Chirag Parikh Selected As National Space Council Executive Secretary
Keith’s note: Today Vice President Harris is announcing the selection of Chirag Parikh as Executive Secretary of the National Space Council. Mr. Parikh is from Ohio and a veteran of the U.S government with over 20 years of experience. During the Obama-Biden Administration from 2010-2016, Mr. Parikh served as the White House Director of Space Policy on the National Security Council. In this position, he led the formulation and execution of national space policies and strategies; advised the President and National Security Advisor on civil, commercial, and national security space matters; and led efforts to reform how the Nation deals with threats to space systems.
Additionally, Mr. Parikh served as a Senior Executive at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency where he served in a variety of roles including leading collection and tasking of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) sensors and the analysis of GEOINT data.
Mr. Parikh began his career as an aerospace engineer at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and most recently joins the Biden-Harris administration from Microsoft Azure, where he led the company-wide initiative to bring together the power of global cloud capabilities with the evolving space industry.
According to the White House the Vice President is looking forward to hosting a meeting of the National Space Council in the Fall. Earlier this year, the Vice President announced that the National Space Council would maintain the core objectives of national security, basic science, technological development, and contributions to U.S. economic growth, while adding a particular focus on:
– Support sustainable development of commercial space activity;
– Advance peaceful norms and responsible behaviors in space;
– Achieve peaceful exploration objectives with our allies and partners;
– Address climate change;
– Advance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education;
– Promote diversity in the workforce and promoting regional economic development; and
– Enhance cybersecurity in space systems.
Have been hoping that Chirag would be selected to head Space Council. There is an inverse ratio in DC – the more one denies the rumors of one being selected the more likely this person is in serious contention to be appointed. And Chirag, outside his close associates, has been consistently ignoring or otherwise denying his availability for months. Lucky for the space community that Chirag – a true patriot – is taking a huge pay cut from industry to take on challenges at the Council. I am a Bush 41 Space Council vet and can say that Chirag brings as much, if not more, practical interagency experience (both in the classified and unclass worlds) and accomplishments as anyone to hold this position. Very belated but great start by the Harris Chaired Space Council.