Shane is the CTO for Astraius, an innovative, responsive Horizontal Satellite Launch Company. As CTO, he has overall responsibility to design, develop, test and operationalise the Astraius Launch Vehicle. Additionally, he is responsible for identifying the technology and partners required to ensure Astraius meets the evolving needs of commercial and government customers. Shane joined Astraius following a highly successful 28-year career in the U.S. Air Force, achieving the rank of Colonel. His career included acquisition and operational tours in launch, range, satellite operations, intercontinental ballistic missiles and missile defence, with key leadership roles at the Pentagon and Air Force Space Command. In his final military assignment, Shane led a diverse 250+ person team managing a $3.6B portfolio delivering low risk launch services for the U.S. government; overseeing launch vehicle design, production, satellite integration, and operations across multiple launch vehicle families and locations.