cold war, facilitating collaborative partnerships in space (launch vehicles, rocket engines, human spaceflight, etc), then spent 14 years in the Seattle area at two launch vehicle start-ups (one privately funded, one funded by DOD) and my own consulting company before moving back to the east coast for an academic sabbatical at Stevens Institute of Technology working in systems engineering. The opportunity at Ball brought me full circle to Arlington, VA.
I actively engaged as an advisor and mentor in the aerospace community, am a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). I have a bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and am an alumna of the International Space University summer session program in Strasbourg, France.
Q: How long have you been an IWF member?
My relationship with IWF began 30 years ago (how did that happen ?!?!), as a Fellow in the 1995-96 class, sponsored by our own Washington DC forum, in the second year of the program's existence. Since then, I have been a member of 5 forums Oklahoma (who invited me to join IWF as a "member at large" and show there was a path for fellows to join forums), Washington State (where I moved for a start-up, and later served as president), New Jersey (relocated for a new job and joined the IWF NJ board), then transferred into the Washington DC (current) forum in 2013, with a double-membership in Colorado (where my past company was headquartered).
Q: How has your career benefited from being an IWF member?
The real question is, how has my LIFE benefited from IWF. The Fellows program was transformational starting with the treasured guidance of the late Bettie Steiger (northern California) as my first formal and female mentor; the depth and breadth of the fellows program; and the exposure "out and up" of my space community to amazing women leaders around the world who share similar hopes, dreams and struggles and who I now call friends. My Fellows Legacy Project resulted in a lifelong passion for mentoring, which continues to this day.
Q: What excites you the most right now?
Two things come to mind. First, I'm excited to be building a new line of satellites in my factory in Merritt Island, FL, (near NASA) and start launching them this year. Second, I'm thrilled that my nephew and my eldest niece both yes both! will enter the University of Michigan this fall, starting the 4th generation of family Wolverines. My nephew wants to study aerospace engineering after his aunt. Go blue!
Q: What are you reading or listening to?
I just finished reading "The Women" by Kristin Hannah. It's a story of Army nurses who served in Vietnam and their experiences at war and when they came back home. Honestly, I couldn't put it down. My mom recommended the book because it reminded her of one of her best friends who served in this capacity I had no idea.
I'm also reading Greg Harden's "Stay Sane in an Insane World." Greg passed away last year he coached many athletes at the University of Michigan on "how to control the controllables and thrive." The title of the book says it all.
Q: Any tips or advice for new members?
First, attend one of our Dine Arounds. These intimate dinners, typically at members' homes, are a hallmark of IWF, as they enable closer relationships, deep conversations, and long-lasting connections with each other. Watch the programs calendar and be sure to sign up. Next, attend one of the global leadership conferences, held twice a year. These events bring together the power of IWF leadership across the globe to address timely issues and solutions requiring our collective wisdom and insights, as well as experience behind-the-scenes perspectives of the local host city. The conference Dine Arounds are amazing, and you will develop friendships that will last a lifetime.
Q: What do you like most about being a member?
All the points above! IWF gave so much to me early in my career, that I am compelled to continue to give back and contribute, particularly to the Fellows program. And most of all, my friendships. I love that IWF provides a safe place to be yourself among peers, and the trusting relationships that are fostered.
Q: Who/what inspires you?
Things that have never been done before. This is why I chose aerospace engineering and why I am still in the space business! Pioneering and community are my two core values pioneering for the discovery and community for doing it together.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
Does shopping count?! I stay strong by training with kettlebells with a group of bad-ass women. I enjoy good food and wine, and hanging out with friends and family.
Q: Favorite place you've traveled?
I've traveled a lot of places. Let's go with some favorite IWF trips, with the conference and a side adventure: Ecuador (and Galapagos), Sweden (behind the scenes archipelagos with Washington State friends), Chile (and Atacama desert amazing!), Helsinki Finland (and side trip to another archipelago). Just starting to think about South Africa this fall.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in 2025?
My word of the year is "Open" as in, open my heart, open to possibilities, open to launch (my satellites), open minded (listening), etc. This follows my 2024 word "Clear" where I cleared the clutter, literally and figuratively. I'm enjoying my renovated condo and cleaned-up closets, recognizing that this is still a work in progress.
Q: Tell us about your background and where you currently work.
I am a "rocket scientist" and have been in the space sector my entire career (37 years!). Currently I run the U.S. Space Systems line of business for Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. We are a US company and operate under a US Department of Defense governance for entities with a European parent. My business consists of building satellites for commercial and government customers at our manufacturing facility in Merritt Island, Florida; space exploration; and space products. I sit on the board of directors for Starlab Space LLC, a joint venture between Voyager Technologies and Airbus to build and operate a next-generation commercial space station our other partners include Mitsubishi, MDA Space (Canada), and Palantir and previously sat on the board of another joint venture with a customer before we acquired their share last year.
