KECK INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES

       

Aerospace lecture Aerospace lecture

Abstract:

The aerospace industry is undergoing tremendous changes causing a shift in focus, methodology, and the speed of innovation. At the same time, the “NewSpace” sector of the aerospace industry consists of almost 1,000 companies focused on creating different business models for accessing space. As a result, the role of The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) as a trusted advisor to the U.S. government, is taking on a new focus. The speed and agility of the NewSpace sector are pushing Aerospace to elevate our culture of innovation. In this talk, the speaker will describe the programs Aerospace created to stimulate an innovative culture and provide examples of employee innovation that have resulted from those programs.


Speaker's Biography:

Rob Sherwood is the Deputy Executive Director of Innovation at The Aerospace Corporation.  He is responsible for defining and developing the company-wide innovation program, including creating a corporate culture that supports and champions innovation and advances strategic solutions. Mr. Sherwood’s responsibilities include management of The Aerospace Corporations $40M R&D program, as well as identifying and analyzing emerging technological trends and opportunities that could be impactful to Aerospace customers.

Previously he served as the Director/Manager of Strategic Alliances at DreamWorks Animation, where he developed strategies to maximize the success of key partner relationships and joint ventures resulting in $37M in partner funded innovation initiatives annually.

Prior to that role, Mr. Sherwood developed a comprehensive plan for the first privately funded robotic lunar lander at startup Moon Express.  Mr. Sherwood also spent 19 years at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory leading innovation technology programs, flight missions, and new mission capture strategies.

Educational Background:

Mr. Sherwood received his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from University of Colorado Boulder, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of California Los Angeles, and M.B.A. from Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles. 

The Aerospace Corporation is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the objective application of science and technology toward the solution of critical issues affecting the nation’s space program.