Prior to Airbus, I was an executive at Ball Aerospace (now BAE), and led Washington DC operations, strategic development, and marketing and communications. I started my career in the DC area, at ANSER (a think tank) working on strategic defense, followed by a stint in Moscow, Russia, after the cold war, facilitating collaborative partnerships in space (launch vehicles, rocket engines, human spaceflight, etc), then spent 14 years in the Seattle area at two launch vehicle start-ups (one privately funded, one funded by DOD) and my own consulting company before moving back to the east coast for an academic sabbatical at Stevens Institute of Technology working in systems engineering. The opportunity at Ball brought me full circle to Arlington, VA.
I actively engaged as an advisor and mentor in the aerospace community, am a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). I have a bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and am an alumna of the International Space University summer session program in Strasbourg, France.
Q: How long have you been an IWF member?
My relationship with IWF began 30 years ago (how did that happen ?!?!), as a Fellow in the 1995-96 class, sponsored by our own Washington DC forum, in the second year of the program's existence. Since then, I have been a member of 5 forums Oklahoma (who invited me to join IWF as a "member at large" and show there was a path for fellows to join forums), Washington State (where I moved for a start-up, and later served as president), New Jersey (relocated for a new job and joined the IWF NJ board), then transferred into the Washington DC (current) forum in 2013, with a double-membership in Colorado (where my past company was headquartered).
Q: How has your career benefited from being an IWF member?
The real question is, how has my LIFE benefited from IWF. The Fellows program was transformational starting with the treasured guidance of the late Bettie Steiger (northern California) as my first formal and female mentor; the depth and breadth of the fellows program; and the exposure "out and up" of my space community to amazing women leaders around the world who share similar hopes, dreams and struggles and who I now call friends. My Fellows Legacy Project resulted in a lifelong passion for mentoring, which continues to this day.
Q: What excites you the most right now?
Two things come to mind. First, I'm excited to be building a new line of satellites in my factory in Merritt Island, FL, (near NASA) and start launching them this year. Second, I'm thrilled that my nephew and my eldest niece both yes both! will enter the University of Michigan this fall, starting the 4th generation of family Wolverines. My nephew wants to study aerospace engineering after his aunt. Go blue!
Q: What are you reading or listening to?
I just finished reading "The Women" by Kristin Hannah. It's a story of Army nurses who served in Vietnam and their experiences at war and when they came back home. Honestly, I couldn't put it down. My mom recommended the book because it reminded her of one of her best friends who served in this capacity I had no idea.
I'm also reading Greg Harden's "Stay Sane in an Insane World." Greg passed away last year he coached many athletes at the University of Michigan on "how to control the controllables and thrive." The title of the book says it all.
Q: Any tips or advice for new members?
First, attend one of our Dine Arounds. These intimate dinners, typically at members' homes, are a hallmark of IWF, as they enable closer relationships, deep conversations, and long-lasting connections with each other. Watch the programs calendar and be sure to sign up. Next, attend one of the global leadership conferences, held twice a year. These events bring together the power of IWF leadership across the globe to address timely issues and solutions requiring our collective wisdom and insights, as well as experience behind-the-scenes perspectives of the local host city. The conference Dine Arounds are amazing, and you will develop friendships that will last a lifetime.
Q: What do you like most about being a member?
All the points above! IWF gave so much to me early in my career, that I am compelled to continue to give back and contribute, particularly to the Fellows program. And most of all, my friendships. I love that IWF provides a safe place to be yourself among peers, and the trusting relationships that are fostered.
Q: Who/what inspires you?
Things that have never been done before. This is why I chose aerospace engineering and why I am still in the space business! Pioneering and community are my two core values pioneering for the discovery and community for doing it together.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
Does shopping count?! I stay strong by training with kettlebells with a group of bad-ass women. I enjoy good food and wine, and hanging out with friends and family.
Q: Favorite place you've traveled?
I've traveled a lot of places. Let's go with some favorite IWF trips, with the conference and a side adventure: Ecuador (and Galapagos), Sweden (behind the scenes archipelagos with Washington State friends), Chile (and Atacama desert amazing!), Helsinki Finland (and side trip to another archipelago). Just starting to think about South Africa this fall.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in 2025?
My word of the year is "Open" as in, open my heart, open to possibilities, open to launch (my satellites), open minded (listening), etc. This follows my 2024 word "Clear" where I cleared the clutter, literally and figuratively. I'm enjoying my renovated condo and cleaned-up closets, recognizing that this is still a work in progress.